Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1889-03-14

as it repeats the old quarantine and cattl
| sanitary law, the stock men are safe, ant
: need have no fears OF losing their quaran
tine and sanitary regulations. Quite thu
reverse, they have by this new law beer
given stronger and enlarged powers. The
new law covers all the points in the old
one and in addition, among other
things, provides that the cattle
sanitary commissioners may appoint
as many competent and discreet persons
from time to time as emergencies require
to aid in the enforcement of quarantine
provisions and for the sanitary protection
OF cattle, such persons to receive not to
exceed $3.50 per day while in actual
service, such persons to assist the veteri-
nary surgeon or do such other duty a.
directed by the board. The bill makes
all expenses Of inspection or quarantine,
if necessary, q lien on the cattle till paid ;
! provides for the levy Of one-half OF l mill
on "al cattle" instead of exemptin.
herds OF go head and under as in the old
law; and stipulates that the aggregate
amount Of money to be expended by this
sanitary board in any one year shall be
/ limited to the amount actually provided
| for that year under this act, as near as can
! be estimated.
One new feature of this law is that in
cases Of epidemic disease among the cat
tie OF New Mexico, and it becomes neres-
sarv to use more money than can be
raised under the ordinary tax levy, then
| the sanitary commission may summon
the governor, treasurer and auditor to
meet them at Santa Fe as "a territorial
cattle board, " to determine the hest inter
ests OF the cattle owners. This board
may order levy not to exceed one-quar.
ter of per cent Of the assessable value OF
cattle in New Mexico, or they may issue
bonds bearing per cent interest, to run
| five years or less. and renewable once ii
necessary, the money accruing therefrom
| TO be used by the sanitary commission in
stamping out contagious disease among
the cattle OF this territory, and the COM
missioners being required to increase
their official bonds to cover these in
creased appropriation placed at their dis
posal by the government of the territory.
The following touching the treasurer's
inquiry on this subject is of interest here
Hon. Antonio Ortiz y saazar, territorial treas.
urer, Santa Fe, n NJ
Sir: In response to your inquiry OF the
18th ut, relative to your power, as treas
urer OF the territory, to pay the orders is
sued pursuant to law, by the cattle san
itarv board OF New Mexico, beg leave to
state, that under and by the provisions OF
the act of the 2Sth legislative assembly of
the territory OF New Mexico, approved
February Is, 1889, entitled IAN act to
prevent the introduction of diseased cat.
tie into New Mexico" special and ex-
elusive fund is created designated as "the
cattle indemnity fund.-" out Of which are
made payable all claims, fees, salaries,
wages, costs and expenses provided for in
the act.
This fund, as well as the special tax
out of which it arises, is entirely outside
of the operation of the act relating to the
finances of the territory Of New Mexico"
and for the ascertainment of your powers
and duties in dealing with such fund you
are to look only to the act under which it
is created. That act commits the whole
subject of the audit and allowance OF
claims accruing under it's provisions to
the cattle sanitary board, and it is your
duty to disburse the fund under its order.
Very respectfully,
II. E. mitchell. Dist. Attorney.
Santa Fe, N. NJ, March ID, 1889.