Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1903-02-21
SATURDAY EVENING. FEB. 81. 1908.
AN UBIQUITOUS MEASURE.

Hon. NJ. b. Stockton of h house
has introduced bill No. 50. relating
to to the appointment of school
trustees"
Who requested Mr.. Stockton to in
troduce this bill?
Was 1t the mayor of this city or OF
Raton or Albuquerque?
Who is the father of this measure
that he is ashamed to acknowledge
his fatherhood?
In whose fertile brain came forth
the idea that it is a good thing to
deny to the people of the cities he
right to elect their own school Off
GERS?
No wonder Mr.. Stockton is not will
ing 10 father this iniquitous attempt
to apply the gag rule to the voters of
the cities.
This is the other half of that other
measure which proposes to lengthen
out the term of mayor two years.
Does his scheme originate in Las
Vegas?
The two bills together propose to
abolish the spring elections as to may
or, and abolish all elections for school
trustees.
II is seldom the servant is able to
dictate to the master, but this biz
will enable him to do so.
DIR. Goodall is an average mayor,
perhaps. certainly no better than the
average. Is he more competent to
select the school edstees than the le-
gal voters Of this city?
The following are the provisions of
the proposed law
Section /. That the mayor with the
approval of the common council of
each city of the first-class OF this Ter
ritory. shall at their first regular meet
ing In June, appoint three school trus-
tees who shall hold their office for
one, two and three years respectively
as said trustees shall determine by lot
at the time of their organization. And
annually thereafter shall appoint in
the same' manner one school trustee
who shall hold his Office for three
years.
Sec. 2. The said trustees shall con-
stitute the school board Of the said
city. and before entering upon their
duties shall take an oath to faithfully
discharge the duties OF their Offices.
They shall meet within five days after
their appointment and organize by
~electing one of their members as pres
ident, one as secretary N n as
treasurer. The treasurer before enter
ing upon the discharge Of his duties
shall execute a pond to be approved
by the probate clerk of the county.
conditioned as an ordinary official
bond. With ut least two freehold sure
ties who shall not be members of the
board, in a sum not less than double
the amount OF money which may come
into his hands within any one year, by
virtue of his office. The president and
secretary shall also give bond with
like sureties to be approved by the
probate clerk. in any sun not less than
One-third of that of the treasurer's
bond.
Sec. 3. All vacancies that may oc-
cur in the said board of trustees shall
be filled by the mayor with the ap-
prevail of the common council of the
city: but such appointment to fill a
shall only be for the unex-
pired term"
In the language of the day, isn't
that a daisy?
The citizen of Las Vegas who said
the legislature proposed to abolish
elections wasn't far wrong.
This bill abolishes the elections of
trustees. city clerk ana treasurer The
mayor becomes the whole thing. He
selects all the other city officers. He
now names h city attorney and
marshal, park commissioners and fire
wardens- This bill adds school trus-
tees. city clerk and The
becom by virtue of their appoint
ment, city clerk and treasurer. This
measure makes a close corporation.
Already the people have but little
power.
Under this bill in municipalities the
people will be at the mercy of an Off
cial clique. The mayor and his trus-
tees having all power over municipal
affairs. all power in school matters
the mayor will dictate the course OF
study. the teachers to be employed
and build VI a pestiferous little ring
to throttle the will of the business
men, laborers and mechanics who
have but little time to devote to polit
ical manipulation.
This is anti-republican, anti-demo
cratic, anti-common sense. The Optic
does not believe any such measure
can become a law. Yet it is time the
cities should speak out in no uncertain
voice In opposition to such a measure,
On principle The Optic is opposed
to al measures which AXE away pow.
y from the people.
In addition because this measure