Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1897-02-01
OUR LEGISLATORS WATCHED
Judge Falls Bill for Reduction of
Fees and Salaries in General
Favor.
GRANT COUNTY DIVISION PROPOSITION
Mines and Miners Very Busy in the
Southern Part of New
Mexico.

Special Correspondence of the New Mexican
Deming, N. NJ, Jan. 30.-For tw
weeks have been travelling over the tel
ritory with ears and eyes open, and tn
interviewers' pump working to it's fulles
capacity. It has been my special en-
deavor to learn Che opinion of the lead
ing business men and citizens concerning
territorial needs in the way of legislation
and have been surprised at the interes
manifested in the proceedings of the au
gust body now in session in Santa Fe
The eyes of the whole territory ar,
turned upon the legislature and the &C
tions of every member are closely
watched.
The amicable organization of the coun.
Gil and house gives universal satisfaction
and the hope of every one is that the har-
mony now prevailing may not be dis
turbed. The universal feeling is that
should the present conditions obtain un-
til the day of adjournment long step
will have been taken in the direction Of
statehood. That New Mexico may be-
come the forty sixth state in the Union
is desire found everywhere.
AS to needed legislation find more in.
terest taken in the bill introduced by Judge
Fall, for the reformation and reduction of
the fee and salary list in county offices,
than in anything else. From Ration to
Deming it is the subject of conversation
wherever two or more business men and
tax payers get together. Ofcourse there
is difference of opinion regarding the
measures of the bill; many regard the
compensation it allows the various Off
GERS sufficient, but ma ority say that the
reductions are entirely too sweeping.
A gentleman prominent in business
circles in Albuquerque, thus expressed
himself: "No one can deny that the pres
ent salaries drawn by county officials are
at the bottom of all the financial troubles
of every county in New Mexico. We are
willing to pay our officers good salaries
and make liberal allowances for expenses,
but the time for calling halt on bank.
rupting counties simply that few men
may enrich themselves has come, and the
sooner county officials realize this, the
sooner our legislators listen to the voice
of the people in this matter, the better it
will be for all concerned"
In Las Vegas last week grey haired
old gentlemen said to me: II have lived
in the territory thirty years and have al
most given up all hope of seeing legis-
lature assemble that will give us legisla-
tion which benefits the people. / sin
cerely trust the present session will real
ize L the necessity for -. ss-)dikeleb6mo
ID W !. i ia. oul stututD1. Our ouunty ex-
penses are simply beyond endurance and
M ust be reduced. The fight for this re.
duction is on. The people are in earnest
and if measure of some kind reducing
salaries is not placed upon our statutes
this year, there will be some mighty deep
political graves dug before another cleo
tion."
Yesterday prominent attorney of
Socorro county, in expressing himself on
this subject, said: II believe the present
salaries paid county officials do more to
corrupt our voters than all other in
fluences combined. Men running for
office deliberately stoop to fraudulent
methods to secure votes, no matter
what the expense may be, knowing full
we'll that it will be an easy matter to
reimburse themselves when elected. The
salaries must be cut and while do not
approve of Mr.. FALLS bill for the reason
that the salaries provided are too small,
it is step in the right direction"
I could quote similar expressions to
the extent of columns, but those given
here are sufficient to show the feeling of
the people in every CITY and town in the
territory. In fact all the objectors to
reduction of salaries l have found are
men holding Office, and some of the Off
cials have acknowledged to me that the
only salvation for the counties is a large
reduction. Should the legislature ad-
iourn failing to do something in this
direction, there will be some very dead
ducks in the political pond soon after.
Down in this part of the country
county division is another matter that is
receiving much attention. Will or will
not Grant county be divided? That is
the question. This question, like all
others, appears to have two sides to it,
even here in Deming. Those in favor of
division claim that the county is SO large
that the expenses connected with the
assessment Of property, the collection Of
taxes, the gathering of juries, the pur-
suit and prosecution of offenders against
the law, and great many other things
connected with the administration Of
county affairs are increased enormously.
Those opposed urge that taxation will
be increased, another set of officers will
have to be paid, new buildings erected,
and lots of other unnecessary things
done. So far as can learn the dividers
are in the majority. But just the same
il is causing lively ripple and will be
discussed long after it is settled, no
matter which way ii goes.
Mining operations are brisk in south
ern New Mexico. Not only are the
mines already opened, turning out large
amounts of ore, but prospectors are at
work everywhere. Speaking of mines
reminds me: This evening anumber Of
gentlemen sat ia the hotel Office talking
about mines and prospects and ore, when
one related, as he said, true story about
lady dreaming five nights in succession
Of the exact location of wonderfully
rich mine in the Cripple Greek district.
After dreaming the fifth time the same
dream she was 80 impressed that she
journeyed to Cripple Greek, found the
mine, and became immensely wealthy.
Judging from the actions of the listeners
when the party broke up, l wager that
every mothers son OF them went to bed
determined to find mine in his dreams,
O. l.. R.