Santa Fe daily New Mexican., 1894-10-08
DODGING AGAIN.
Why Two Suits We're Necessary TO
Recover from Republican Treas
urer MOndragon's Bonds
men.

1t has been suggested in some quarters
that good many people want to know
why the city attorney was compelled by
the city council to bring the special suit
against Messrs. Catron, Bartlett and Ro.
nero on account of tho Mondragon
shortage, mentioned in these colum n.
q few days ago.
The simple reason is that Messrs. Cat
ron, Bartlett and Romero wouldn't pay
up, and consequently suit against then,
was tho only recourse left open.
When Republican Treasurer Mo4drs
gon defaulted he held two offices, one as
treasurer of the city and the other al
treasurer of the city school board.
Mondragon's bondsmen in the first In
stance were Aniceto Abeytia, Juan Garcla
Amado Chaves, Martin QuintaLa, Rafae
Martinez and G. NJ. Conklin. Suit was
filed by City Attorney Renehan agains,
Mondragon and these bondsmen on June
8, 1894, for the amount due the city, ag-
gregating only four or fivs hundred dol
lars.
Mondragon's bondsmen for the school
board money, amounting to $4,03633
were Messrs. Catron, Bartlett and Romero
and suit against them was filed last
Saturday week by the city attorney.
The statement that this last suit was
unnecessary and that the first suit would
| be dismissed Indicates either q desire to
misrepressnt or a gross ignorance Of the
facts.
There being two bonds, for different
amounts, covering different funds and
with entirely different sureties, the
only means of enforcing the liability
was the filing of two suits. There has
never been moments doubt on the part
of the city council or in any other direc-
tion as to the propriety of this second
suit. Some point, it il true, was raised
by those, whom delay would benefit, that
the city attorney was not authorized to
bring this last suit. To settle the ques-
the council and received explicit instruc-
tions to proceed in the matter. Accord
ingly he filed suit without delay.
As to the claim that Mr.. Catron and his
fellow-bondsmen are delaying the pay
ment Of this shortage in order that Mon
dragons property may be first ferreted
out and levied upon, it is sufficient to
suggest that tho people of Santa Fe have
no interest in this controversy between
Msndragon and his bondsmen.
The bondsmen bound themselves to re-
imburse the people for Mondragon's
shortage; that shortage is undisputed and
its amount is fixed beyond peradventure.
The duty which the bondsnen owed the
public was the payment of tho amount
when it was ascertained year ago. They
could then have sued Mondragon without
delay for the amount they expended on
his account. Had they done this, judg-
ment would have been secured by them
months ago aud the pleasure of ferreting
out the property he has protected by
| ''very peculiar circumstances" could have
been entered into by the proper parties,
his bondsmen. Instead of doing this the
bopdsmen delayed and the public schools
suffered; the bondsmen fddled while the
board of education was harassed; the
bondsmen retained what they owed while
the teachers discounted the warrants for
their well-earned salaries.
And at this writing the bondsmen are
still 1ddling, while the people are wait
ing, and the schools are suffering.