Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1903-05-19
4voted Down-concluded.)

grant question, declaring the grant to
be property OF the town of Las Vegas
and that it would revert to the west
side when Incorporated. thus Offering
4 prospect of reduced taxes and vari-
ssxs public benefits and improvements
1out cost to the people. Then the
pis position to consolidate might be
prOperly brought forward, but not
nOw- He voiced sympathy for the
RDor taxpayers and pointed out that
= city government must increase their
burdens.
Nr. Larrazolo answered some per-
sunal illusions, saying that he had
advised Incorporation several years
befure as \ e of getting control
e the grant. but now legal action had
p1nced that control in other hands
sd incorporation would not recover
= without repeal Of law. He depre-
scnAed ~ill-feeling which might be
aroused in this discussion, and asked
MT consolidation be considered q 81
husiness proposition solely.
&C. A. Spiess took the floor and spoke
n considerable length, reviewing the
Ind grant history and showing that
this property belonged logically to all
the people living on the grant, and
that the question Of control did not
AFFECT its ownership. He took up the
natter of annexation and gave fig
1Kes to show how financially it would
.aenefit the west side, with taxable
property of 5000, 900 and a debt of $27,-
s9o0. to unite with the east side, which
has 81, 200. 900 of taxable property and
$50. 900 of debts. He went into the
details of procedure required to effect
consolidation and spoke of the cor
fusion and ~dissension certain to arise
III TWO interpretations we're maintain
sd side by side He urged self-inter-
est and patriotism both as incentives
~ npiOn and PLEADED for a committee
tn act with one from the city council
IN formulating a basis of consolida-
ton He then answered questions
pF0p0unded by members of the audi
sance bearing On the matters discussed.
Mr.. Chacon made reply that all the
time needed for consolidation had
already been given anu that, had the
cast side city any desire to accept the
west side a plan for annexation would
nnw have been presented; that the
resolution Of the board OF trade was
ssow introduced merely as a lawyers
trick to make delay; that hostility
aas now at its height; that since TAX
ing the postofice nothing else was
desired by the east siders but to load
up fou Plaza park and have that
across the river. He declared that
the meaning of the town of Las Vegas
AS applied to the grant ownrship was
as plain as daylight. Mr.. Spiess asked
him to name the northern boundary
Gf the town, and he answered, The
north line OF Mr.. Spiess' property
Don Manuel Gonzales was now
s3eard at some length in regard to
history Of the grant. He also argued
against union with the city of Las We
gas.
AT this point ]. d w. Veeder IN.
s3eavored to get the floor. but Marga-
xito Romero, who had previously
given way to others, was recognized
and made an impassioned speech, as
sorting that he wished no fight with
1eighbors. but that he would join no
committee on consolidation. He fear
ed treachery from the clique which
ssersistently worked to ruin the west
side. Incorporation lad benefits; we
ssere men enough to incorporate spe
-xrately and secure to ourselves these
benefits. Let the west side incorpo-
rate and pursue an Independent, but
n peaceful course. He declared there
had been enough of talk and now they
SHOULD act. He moved that a com
snittee Of five be named to wait on
rho county board and push the steps
necessary to incorporation.
Mr. Iarraznlo moved an amendment
that the committee lie composed Of
mine members, and that they be I'm
powered to first seek q basis Of union
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