connection with the organization of the district, and the collection of taxes for payment of the principal and interest of bonds or for payment of monies required by contract with the United States, and in connection with the award of damages. Provided, however, that a reopening of the judgment upon the rate of drainage benefits may be had at the petition of the board of directors, upon sufficient cause shown.

SEC. 58. Wherever the word district is used in this act it shall be held to mean and include only the lands described in the official order establishing said district and the official plat thereof on record in the office of the county clerk, as hereinbefore provided in this act, and such lands as may be included in any district in accordance with the provisions of sections 34 to 43 inclusive.

SEC. 59. This act shall be construed as applying only to districts organized for the purpose of co-operation with the United States under the federal reclamation law or other federal laws as defined in section one hereof and nothing herein contained shall be so construed as to affect or interfere with the organization, operation or maintenance of any irrigation district organized or to be organized under any other laws of this state. Nor shall this act be so construed as to affect the validity of any district heretofore organized under the laws of this state for the purpose of co-operation with the United States under the federal reclamation law or other federal laws, or its right in or to property or any of its rights or privileges of whatsoever kind or nature; but said districts are hereby made subject to the provisions of this act so far as applicable; nor shall this act be construed to affect, impair or discharge any contract, obligation, lien or charge, for, or upon which such district was or might become liable or chargeable had not this act been passed; nor shall it affect the validity of any bonds which have been issued and sold, or issued but not sold; nor shall it affect any action which may now be pending.

Provided, that any irrigation district heretofore organized, or hereafter to be organized under the provisions of any other laws of this state which may desire to co-operate with the United States under the federal reclamation law or other federal laws, may enter into a contract with the United States providing for such co-operation with the United States, and after such contract shall have been approved by a majority of the qualified electors of said district at an election held as provided under this act, such irrigation district shall thereafter become subject to the provisions of this act.

SEC. 60. All acts or parts of acts in conflict herewith are hereby repealed.

SEC. 61. That it is necessary for the preservation of the public peace and safety of the inhabitants of the State of New Mexico, that the provisions of this act shall become effective at the earliest possible time, and therefore an emergency is hereby declared to exist and this act shall take effect and be in full force and effect from and after its passage and approval.

CHAPTER 21.

AN ACT AMENDING SECTION 3779, OF THE NEW MEXICO STATUTES, CODIFICATION OF 1915, RELATING TO ATTEMPTED INCORPORATION OF MUNICIPAL CORPORATIONS.

Committee Substitute for House Bill No. 68; Approved March 6, 1919.

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of New Mexico:

SECTION 1. Section 3779 of the New Mexico Statutes, Codification of 1915, is hereby amended to read as follows:

§3779. Section 249. Any city, town, or village which shall have exercised the rights and powers of a municipal corporation, and shall have in office a board of officers exercising the duties of their offices, and the legality of the formation or organization of which shall not have been or shall not be legally denied or questioned within two years from date of its formation or organization, shall be deemed to be a legally incorporated city, town or village, and its formation, organization, or incorporation, shall not be thereafter questioned.

CHAPTER 22.

AN ACT RELATIVE TO RESIGNATION OF MEMBERS OF THE STATE LEGISLATURE, AND PROVIDING FOR FILLING OF VACANCIES OCCASIONED THEREBY.

Committee Substitute for House Bill No. 71; Approved March 6, 1919.

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of New Mexico:

SECTION 1. Any member of the Legislature of the State of New Mexico may resign his office by filing a written statement of such resignation with the Secretary of State of New Mexico, and upon the filing of such resignation, the office of senator or

representative filled by the person so resigning shall become va

cant.

SEC. 2. Whenever any vacancy arises in the legislative membership, the Governor shall call an election in the manner now provided by law to fill the same. Provided, however, if a general election shall occur before any regular or specially convened session of the legislature, and such vacancy may thereby be filled, it shall not be necessary to call and hold such special election.

CHAPTER 23.

AN ACT TO PROVIDE FOR THE SETTLEMENT OF DISPUTES BETWEEN RESIDENTS OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO AND RESIDENTS OF THE STATE OF COLORADO, RESIDENTS ALONG THE LA PLATA RIVER IN THE SAID STATES, IN REGARD TO THE RIGHT TO THE WATERS OF SAID RIVER.

Committee Substitute for House Bill No. 139; Approved March 6, 1919.

Whereas, the residents of the La Plata Valley, in the County of San Juan and State of New Mexico, have for many years been using the waters from the La Plata River flowing into the said county from the State of Colorado for agricultural purposes; and

Whereas, the said residents of the said valley had acquired prior rights to said waters by virtue of prior appropriations thereof; and

Whereas, subsequent to the appropriation of the said waters by the said residents of the said county and their predecessors in title, residents of the State of Colorado, along the said La Plata River, have diverted the waters from the said river to their own use until practically all of the waters from the said river have been diverted and used by the said residents of the said State of Colorado to the detriment and practical ruin of the said residents of the said State of New Mexico dependent upon the said waters for agricultural and irrigation purposes; and

Whereas, the State of Colorado has appropriated large sums of money to sustain the action of its residents in the said diversion and use of the said waters; and

Whereas, the residents of the State of New Mexico along the said La Plata River are entitled to aid from the State of New Mexico in their efforts to obtain their equitable rights in the adjustment of the use of the said waters; and

Whereas, the State of New Mexico is deeply interested in assisting its residents and inhabitants in obtaining their rights in the said mattter; now, therefore,

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of New Mexico:

SECTION 1. The Governor of the State of New Mexico is hereby authorized and directed to take such steps, file such suits and actions with the advice and assistance of the Attorney General of the State of New Mexico, and in the name of the State of New Mexico, and to employ such special counsel to assist in the prosecution of such suits, as he may deem necessary to properly litigate the question of the rights of the residents of the County of San Juan along the La Plata River in the State of New Mexico in connection with the use of the waters of the La Plata River.

SEC. 2. That there is hereby appropriated the sum of ten thousand dollars ($10,000) out of any funds not otherwise appropriated, for the expenses of said suits and for the payment of special counsel's fees in connection with the filing of any suits to litigate and adjudicate the rights of the State of New Mexico and of the residents of the said State to the waters of the said La Plata River, as against the subsequent diverters and users of said waters from the said river in the State of Colorado.

SEC. 3. All moneys hereby appropriated shall be expended under the direction and supervision and by the authority of the Governor of the State of New Mexico, and the State Auditor shall issue his warrants upon the State Treasurer for the payment of vouchers signed by the said Governor for the expenditure of any or all of the said appropriation, and the State Treasurer shall pay the said warrants issued as provided in this act upon presentation thereof.

SEC. 4. That it is necessary for the preservation of the public peace and safety of the inhabitants of the State of New Mexico that the provisions of this act shall become effective at the earliest possible time and, therefore, an emergency is hereby declared to exist, and this act shall take effect and be in full force and effect from and after its passage and approval.

CHAPTER 24.

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 8 OF CHAPTER 71 OF THE LAWS OF 1915, RELATING TO CHATTEL MORTGAGES.

S. B. No. 9; Approved March 7, 1919.

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of New Mexico: SECTION 1. That section 8 of Chapter 71 of the Laws of 1915 be amended to read as follows:

"SEC. 8. Any such chattel mortgage or other instrument of writing, filed as herein provided, shall be void as against the creditor of the person making the same or against subsequent purchasers or mortgagees in good faith after the expiration of six years from and after the date of the maturity thereof."

SEC. 2. All laws and parts of laws in conflict herewith are hereby repealed.

CHAPTER 25.

AN ACT DECLARING THE ROAD FROM VAUGHN, IN THE COUNTY OF GUADALUPE, BY WAY OF EL CERRITO AND LAGUNITA TO MONTOYAS', IN THE COUNTY OF SAN MIGUEL, A STATE HIGH

WAY.

S. B. No. 18; Approved March 7, 1919.

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of New Mexico:

SECTION 1. That the road commencing at Vaughn, in the County of Guadalupe, and running thence to El Cerrito and thence by way of Lagunita to a place called Montoyas in the County of San Miguel, is hereby designated as a state highway.

CHAPTER 26.

AN ACT DECLARING THE ROAD FROM RIBERA, IN THE COUNTY OF SAN MIGUEL, WHICH RUNS VIA EL PUEBLO, QUESTA DEL PUERTA DE CAPATE AND LEYBA, AND THENCE TO WHITE LAKES IN THE COUNTY OF SANTA FE, A STATE HIGHWAY.

S. B. No. 49; Approved March 6, 1919.

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of New Mexico:

SECTION 1. That a certain public road from Ribera, running thence through El Pueblo, Questa del Puerta de Capate and