Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1922-08-14
Albuquerque, N. M!
August IA, 1922.

August II, 1922.
Editor A b uqu erque Morning
Journal:
AS the present congressman of
the state of New Mexico / read
with interest and approval the
editorial on the front page of your
issue of Sunday the 18th instant,
because it squarely meets my
views as to the timber necessary
for congressman under the pres
ent conditions and situation in
New Mexico when the alienation
of the tax burden is the para
mount issue, either through con-
gress by the donation Of the pub
lie lands to the state and by the
state legislature in retrenching
and economizing, or both.
Time was not many years back
when either the congressman or
little to the state except in ma
tional matters and local routinary
business, and then we had some
Of our bigges, and brainiest men
in such service, but nothing was
done in the light indicated today
by the Journal, for some reason or
other of which we do not know.
But times have changed and the
demand for big matters affecting
the state cannot any longer be
overlooked or ignored.
1t is true, as you say, that in
the senate we have in common
tt,tA \. Ntl s,tA frr
stitution, two United States sem
ators which are great power
in that body to help the state in
various ways if they are alive
to act and watch for the Toppor-
tunities of doing so. In the house
owing to the apportionment by
population we have only one soli-
tary congressman while now we
are entitled to two, if congress
would apportion under the last
census. Twice during the present
session of congress an effort has
been made in the house to bring
up the apportionment bill for
consideration and action, but |
twice the plan has failed owing |
to jealousies in the more populous |
states that would have to lose |
one congressman in the allotment |
and that power has held the pas |
sage OF, the bill back, but it is
expected that4it will pass at the
next regular session and then
New Mexico will have two con-
gressmen. l was successful in
having the census committee at
4 hn a., ~
report for an additional congress-
man, having presented the facts
and the figures to prove that we
were entitled to an additional
and the bill so
provides.
AS to big matters affecting our
state, aside from postoffice ap-
pointments and many other i'm
portant matters relating to ex-
service men in claims for COM
pensation, vocational training,
disqualification and insurance, land
matters before the general land
office, pension claims, immi-
grafton matters of citizens and
families from foreign lands and
many other things requested from
by their constituents,
have from the beginning of my :
ERIN in congress a year and a
half ago been actively interested
and associated in the move ,
nent for the passage of the !
'mith-McNary bill, which is one ,
II the biggest things and means !
70 much for the future of our
'tate and Hons. Nicholas J.. Sin /
lot, of Oregon, chairman of the {
of public lands. of !
which l am member; Addison !
I. Smith, of Idaho; Congressmen s
french, of Idaho;s Vail. of Colo /
ado; Leatherwood, of Utah, and
many others from the west with
whom l have worked all along
will say If haze attended to my {
luty in that line in the interest
II my people, now belong to G
he active committee in charge
II the bill in the house. have
.lso been active in supporting
md pushing to passage the meas
res carrying big appropriations
or good roads about one hundred
nd fifty millions up to and in
923. T
AS to one very important mat r
or for the state mentioned in the n
ditorial. that Of getting congress r
, donate the public lands to the "
tate, will say that have had that +
I mind and have taken certain ac- +
on looking to that end from the h
me l arrived in Washington. IIh
ave investigated and consulted "
18th high legal authority in Wash o
igton as to the best procedure in +
ttainihg the great desideratum. "