Santa Fe Daily New Mexican

THE STATE QUESTION
A Senate Committee to
Prepare
Memorial to
Congress.
Cutting the Clerks' Fees-Agricultural
College-Two School Bills
in the House.
SENATE.
MONDAY'S AFTERNOON SESSION.
When the senate assembled yesterday
afternoon all the members were present
save Mr. Perea, excused.
Mr. Dolan, chairman of the enrolled
bills committee, reported C. B. No. 42,
"An act to amend the law relating to public
printer" as correctly enrolled, and the
president affixed his signature to the
same.
Mr. Dolan also favorably reported C. B.
No. 28. "An act to amend an act relating
to fences in Lincoln county."
THE STATEHOOD MATTER
Mr. Catron presented and had read the
preamble and resolutions adopted at the
territorial statehood convention, held in
Santa Fe on the 12th instant, and asked
that the same be referred to a special com-
mittee of five, with instructions that the
committee prepare at once a memorial to
be forwarded to congress urging that
body to pass immediately an enabling act
for New Mexico's admission as a state.
The president appointed as such com-
mittee Messrs. Catron, of Santa Fe; Rodey,
of Bernalillo; King, of Grant; Fort and
Prichard, of San Miguel.
Mr. Catron also offered a resolution pro-
viding that 500 copies of the preamble and
resolutions be printed in English and
Spanish, which was adopted.
On motion of Mr. Prichard, of the coun-
council committee to confer with the house
committee on C. B. No. 31, relating to the
payment of certain contingent expenses
of the present session, the council receded
from its amendment to the bill.
C. B. No. 6, relating to practice in
criminal cases, was read a third time and
again referred.
C. B. No. 7, relating to a similar subject,
was placed upon its third reading and
passed.
C. B. No. 19, relating to filing of infor-
mations by prosecuting officers, prohibit-
ing the same, was also passed.
DEEP WATER HARBOR.
The following special message from the
governor was read and referred to the
committee on territorial affairs:
To the Legislative Assembly of the Territory of
New Mexico:
Gentlemen of the Assembly: I have
the honor to transmit herewith a com-
munication from the Hon. W. W. Griffin,
chairman of the territorial committee in-
stituted in co-operation with the move-
ment for the creation of a deep water har-
bor on the northwest coast of the Gulf of
Mexico.
This movement is of vast consequence
to New Mexico, whose people, with all
their interests, will reap greater benefit
than any others not situate upon the gulf
coast, from the successful agitation of that
enterprise.
Whatever may be said of the propriety
of distributing the proceeds of national
taxation for the improvement or creation
of navigable rivers and harbors, there can
be no question as to the entire propriety
and constitutionality of the devotion of
the necessary amount of the public rev-
enues to this project-immediately upon
the sea coast and essential to the commer-
cial and industrial prosperity of so many
of the states and territories of the union.
The great area of the public lands now
lies upon the western rim of the Missis-
sippi valley, in the valleys and on the
plains of the eastern slope of the Rocky
mountains. A great tide of people in
search of new homes has been for many
years pouring over this vast stretch of
practically unoccupied country, till pros-
perous and powerful communities have
taken the place of the Indian, and the
buffalo has become a reminiscence in the
presence of the herdman's ranch and the
farmer's bountiful fields.
But with the development of a surplus
of product these communities have found
themselves and all their interests ham-
pered by expensive long distance trans-
portation to sea-board markets, which
disability has in turn been supplemented
by unfriendly revenue and monetary
national legislation, which causes com-
bined have absorbed a large part of the
value of their products and crippled and
repressed their developing energies and
cramped these beneficent and inviting
conditions.
At last the public apprehension has
turned to a shorter line of communication
and transportation to sea-board, which
will reduce by more than a half the dis-
tance and the cost of freightage to tide
water, and practically bring the markets
of the world to our door.
We are now shipping our products
2,000 miles to the sea-board markets,
though within 700 miles of what can be
made one of the finest tide water harbors
on the gulf of Mexico.
The tendency of public appropriations
has been so long and so firmly held to the
policy of sectional diffusion in waterway
improvements, that only a powerful con-
centration of effort on the part of the
growing west and southwest will be able
to effect a change and bring the policy of
the government back to its original intent
and limit in the expenditure of the public
revenues for the improvement of naviga-
tion and the promotion and protection of
commerce.
With what will be at a not distant day
our great grain fields within 700 miles of
a deep water ocean harbor-our vast vol-
ume of manufactured product based upon
inexhaustible mines of coal and all the
useful and precious metals-relieved from
the burden of an exhausting system of
transportation and placed in a position to
compete successfully in that respect with
every part of the union, and vastly super-
ior in the power of production, it is diffi-
cult to forecast the strides New Mexico
will make in her development of the com-
mercial activities and political power.
The time is ripe for the beginning of
this movement. New Mexico will un-
doubtedly receive the greatest benefit of
all the interior communities from its con-
summation, and it is therefore eminently
proper that she should be foremost in both
private and public action in its behalf.
I therefore recommend that the legisla-
tive assembly, by public resolution, take
early and emphatic action in memorializ-
ing congress for prompt and sufficient ap-
propriation for the development of a deep
water harbor on the gulf coast.
EDMUND G. ROSS
Governor.
Mr. Rodey gave notice that he would
offer an amendment to the senate rules,
and the same was read.
Adjourned to 10 a. m.
TO-DAY'S SESSION.
President Chaves called the council to
order pursuant to adjournment. Prayer
by the chaplain. All members were pres-
ent except Mr. Franks. Mr. Rodey re-
ported Mr. Franks as sick. The journal
of yesterday was read and approved.
House substitute to C. B. No. 31. "An
act to provide for certain contingent ex-
penses of the 28th session of the legislature
of New Mexico," was taken up.
Mr. Prichard moved to recede from the
council amendment to the house substi-
tute. Carried.
Bill read third time by title and passed.
Mr. Fort introduced C. B. No. 58, "An
act to provide for calling special terms of
court as a continuance of any term in
session." Read first time, rules suspended,
read the second time by title and re-
ferred to the judiciary committee.
Mr. Rodey, by request, introduced C.
B. No. 59, "An act amendatory of the
laws of 1884 relating to municipal corpo-
rations." It provides that incorporated
towns in building side walks shall assess
the costs against the adjoining property.
Read first and second time, referred to
committee on municipal corporations.
Mr. Rodey, by request, introduced C.
B. No. 60, amendatory of the laws relat-
ing to municipal corporations. Upon
affidavit of the mayor and recorder that a
town has 8,000 inhabitants, it may at the
next city election elect officers for a city.
Read the first and second time and re-
ferred to the committee on municipal and
private corporations.
Mr. Rodey, by request of the Bar asso-
ciation, introduced C. B. No. 61, relating
to forms of pleading. Read first and sec-
ond time and referred to judiciary com-
mittee.
Mr. Rodey, by request of the Bar asso-
ciation introduced C. B. No. 62, to secure
the right of appeal from judgment of jus-
tice of the peace and affixing a penalty
for the wrongful refusal of such appeal.
Read the first and second time and re-
ferred to judiciary committee.
Mr. Rodey, by request of the Bar asso-
ciation, introduced C. B. No. 63, to pre-
vent debtors in contemplation of insolvency
from preferring one or more creditors
to the exclusion in whole or in part of
others. Read the first and second time
and referred to the judiciary committee.
Mr. Rodey, by request of the Bar asso-
ciation, introduced C. B. No. 64, provid-
ing for the review of certain judicial
orders. Read the first and second time
and referred to the judiciary committee.
Mr. King introduced C. B. No. 65, "An
act to provide for feeding county prison-
ers in the territory of New Mexico." It
provides after advertisement the county
commissioners shall let the contract to
the lowest bidder. Read the first and
second time and referred to committee on
territorial affairs.
On motion of Mr. Jaramillo the last
bill was ordered translated and printed.
Mr. Perea introduced C. B. No. 66, "An
act relating to the finances of the territory
of New Mexico." This is a very long bill
and refers to the revenues of the territory.
It was read the first and second time by
title and referred to the finance committee.
Mr. Perea introduced C. B. No. 67. "An
act establishing and limiting the compen-
sation of the supreme and district court."
It gives the clerks of the supreme court a
salary of $2,500 in full for all pay, and
the clerks must keep a record book show-
ing all fees received, and under oath turn
them into the territorial treasury, and also
make report of same under oath to the
auditor, penalty $1,000 for all failures.
Read the first and second time, and on
motion of Mr. Catron referred to judiciary
committee.
On motion of Mr. Rodey the council
adjourned to 10 a. m. to-morrow to per-
mit the committees to work.
HOUSE.
YESTERDAY'S SESSION.
Mr. Lucero, of Colfax presented a peti-
tion from the citizens of Colfax county
asking for a change in county lines.
which was referred to the committee on
counties, of which Mr. Lesnet is chair-
man.
Mr. Cooney, from the committee on
judiciary reported a substitute for H. B.
No. 41. "An act to prohibit certain officers
from speculating in county and territorial
warrants." Sent to translator.
Mr. Cooney introduced H. B. No. 51
"An act to establish and locate an agri-
cultural college at Socorro, in the county
of Socorro." Twice read and referred to
the committee on territorial affairs.
Mr. Sanchez introduced H. B. No. 52,
entitled, An act to provide for the ap-
pointment and election of land grant com-
missioners in the territory of New Mex-
ico." Twice read and referred to the com-
mittee on judiciary.
This bill refers to community grants
only, and provides for the election of a
board of three members who shall have
general charge of the community grants;
look after their confirmation by congress;
prohibit people other than actual holders
from locating thereon, and regulating the
number of head of stock to be grazed
thereon.
Mr. Sniffen introduced H. B. No. 53
"An act in relation to the collection of
licenses." Same reference.
Mr. Sniffen also introduced H. B. No.
54, "An act for the protection of servants
and employees." Same reference.
Under suspension of the rules C. B
No. 5, "An act in relation to the imprison-
ment of persons charged with crime."
was taken from the speaker's table and
sent to the judiciary committee. As was
also C. B. No. 40, "An act to repeal sec-
tion 2034, Compiled Laws.
Under a further suspension of the rules
council joint resolution No. 4, in relation
to the territorial librarian, was taken up
and passed.
TO-DAY'S SESSION.
When the house was formally called to
order, Mr. Dolan appeared with council
bills No. 26 and 42, and the same were
signed by the speaker.
A large number of bills were reported
by the various standing committees and
ordered printed.
Mr. Mascareneas moved that H. B. No.
24, "An act exempting certain property
from sale and execution and for other pur-
poses." be read for information. The
judiciary committee having reported
against the bill. Adopted.
Mr. Romero moved that the commit-
tee's report be lain on the table indefi-
nitely.
On motion of Mr. Webster the house
went into a committee of the whole. Mr.
Webster in the chair, to consider this
measure. After a time the committee of
the whole arose and reported the bill to
the house, recommending that it be re-
ferred to the judiciary committee with in-
structions to report whether or not it con-
flicted with the act of congress. Adopted.
Mr. Romero, of the conference com-
mittee to consider C. B. No. 31, reported
that the council committee had agreed to
report in favor of concurrence in the
house amendment.
Mr. Sanchez, of the capital commis-
sion, reported the legislative bath rooms
would be ready for use to-morrow.
The following bills were introduced and
referred:
By Mr. Kistler-H. B. No. 55. "An act
to establish public schools and creating
the office of superintendent of public
schools."
By Mr. Cooney-H. B. No. 56, "An act
relating to the location and relocation of
mining claims, rights of way, etc."
By Mr. Kistler-H. B. No. 57, "An act
to establish public schools in incorpor-
ated cities."
By Mr. Sniffen-H. B. No. 58. "An act
regulating the use of copies of certain
records."
By Mr. Sniffen-H. B. No. 59, "An act
relating to the confession of judgments."
Adjourned to 3 p. m.
H. B. No. 55, introduced by Mr. Kistler
provides that every school district in the
territory shall have the power to issue its
own school bonds and establish and
maintain its own public schools; that
they shall levy a tax not exceeding 10
mills on the taxable property of the dis-
trict for school purposes. In a word
each district must educate its own chil-
dren.
The other school bill introduced to-day
by Mr. Kistler provides for the appoint-
ment of boards of education in incorpor-
ated cities. The bill No. 55 also provides
for the appointment of a territorial super-
intendent who shall have general charge
of all public matters, and a tax of 1
mill on the dollar is levied to defray ex-
penses of his office.