Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1889-01-18


of railroad property, mines, and other
property temporarily not taxed, amount
ing to at least 500, 100000 more. With
this increase in valuation there has been
an increase during the past two years, as
shown by the last election returns of the
territory, of over 1000 votes, showing an
increase in the population Of the territory
within that time, of about 10000. \ large
and intelligent class from all portions of
the states is constantly coming into the
territory, and is rapidly developing its re-
sources and increasing its wealth and
prosperity. New Mexico possesses the re-
sources, the intelligence, the enterprise
and the population to authorize and de-
mand its admission into the union as a
state at once; with its admission it would
be but a few years when it would be
equal in every respect to the present
states OF the union. A territorial govern
ment, such as New Mexico now has, is
calculated to retard progress and develop
ment i'll n marked degree. A territorial
or colonial government is known by those
who have lived under such as probably
the most Objectionable form OF govern
ment that could be devised for free peo-
| pie. Owing to the severe limitations and
restrictions placed upon the territories by
general government in respect to local
laws, thousands of people Of the east are
virtually barred from making their homes
among us.
New Mexico has an area of 122 $50
square miles there are only two states
and two territories in the United States
having larger areas, namely, California,
Texas, Dakota and Montana. Out of the
twenty-five new states which have been
added to the thirteen original states only
two Maine and Wisconsin, had, at the
time of their admission, as large a popu-
lation as New Mexico now has. 1t is es-
timated that there are probably 60,000,-
OOU acres OF tillable land in the territory OF
New Mexico, the most of which, of course,
is wholly unoccupied, for the reason al
ready indicated.
The gold and silver fields OF New Mexi-
co are second to none in the United
States. No state Or territory in the union
equals it in respect to its placer gold fields,
and it's output of gold and silver bullion
is only surpassed by about four states and
territories of the union.
New Mexico hasa permanent system OF
public schools, free from sectarian or re-
ligous influences, with liberal appropria-
, ton to meet the expenses thereof. The
total enrolment of puplsin public schools
for the territory in the year 1887 was
l3, 1856, and the average daily attendance
during the same period was II O24. There
has been large increase over this show
ing during the year 1888, so that there
would not be less than probably 5000 adj
ditional pupils for the year just ended
over the year preceding. The value of
school buildings, exclusive OF other school
property, is estimated by the auditor of
the territory to be $3lS,704.
The people of the territory, in recent
convention assembled at Santa Fe, have
expressed themselves emphatcally as be-
ing in favor of the admission of New Mex
leo as state at the earliest practicable
moment. That convention was composed
of the leading and prominent men of the
| territory, of all parties. A copy of the
resolutions OF that convention are attached
to this memorial, as showing the senti-
ment of the people Of New Mexico on the
question of its admission as state into
the union.
A bill is now before the present legisla-
ture Of the territory upon the subject Of q
constitutional convention. The senti-
ment is a strong in favor of statehood.
There is but little doubt that the bill will
pass both branches of the legislature,
either in its present or modified form.
1t provides for the calling of a constitu-
tional convention at the capital OF the
territory to formulate constitution, Re-
publican in form, establishing an absolute
sol, fS1n o,,I fnr
permanent system of free public schools
for the future state.
In taking this action your memorialsts
are not without precedent, for many OF
the present states OF the union were adj
mitted by congress as states only after
steps bad been taken by them as terri
tories to become states and constitutions
formed, adopted and ratified by the peo-
pie for their future government.
Your memoralists protest, however,
that the provisions of the I'd section OF
II. B. No. S46G, known as the Springer
omnibus bill, which provides for par
tisan commission composed OF the gov
ernor, the United States marshal and the
United States attorney to district this ter
ritory and apportion the delegates to the
constitutional convention in proportion to
the population, "to be ascertatned from
the best information obtainable," does |
not provide for any reliable mode for as
certaining the population, but would per-
NIT such commission to gerrymander the
territory in the interest OF the political
party to which they give allegiance, and
whose interest they would wish to pro-
mote.
Your memorialsts would suggest that
the more proper, feasible and satisfactory
mode of apportioning the representation
in such convention would be to elect three
delegates for each member of the house
of representatives of the territory as pro-
vided by law and three delegates from the
territory at large.
Your memorialists are OF the opinion
that Sec. 10, of the same bill No. 1856,
should be so amended that, instead of re-
quiring q special act of congress to admit
the state after it has formed, adopted and
ratified constitution, Republican in form,
and has complied with all the other re-
quirements OF the said bill, No. 1886, the
state OF New Mexico should be admitted
on proclamation by the president, as in
the case of Colorado, and thus avoid I'M
certainty and delay.
Your menorialists believe that the en-
tire people OF this territory prefer to re-
tain the same "New Mexico" us the name
of their state, without the necessity of
voting on the same.
Your memorialists appeal to the presi-
dent and congress for favorable consid-
Grafton hereof, as we'll as all early action
in the premises, and they will ever pray.
Mr.. Prichard moved to reconsider the
vote by which the memorial passed, and
then moved to lay the motion 10 re-
consider on the table, Carried