Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1897-01-14
OUR REVENUES.
The Most Important Matter for Con
alteration at Santa Fe.

To the Editor of the Optic.
SILVER CITY, N. M Jan. l1th, W
In response to your inquiry as4to
what, in my opinion, is the most
needed legislation to be enacted by the
coming legislative assembly, | would
state that the most important subject
for consideration Is the revenue and
expense of county, government.
Many OF the counties in the Ter
ritory are running behind annually
thousands Of dollars and there appears
to be no hope of reaching . cash basis
without provision of further legislation.
Under the present system, many who
render service to the county do not re-
ceive any compensation therefor, others
have to sacrifice a largo percentage OF
he amount due them, and the county
has to pay q correspondingly higher
price for all supplies, and the knowl-
edge that cash is not to be paid, leads
to e~xorbitant charges and e~Atravagant
allowances against the county.
1t is evident that more revenue must
be obtained, or reduction in expenses
provided for, or both, to prevent IT.
retrievable bankruptcy.
The legislature should authorize
county commissioners in any county to
levy 6 mills on the dollar OF valuation
for county, general, or current expense
fund, ins.esd Of 2H mills as now
limited.
NV experience as q member OF the
last legislative assembly does not en-
courage any hope that any law reduc-
ing the fees and emolumenrs of county
officers can be enacted to take effect al
once, and probably, the best that can
be expected in this direction is such q
law 10 take effect two years from
or course, the objection to this will be
that it may be repealed before it shall
become operative, but coupled with
such an enactment should be q
law to limit the expenditure OF
money by candidates and prevent the
%disgraceful bribery which obtains in
our elections There is not, to-day, 10
the Territory OF New Mexico, a sheriff,
probate clerk, collector " assessor OF
any county, who did not buy and pay
for his office, just the same as he would
buy an OK or . horse land there are, pro-
baby. but few of them who will receive
more than a fair and reasonable com
pensation for his services, after deduct
: ing tbs expense of his election; hence
, the injustice of reducing fees aud sala-
ries during the term Of the county
.oeleers elect. If the coming assembly
will limit the expenditure OF candidates
: for office to q certain percentage OF thu
fixed emoluments Of each Office, requir
ing an itemIzed statement under oath
!, as we'll as prescribing for what none.
may be lawfully expended, and pro
vide the most severe punishment TO
+ any form of bribery. or Offer to bride
J. any voter, or for any voter or ALLEGED
!, uworker" to attempt to obtain none.
from any candidate as compensation
!, for his "work'' or "~inRuencena in an,
election, and extend the penalties 10
violation of the election lawst to tn
a precinct primaries and county conven
: lions, so that men may be nomlnate'
q and elected to Office upon their merit
9 as men, and parties a succeed be
i cause OF the business Of their princI
pies, and a law to reduce the emolu
ments of county officers, two year
hence, will be allowed to take effec
. without protest.
i, The educational association, at So
o zorro, made some excellent recommer
: dations, but in my opinion, omitted th
most essential and vital one--that {
revenue for the support OF our schools
II The lack Of means to provide teact
d ers for the overcrowded schools
n almost every county in. the Tel
= ritory, is SO apparent as to nee
nothing more than the statement I
% call for provision for . larger revenu
,e for school purposes. The law shout
l. be amended to require the Territori'
auditor to make the levy for gener'
school purposes at not less than 8 ne
more than 5 mills on the dollar. II
Is stead of limiting the levy at 5 mill
n with the understanding that the lev
!, will be made at that rate until aft
the legislature adjourns, when 1t
made at 2 or ~ mills. II nothin
better can be obtained it should be FL
8 I'd at 8 mills and made mandatoI
!, upon the auditor at that rate.
There should be an enactment Of Ia