Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1895-05-09
THAT INVESTIGATION.
Some Facts Cleaned from Members of
the Board of Education Respecting
the Agricultural College.

| At the request of Gov Thornton, the
territorial board of education met at Las
Cruces on the 9Th inst. for the purpose
of holding an investigation relative to
the conduct and management of the Agri-
cultural college. For some time there
have been rumors of Encouragement
circulated and the papers of that section
have been full of comments relative to
the college. All members of the board
| were present and after very thorough
and careful investigation it was found
that the college ia in flourishing condi-
ton. Perfect good feeling prevails
among the members of the faculty. Very
satisfactory progress is being made by
| the students. The attendance has ma
| terially increased over last year, and the
discipline is good. The president of the
college is doing excellent work and is
found by the faculty to be competent for
the position. The trouble seems to be in
the neighboring town of Las Cruces
where the factional fight is kept up for
the purpose of running the institution if
necessary in order to attack President
McCrea. There seems to be only one
trouble in the college itself. One of the
| instructors, not member of the faculty,
is not on good terms with the faculty and
| it is among members of his class that
some discomfort appears to exist. Nearly
| all the members of his class we're ex-
amined and testified that they had no
charges to prefer, that the progress they
were making was good, and that they had
no knowledge Of any INSTRUMENTATION
or lack of discipline. A formal report OF
this investigation will be presented to
Gov. Thornton as soon as Brother Bo-
phi returns from Las Vegas to which
place he went on this mornings train.
The board examined the accounts of the
treasurer of the college and found every
thing in excellent shape.
THE CHAVEZ AFFAIR.
While in Las Cruces the governor also
examined into the charge that Demetrio
Chavez, treasurer of the Agricultural
college, was $11, 900 short in his accounts
as former treasurer of Dona Ana county,
and took note of Mr.. Chavez statement
for future consideration. 1t appears,
| from this statement, that Mr.. Chavez was
a candidate last fall for reelection as
county treasurer and was declared elected
| by the county board of commissioners
and furnished with certificate to that
effect, but his opponent, Mr.. Freuden-
thai, was also subsequently issued a GER
tifcate of election by the same board, a
majority of whose members are Republic
cans, and he was formally recognized by
the board as treasurer and is now acting
as such.
Mr.. Chavez disputes Mr.. Freudenthal'
title to the office and has filed a contest
which comes up for trial in June, but at
the same time and in order not to en-
tirely cripple the county finances Mr.. Cha
vez has turned over to Mr.. Prudential all
the treasurer's record books and moneys
save and except 700 belonging to the
county sinking fund and which, he says,
he proposes to hold until his contest is
decided in June, though if the county
actually needed it, and had any imme-
date use for it, he would also be willing
to turn that over, and has so notified
the county authorities. Mr.. chavez is
acting in the premises under legal adj
vice. The governor particularly investi-
gated his ability to pay the $1,000 and
considers the county safe; it will not lose
cent.
The biect is still pending at the ex-
ecutive office and further steps may not
be long delayed.