Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1893-01-31
TERRITORIAL FINANCES,
The House Special Committees III
vestigation and What it
Revealed.
Full Text of the eport-Praise for
New Mexico's Auditor and .
Treasurer.

lopoIp'
SANTA FE, n NJ, January 25, 1891.
To the Speaker and House of Representa-.
tives of the Both Legislative Assembly
of the territory of New Mexico:
Your special committee appointed to
investigate the offices of the territorial
treasurer and terri. orial auditor respect
fully report as follows:
That we have examined the books of
the territorial treasurer and found them
absolutely correct, SO far as we are able
to determine from our examination; that
the present treasurer, Mr.. Palen, has kept
all OF his books in a frst-claJs condition,
showing every cent that he has received
and the disbursements during his term of
Office, and we are unable to recommend
or suggest any different system than the
one in which he has kept his books and
accounts, and We believe that the people
of New Mexico are fortunate in having so
careful, painstaking and efficient tinancier
in the person of Mr.. r. j. Palen.
From the face of the ledger we find the
amount of cash on hand, to the credit of
the different funds, on January 81, 1893,
to be the sum of $2lG,413.49, which
amount is deposited in the different banks
as follows:
First National bank of Santa
re-. ............ SlbS,l9b 5l
National Bank of Commerce,
N. I I.............,.... lU,3l5 II
First National bank of Las
Vegas. ................... 2e,s46 SO
First National bank of Albu-
querque. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. 9,401 II
Cash in office e............ 153 35
$216,413 40
We also examined tho books in the
office of the territorial auditor, and report
as follows:
In examining the records we found that
the last statement of ex-Auditor Alarid
did not agree with the one of the present
auditor, Mr.. Perez, in this, there was a
difference of $3,327.06 against MI. Alarid.
Mr.. Alarid was summoned to appear be-
fore the committee, and explained the
difference by stating that the same was
on account of the penitentiary fund ICON
the sum of $3,3O3.29, which amount did
not appear in his statement. There still
remained difference of $23.77, which
Mr.. Perez said it was on account of some
errors in additions, which he found
and had corrected; which explana-
tions we're satisfactory to your
committee.
We also find some errors in additions,
but they were corrected.
We file herewith statement showing a
list of taxes for the calendar years 1887
SO S9-90-91 and 50, which is marked ex-
hibit ga" and made a part of this report
Also statement Of territorial taxes
~ lectsd during the calendar vnss 1871
Us 80 S0-9I and 81, which is marked ex
hibit "B" and made part of this report
From the above statement you will
observe that in some of the counties only
one fourth to two-thirds of the taxes are
paid over to the treasurer; thus making
it great injustice for the counties who
pay their taxes to have to support the
rest of them.
We will take for an illustration the
county of Valencia. The taxes of this
county for the year 1892 amount to $16,-
401.16, of this amount only the sum of
$4,000 has been paid to the territorial
treasurer; thus leaving a balance of un
paid taxes of $13,401.16. (The above
statement refers only to territorial taxes.)
In connection with this we will state,
that the ma ajority of sheriffs do not make
prompt settlements with the territorial
treasurer as required by law. And your
committee recommend that a law be
passed by the present legislative assem-
bly, requiring all district attorneys, in
the several districts of the territory to
proceed at once to collect the differ
ent amounts due the territory from the
several sheriffs and collectors of taxes !;
and that these suits be filed within ninety
days after the passage of the law; anG
that any district attorney failing in any
part to comply with his duties enforcing
the collections of the same, that the
governor be empowered to remove at
once.
We also file herewith statement show
ing the amounts due the several assessors
for the years 1889-90 and 81, which is
marked exhibit &C." and is made part
of this report.
We also file herewith a statement show
ing the amounts due the sheriffs for the
years 16S9-90-91 and 92, which is marked
exhibit 3D." and is made part of this
report. ..
Your committee recommend that the
present legislative assembly pass law
appropriating sufficient sum of money
to cover the deficiency due the several
assessors; also sufficient sum of money
to pay the amounts due sheriffs, with the
proviso, that no money shalt be paid any
sheriff until full settlement has first
been made between him and the territory
We also file herewith statement show
ing commissions deducted from taxes
paid to the treasurer by collectors, from
March 7, 1891, to January %, 1898, which
is marked exhibit &C." and made part
of this report.
Your committe has unable to find any
law authorizing the allowance of mileage
to collectors when they make returns to
the treasurer. We find many instances
where sheriffs have charged mileage, and