Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1904-07-02
THE TRUTH CON.
CERNlNG TERRI.
ToRlAL FINANCES
Facts and Figures Too Strong to Be
Successfully Contrddicted by
Democratic NeWspapers---Present|
Administration Record Clean and
Clear.

ner in the official records, and all OF
these certificates, amounting as stated
in previous article to $122,900, have
been redeemed at par with interest
under the Otero administration.
AS to the balance of the $352,900
bonded Indebtedness paid by Otero out
of total inherited deficiency debt
amounting to $574,800, which the Jour
nal pretends to think Is merely bold
statement intended to deceive the
public, all that can be said today is
that the bonds were issued and sold.
apparently because "they needed the
money" The only explanation which
the present administration can offer as
to why its predecessors needed that
money is found in the acts authorizing
the issuesfi references to which are as
follows:
Ross deficit bonds, first issue, chap
ter "A, laws, 1887.
"Section 1. To meet the current ex-
penses of the Territory until such
time as the revenues are adequate to
that end the territorial auditor and ter
ritorial treasurer are hereby authorized
and empowered to negotiate loans to
provide for such necessity" Total issue
$150,OO0.
Ross deficit bonds, second issue.
''Sec. 6, Chapter so, Laws 1899. For
the purpose of defraying the expenses
Of the Territory until March 1, 1S90."
Provisional Indebtedness bonds of
the Territory of New Mexico. Not to
exceed the sum of 100000, all of
which was issued
Prince casual deficit bonds, in the
sum Of $101, 800 authorized by section
Z, chapter 81, laws 1893
IT, Journal assumes that an aver
age reduction of debt at the rate of
$4,000 per annum is not much to brag
Of and wants to know what becomes
of the balance of the $439,890 per an
mum which the taxpayers provide The
answer is very easy, as that paper
would discover by closer reading of
official reports, and disregarding odd
hunreds of dollars, the expenditures
have been:
For territorial purposes, inter-
est on public debt, salaries,
penitentiary, capitol and
similar items. :. .. $1S5,OOO
Educational and charitable
(see New Mexican June 11) 100000
Payment of debts. :. ...... $4,000
Total. :. go. $4,000
That is to say, the Territory spends
nearly 100000 each year for education
charity and various public building
Improvements, worlds fairs, etc., an
amount equal to about seven mills of
the present tax levy. If the taxpayers
are not satisfied, the remedy is OBJ
viOus.
Now, if the Journal really desires to
protect the pockets of the taxpayers,
it may as we'll stop asking childish
questions of this paper and turn its at
tention to the administration of affairs
in Otero County under Democratic Of
flee holders. Or possibly the Journal
is ready now to explain why the coun-
ty commissioners there have been levy
ing tax of 8.5 mills for county pur-
poses when the extreme limit under
the law is five mills? Maybe it does
not know or does not care. that any
taxpayer in the county could sue the
commissioners to recover the excess
paid or could legally refuse to pay any
further taxes? And maybe it can tell
those interested what becomes of all. i.
of the money.