Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1903-10-08
GsAvD
THURSDAY EVENING, OCT. $. 1908.
HONOR 70 FRANK CLANCY.

Yesterday The Optic referred edi.
torially to tho action 81 tho territorial
grand Jury Of Bernaliilo county in in.
vestigating charges made against the
county officials. The report OF the
grand Jury exonerated the officials Of
dishonesty, but condemned them for
irregular methods Of keeping their ac.
counts.
Now comes District Attorney Clan.
cy, recognized throughout the terri
tory as d fearless, capable and accu
rate official, and in a long article pub
lished In this issue shows that the
grand Jury report was composed prin.
cipally OF whitewash and that some OF
the officials Of the county have been
guilty OF fragrant violations Of law
and Of gross Irregularities In the mat
ter OF expending the peoples money.
Mr.. Clancy, being unable TO secure the
redress that wonll have been given
by the grand jury, appealed to what
is. after all, the highest trIbunal--the
people. II IL the peoples money that
has been Incorporated and tho peo.
pie, knowing such facts. II they. are
mot hopelessly under the yoke Of boss.
es, may be depended upon TO protect
their interests.
The report OF the district attorney
shows most fragrant Irregularities In
the name in which that most sacred
money-the school fund-has been
handled. officials have used the pub
Lie money for private purposes and
have paid themselves at n rate much
In excess OF that allowed by law. II
this doesn't constitute embezzlement.
then the definitions on our statute
books need revising. Mr.. Clancy, one
Of the ablest lawyers, as well as a
man OF absolute honesty, evidently
thinks II does. while the members OF
the grand Jury Certainly not M well
versed In the law as the district at
torney, to say nothing Of their homes.
W, explain the matter AZ poor book.
keeping.
Well. the people are not TO suffer
from such bookkeeping. Mr.. Stafford
Is also shown up In Mr.. Clancy's arti-
Gle In a somewhat "unenyiable role Of
an expainer ami apologizer. He nc.
counts In various ways for the misap.
preparation Of money In certain funds.
It may be possible, however, that the
district attorneys opportunity to In.
yestigate the question was superior
10 that OF the territorial auditors, II
is charitable 10 suppose that Mr., SAT
ford, with his limited powers. did the
best he could and reported TO tho
officials named In the statute accord
ing TO his clearest light on the sub.
ject,
The Optic has all along pointed out
that the trouble with the present sys.
TEN IL that no way has been provided
10 ensure publicity Of reports made
By the territorial expert
The people, oppressed ~ dishUnesi
and incapable officials. cainoted for
a territorial expert clothed With nj
thority 10 examine ana report on ,hs
manner in which their business WA
conducted and their money was ss
pended In this thes were warmls
supported by the governor but now
having the Official. they are unable Il
secure through him a public Statement
d conditions. This Is absolutely
wrong and must be righted. d
course. the best thing would be fol
The people 10 elect honest and compe
tent officials 10 the first place; but
unfortunately. In some Of the coun
ties q New Mexico so great Is III,
power of the boss that that a M
be done. until the day m ID,
people should have at their disposa
a means OF learning through an ex
.pert-and " an expert can not. a
Mr.. Sanford has found. fathom all thu
remarkable methods Of keeping &C
counts in vogue in this territory
how their business Is being conjucte,
and what Is being done with theil
money.