The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1921-08-22

MANY members of the legislature opposed reducing the number of
offices on political grounds. This position was not confined '"
win AN election in New Mexico and that Jobs for the laIthim "onI1
come in handy.
Then there appeared am opposition to writing the powers OF the
corporation commission into the constitution. There are no sueh
powers in the constitution now. and II seemed that there were in
1uences at work which did not propose to have any. The matter
dragged along until the session neared It's end and then the present
proposed amendment appeared.
This amendment, while purpOrting TO extend the powers of the
corporation commission. in effect merely provides the legislature
with power to do 50, if it sees fit or To remove from the commission
any Of its present administrative powers IN fact to do as the legI,
latrc may please with the state corporation commission. Here IS
what it is proposed to write into the constitution:
See. 10 The Legislature may by enactment change alter
or enlarge the powers and duties of the state corporation com
mission created by Section of this article etc.
That is all there is TO il. The rest of the amendment purportng
to put the burden of proof upon corporations docsn ! amount To two
whoops because the whole matter Is left open TO any uturr I'glsla
ton that any future legislature may determine to enact.
Curiously enough the corporations; the railroads and the utlhty
corporations such as telephones aud electric light companies etc.
ddn't have a word of objection to this proposed amendment, aS If
was finally submitted. They looked with keen disfavOr on putting
any powers permanently into the constitution But there was not d
murmur Of objection to the amendment actually being submitted
The Herald does not believe that all corporations are had' any
more than we believe that all corporations are good. Moreover good
corporations are sometimes a little inclined to be bad in spots, and
bad corporation have their good streaks
But the unanimous silence that gave consent to tins proposed
amendment to our constitution, WAS, in our opinion influenced rn
trely by the belief Of the corporations likely 10 be aftectet, that this
amendment. if adopted, wouldnt interfere with them or their opera.
Itions or their rates in the slightest.
The Herald may he wrong about this view Of amendment No. g.
We think we are right 1t will simply clutter up the constitution aud
bring more and bigger and more active corporation Hobbies to Santa
IFe during every Legislative session. II will lead to bitter legislative
contests aud il may easily lead 10 graft aud scandal
In the matter Of the proposed telephone rate increase, the cor.
Iporatiou commission. with It's present powers can proceed to public
Hearings from which the telephone company cannot stay away, II
Ithesc hearings disclose that the proposed increases are wrong, Their"
lis a way to get this proposition Immediately into court aud 10 get
prompt action there. Until definite, clear cut powers for Il corpora
lion commission, or better still. for a corporation commissioner are
written into the constitution, we would do better to let the matter
stand ~ 1t Is.