Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1896-03-11

or ita people, or 10 dictate or suggest
the course which should DO adopted
there, but II must be evident TO every
close observer Of public events, that
the complications In that county with
reference to the bonds Issued In aid Of
the Texas, Santa Fc \ Northern rail
road is likely to operate greatly to tho
detrlment OF the various Territorial In
st%itutions, and as we'll to endanger the
rebuilding Of the capitol at Santa Fe,
as provided by the last legislative as.
sembly. 1t is well known that 10
many parts Of the Territory there has
been continuously active opposition to
the re- building Of the capitol at Santa
Fe, but 10 this opposition San Miguel
county has v participated, but OF
the contrary has been continuously the
warm friend Of Santa Fe county in Its
efforts to rebuild the capitol. but It's
friendship for Santa Fe county is not
likely to be carried so far as to induce
San Miguel to turn its back upon It's
own interests as we'll as upon the in
terests Of the entire Territory.
1t seems that 1t is claimed by United
States Senator Brice, Of Ohio, that him
self and associates expended a large
amount Of money in building the Den
yer & Rio Grande extension from Es-
pamela to Santa Fe, on the faith Of
bonds promised to be issued In aid Of
that enterprise, and that but for these
bonds the senator and his associates
would never have put in their money,
and as q result Santa Fe would, to-day,
be without Its northern and very i'm.
portant connection.
Now, If Santa Fe county has receiv-
ed the benefit OF a large expenditure Of
money by reason of lis promise to give
aid TO the enterprise, even II the bonds
should have been technically illegal, 1t
is an open question whether or not
good faith does not require that the
county should, in soma way, make
some adjustment with Senator Brice
and his associates, and THE OPTIc
suggests that it will be much easier for
our friends in the ancient Ilice to
make some adjustment than it will be
to entirely squelch Senator Brice and
his friends in the senate.
The only thing remaining to assure
the building of the wing of the insane
asylum, the erection OF our normal
schools and the aid to the other Ter
ritorial institutions, is either the with
drawaI Of the opposition OF Santa Fe
county, or some reasonable adjustment
OF It's differences with its bondholders.
Santa Fe county cannot afford to over
throw the legislative appropriations in
aid of the Territorial institutions. The
Territory cannot afford to strike down
all of its other institutions to aid one
county in its controversy with holders
of its bonds.
While it is not for The OPTIC to
suggest, it would seem to be the die
tates Of common sense and reason that
Santa Fe should at once appoint a
committee Of le~vel-headed, conserva-
tive, business men, not seeking to
advance any political interests,
with full power to adjust, and
send the committee to Washington at
once to make some reasonable arrange
ment whereby the funds provided for
the various Territorial institutions can
be made available. 1t must be evident
that if Santa Fe brings its entire power
to defeat the bill with the Brice amend.
ment, that it thereby strikes a blow at
every institution in the Territory, and
while the grievance of the county may
be a just one, 1t would seem to outsid-
ers that 1t is a case for compromise
and arrangement. At ali events, the
remainder of the Territory will not feel
well satisfied that the interests OF Santa
Fe alone should defeat the Territorial
improvements.
AIJIcnN EnRNrATIV npC cC>YmCp