Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1921-01-10
GOVERNOR ALLEN
/. To URGE MERGER
|. 1OFDEPAR 7MENTS
Political Observers Forecast
a Long and Spirited Ses-
sion of Legislature in
SunfIoWer State.

# 10y me Associates EEUesD
= Topeka, Kans.. Jan. BIN view
of the large amount OF important
legislation already proposed for
enactment by the state legislature,
which convenes next Tuesday. po-
litical observers here are forecast
ing a long and spirited session.
Political party lines promise TO cut
but little figure in the Legislature,
Both houses are overwhelmingly
republican. there being but twelve
democrats in the house as COM
pared with 113 republicans. while
the senate stands thirty-eight to
two in the republican s favor. How
ever, conflicting views on the most
important bills to be presented al
ready have been made known. in
dicating some heated contests over
these matters are in the offing.
BY virtue of the approval given
by the people at the last November
election, the legislature is obligated
to formulate laws whereby the two
amendments to the state constltu-
ton shall be put into effect. Just
how this is to be done is by no
means agreed upon by leaders OF
the. two houses. The amendments
call for, laws whereby the state shall
extend financial aid to the various
counties in highway construction,
and shall help finance the buying
of farm homes by farmers. Some
legislators have expressed the opin-
ion that in each instance the state
should float bond issue. Others
point to the strong sentiment ex-
pressed in previous legislative SEES
sions against bond issues. the state
now having no bonds out whatever.
Farm Tenantry Plan.
AS to the farm tenantry plan. 1t
appears to be generally agreed that
the state should create a revolving
fund this money to be loaned at
low interest rates and collected in
comparatively small installments.
Gov. H, J. Allen is expected to out
line in his message his plan for en-
couraginS farm ownership, along
the lines recently announced by
him. He has proposed that as an
initial move the state develop a
large tract of land. divided NJ into
farms. rather than widely scattered
farms. The question of what state
agency shall have charge of this
undertaking also is subject to de-
bate. l4 t..#.. a,
The good roads proposition pre-
sents similarly undetermined and
conflicting proposed plans for OPP
GRAFTON. 1t is generally conceded
however, that whatever method is
adopted, it will result in the state
automobile license fees being used
for county road building. 1t also
appears inevitable that the legis-
lature will revise the motor license
Tee system-upward The state
now has approximately 275,000 mo-
tor vehicles and under the present
system motor cars pay a flat fee OF
SIS a year, regardless of size.
Favor Consolidation.
The governor also has an
nouneed that he will urge in his
message the consolidation and
elimination of departments. a pro-
gram which he would have effect
I ABOUT thirty departments. bureaus
and divisions now maintained by
the state Some time ago the gov
ernor suggested that it might be a
good IDldn 10 IeNlSe eiiO iiluuShiAoi
court law so that a board separate
and distinct from the industrial
court would have charge of puoilc
utilities. Tho governors proposal
at once ELECTED opposition.
Other problems which promise
to create a generous share of in
terest in the coming session in
clude:
Revamping of the workman's
compensation law.
-. Repeal of the state anti-cigarette
law.
An industrial insurance ln&.
Petitions of state elective Offs
GERS for larger salaries. -..
Increase of pay for members OF
the legislature whose daily wage is
fixed by statute at SO.
Antitrust law, remodeled to put
teeth in its anti-profiteering fea-
ture." s.-a.,.. .s.
State owned cement and brick
plants.
Law permitting municipalities to
build and operate ice plants and
conduct fuel yards. I
Home rule for. municipalities.
Adoption Of children's code laws.
New buildings for state institu-
tions--educational, charitable and
penal. H a. s@.-.--a 'al
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