Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1898-11-12
San MIGUEL County Affairs.

whole territory in that a wholesome
rebuke has been administered to Off
Gals who arrogate to themselves the
power to pass upon the legality and eX-
pediency of laws passed by the terrific
rial legislature, and connive and par
ticipate in the despoiling of tax pay
erS.
The New Mexican, unaided and alone,
brought about this result, and while it
claims no especial credit for that work.
it feels that an explanation of it's posi-
ton and actions regarding the condi-
ton of affairs in San Miguel at this
time will not be inappropriate. In that
matter this paper had no enemies to pun
ish and no friends to reward; the only
object in view was to compel obedience
to the laws of the territory.
In the first place. the New Mexican
received well authenticated evidence
that the board of county commissioners
of San Miguel county We're violating
the law regarding the payment and col
lection of taxes, the issuance of war
rants to the collector and assessor in
payment for work w,,ii,ii they never
performed and which were prohibited
by law, and in speculation in county
warrants and scrip, in connection with
a ring Of hangers-on and men of means,
which, while proving profitable to those
connected with the ringsters, was rob-
bling the tax payers of the county and
depriving the territory of it's rightful
proportion of the public revenues.
Upon the strength of these reports,
this paper sent a representative to Las
Vegas to examine he records of the
county commissioners and ascertain
the truth of those reports which had
been made concerning the manner in
which the affairs of the county were
managed. The result of that investiga-
ton is known to the people of San Mi
guel and of the territory. 1t is only
necessary to say that not one-half of
the damning evidence furnished by the
records of the county clerks office was
published.
In taking the matter up the New
Mexican had no intention, no desire, to
bring on a newspaper fight. There was
no attack made on the private charac-
other officer in San Miguel county;
nothing was used but the records of the
county commissioners transactions,
and not one of the items published have
paper of the gang, or one of the men
who We're implicated in the deal
to defraud the tax payers of the
county. So far as the so-called war
| Vegas paper is concerned, the courts
will settle that. More charges of a
criminal nature will be filed against the
men who wrote and inspired the at
tacks upon the editor of the New Mex
lean, and those cases will be pushed to
the bitter end in the courts.
The claim made by the county COM
m%issioners of San Miguel county and
their beneficiaries that in abating near
ly $4,000 worth of taxes and accepting
county warrants and scrip in payment,
that amount had been saved to the peo-
pie of the county, is utterly false, as is
shown by the condition of the court
fund of that county, the fact that the
county commissioners of San Miguel
county have not made a settlement
with the territorial auditor for almost
four years and that the interest on its
bonded Indebtedness, amounting to
nearly 800, 900 has not been paid for
four years. The fact of the matter is, in
place of saving the county $50, 900, the
tax payers of the county are still in
debted for that amount of taxes, which
have not beer paid, and suits brought
against them in the district court would
result in judgments being rendered
against them for the original amount Of
their taxes.
1t is a well known fact that the coun-
~ tpIIlllllSSlOlGTS VI San Nll5 uGl COuIlly,
for the benefit of it's members, succeed
ed in organizing a ring of spectators
to deal in county warrants in the fol-
lowing amer The members of the
ring would buy warrants and scrip at
40 cents on the dollar from the original
holder and then use them in payment
of taxes for some member of the ring or
his friend at Is cents on the dollar, re-
amount of taxes paid. BY this means
whole families of the members of the
board, other county officials and the
hangers-on of the ring We're cared for,
around. Not only that, but the tax pay
ers of any influence were corrupted and
virtually BOUGHT in order to insure ST.
lence. The tax payers cannot be blamed
for taking advantage of the situation.
They knew that should they pay taxes
in cash a certain per cen would find
it's way, by some hook or crook, into
the pockets of the ring. These asser-
llpiIo pIoNtIl NY lIc IttOIuo III tIlc
county clerks office.
The course of the New Mexican has
been upheld and Endorsed by the action
of the vote of that county. Right and
justice has prevailed and the New Mex
lean feels hat the work and results ac-
complished by the expose made of the
acts of the county commissioners Of
San Miguel county is some recompense
for the expense incurred and the abuse,
ISLANDERS and lies that have been heaped
upon it's editor by the members of the
ring and their paper. So far as San
Miguel county is concerned, this paper
wishes to see 1t prosper and grow in ev-