Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1898-08-29

concerning the actions of the board OF
county commissioners of San Miguel
county have reached Santa Fe, and as
they came from good authority, the
New MEXICAN has referred to them at
times in a name which has not met
with the approval of the powers that be
in the Meadow City. Not long since an
invitation was extended to the NEW
MEXICAN, through the Optic, for a
representative of this paper to visit the
court house in Las Vegas and make all
examination of the records of the pro-
ceedings of the county commissioners,
and on Tuesday, August 23, an oppor-
tunity presented itself for such a trip,
and the records in the county clerks
Office of San Miguel county were exam
ined. The results of that examination
would fill a much larger paper than the
New MEXICAN, but enough can be
given in the limited space available to
satisfy every one in New Mexico that
the San Miguel county officials have a
peculiar idea of what constitutes the
duties of a public servant.
When an official duty has been
| we'll performed, the official is entitled
to the commendation of the taxpayer.
When official duties are neglected;
when private individuals, through some
means past finding out, except by the
way of the grand jury, can secure ac-
| ton by a public servant in direct con
| fict with the laws of the territory; when
the laws are s%crupulously disobeyed
rather than carried out; when those in
a position to buy up county floating in
debtedness, large quantities OF which
have been issued through fraud, con.
nivance and under circumstances which
mark the act as criminal, can do so and
use this evidence of indebtedness in
the payment OF taxes which the law
saws distinctly must and shall be PAID
in cash; when public officials, regardless
of the law, act upon the opinion given
by the chief justice of the Supreme
court, not given in his official capacity
nor in any judicial proceeding pending
in his court; when the rich, who have
the cash on hand to buy up script and
are dDlc W pay VuOlA luH ooAOo "AoA
that script, avoid the burden and make
it fall heavier upon the poor and needy
when rich corporations, capitalists,
money-lenders and financial schemers
can buy up fraudulenty issued evidence
of county indebtedness; when the very
office holders themselves have the
temerity to pass judgment upon theil
own taxes and violate the law in sc
doing, without regard to the conse'
quences, and relying upon the opinion
of a Judge, whose knowledge OF the
statutes of New Mexico is equalled only
by his willingness to ignore them, Their
it would seem that it is high time tina
the people of San Miguel county shoulc
know what the officials of the county
are doing, officials who have been put
in power by a single individual, who
while not guilty of any violations Of the
law himself, so far as ascertained, still
pulls the strings and his. puppets dance
to his bidding.
Such we're my reflections as the rec
ords of the county were examined, anc
not only these, but also that the so
called Union party and it's aiders anc
abettors, made up of Democrats, Popu
lists, disgruntled Republicans and al
the elements of the people who are OPP
posed to good government, are men who
are afraid to open their mouths about
the conduct Of the county's business fol
fear it might possibly injure their bust
ness; agents and employees of corpora
lions who fawn around the ''boss" be
cause they know that what he says il
law with the board and other officials
banks and corporations that get hold o
county indebtedness as collateral fOl
loans and then six it with the boss" 81
that they can use that indebtedness III
the payment of taxes which the law
says must be paid in cash. This So
called Union party is in truth an annex Of
Democracy and a tall times with a leader
who is a political boss and always on the
lookout for the main chance for him
self, has had things its own way, and
all because there has never been q news
paper in the Meadow City with the
courage to show up the condition Of
county matters in its proper light. Al
present the "boss' has the papers II
the city grabbed" and there can be nc
hope for an exposure in San Migue
county of the doings Of the board o.
county commissioners and their p%olitica
favorites.