Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1890-12-30

/ politics, yet the experience OF a slngl
election has demonstrated that, at leas
in the case Of justice of the peace, it
practically impossible to separate thes
elections from party politics. All owe
the Territory party nominations wer
made for the January election, and mucl
as we may deplore the fact, it would b,
foolish not to recognize it.
Every one admits, however, that the
election of school officers should be KEEP
entirely free from POLITICAL consideration
aud SO | recommend that it be discon
nected from the precinct elections fol
justices and cSnstables. In connection
with the school law have suggested that
the term of all school officers begin on
July i, as that marks the end of the
school year, and | therefore recommend
that the election of school directors be
held early in June of each year. This
will separate it from every other election
and bring it at a time when the people
will have learned by years experience
the capabilities of their present directors
and consequently can re-elect them or
not, according to their merits.
Great confusion and trouble have been
caused by the attempt in this Act, to
unite the election of Mayordomos of
acequias with that of precinct officers
No doubt it was done without consider
ing the essential differences in the offices
Mayordomos are not elected by a general
vote of citizens, but by the vote of those
only who are interested in each acequia.
The language of the statute is "the only
persons entitled to vote at such election
(of mayordomos) shall be the owners or
renters of land irrigated by said acequias. y
There are acequias which irrigate the
land of only to owners, and in such case,
there are but two voters for mayordomo.
In other cases there are ten, or twenty, or
one hundred as the case may be; but they
are never the same as the voters of pre-
cinct. Again, there may be number of
acequias in single precinct, each with
its own set of electors. Thus one man
owning several pieces of property may be
voter at three or four acequia elections,
while another regular precinct voter,
owning no land, is not an acequias voter
at all. 1t is practically impossible there
fore to hold the two elections together.
To attempt it only creates confusion and
leads to contests as to the control of the
acequias. 1t will be best to amend Chap.
115 by striking out the words "mayor-
domos of acequias" and leaving them to
be elected as heretofore.
THE FISH ACT.
This is Chapter IS of the Laws of 1889,
and in the main, is useful statute. The
first point requiring attention appears to
be clerical error in Sec. 4, by which the
months during which it is unlawful to
take fish are stated to be November,
December. January, February, April and
May" 1t will be observed that March is
omitted. This should be inserted, and it
seems to be the general opinion that the
interdicted season should end with April
and not extend to May.
The section specially open to objection
however, is Sec. 5. This is curiously
worded, but the only meaning that can be
given to it, is that no one shall kill any
fish at any time, except for food or neces-
sary immediate use, and limited to the
necessities of the person catching it,
| Perhaps that was not the intention, but
such is the exact meaning Of the words
| Under it, no one can catch fish tC
sell, or give away, or even use in his
/ family; but Only to meet his own immedi
ate necessities. Constituting it strictly nc
one can fish at all unless he is in a starry
ing condition and without other food
Probably it was intended to reserve al
fish for sportsmen and prevent anyone
from catching them to sell, but if so, it is
not well expressed. Even if that were
the meaning, | submit that it would no
be proper law. 1t should be the aim o
good legislation to open to honest Labor
as many branches Of industry as possible
Every nation has fostered its fisheries
there is no reason that we should not en-
courage this industry here, as far AZ
nature permits. We have many streams
that abound in fish, which under protec
tive laws will increase from year tt
year. They ought to afford profitable
occupation to scores of industrious mer
during the proper season. Most of then
are located in sections little calculated fol
agriculture and where the people are
poor. We should encourage this branch
of industry instead Of prohibiting it. L
certainly is in opposition to American
ideas to preserve all the fish for thu
amusement of few sportsmen, and pre-
vent the laboring man from catching
them as means of support. I recon-
mend that the section above named b.
properly amended.
LINCOLN COUNTY EOTARIRs.
Tha act creating the counties of Chave
and Eddy Chapter 81, Laws of 1889
provides that the separate existence Q
this counties shall begin on January l
, 1891. There are a number of notarie
for Lincoln county residing within tn
boundaries Of the new counties, and
, recommend that an act be immediatel
passed empowering them to continue t.
act as such, until the expiration of thei
respective terms.
should exhaust your patience if
{ we're to enumerate all the laws, even Q
recent enactments which should be re
pealed or amended in the interests Of tn
J people; can only hope that in you
wisdom you will remedy a. many of sue
, defects as the limited duration of tn
session will permit.
t One other law, however, feel con
strained specially to refer to on sccour
OF the injustice which fear it occasions
, l refer to chapter of the laws of 1884
: appearing as sections 22l4 to 2218 in tn
compilation of 1884, entitled, "An &C
: to determine and quiet the title of res
! property and for other purposes"
: would he difficult to imagine a NOR
, dangerous law than this. 1t would b
: injurious enough in community wher
, land is rarely held jointly or in common
' but in New Mexico, where nearly ever
important tract has large number c
owners, it is fraught with special danger
{ 1t is evidently intended for just sue
i cases, and instead of "quieting" anythin