Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1906-02-22
President Catron
and Judge Laugh
lin Explain
THEIR VOTES ON QUESTION
Commiserating With the
"Poor People" Sc. "Down
Trodden Tax Dodger."

The action of the City Board OF Edu.
cation in selling the large lot on Wash
ington Avenue now occupied by the
| fire house, to the local lodge OF Elks,
at reduced rate has attracted much
lattention.
| 1t is true that great majority of
the citizens and property owners of
the city approve the action Of the
board. On the other hand the New
Mexican has been asked to give the
views of President Catron and of
Judge N. B. Laughlin, who voted
against the resolution authorizing the
sale of the lot for the sum of $500 and
as a matter of fairness and In justice
| to all concerned the remarks of these
two members are published herewith
Mr.. Catron said:
81 object to this resolution and vote
mo- on the motion to adopt it. be
cause the property is worth from three
to four times more than $500 offered
for it, and the parties asking to pur
chase it frankly state they know $500
| Is much less than its value, but claim
the building will benefit the city. not
| the schools.
Is Trustee.
This board is trustee of this prop.
erty for the benefit of the schools, and
has no more right to sell the prop.
erty for less than a third Of Its value
than it would have to donate q thou
sand dollars of the school fund f."
the erection of the building not to
used for school purposes; such act
not only extravaganza without a
deeming feature, but is violation
our trust, it is robbing for priv
uses, the funds and property viii
should be applied to the education
the children of the city, IL Is an
position ON the already overburdeI
tax payers OF still larger burden
squandering property which might
used so as to support the school fund
and lessen the amount required to be-
raised by taxes
This property was not given to us
for the purpose Of donating to pri
vate enterprise simply because the
city might be rendered more attrac-
tive by the erection Of an opera house
and club room therein. The amount
squandered by this conveyance would
pay the salaries of two first class
teachers for a year-it will have to
be replaced by the tax payer Of the
city"
The following are Judge Laughlin's
remarks
LaughIin Explains.
II vote mo- on the motion for the
adoption of the resolution U Be.
cause the applicant to purchase the
land in question has not furnished or
filed with this board any plans or
specifications or any written state"
ment showing the approximate cost.
character or kind of building or build
ings proposed to be constructed upon
the land In question; nor Is there any"
thing on file to show approximately
just how much land the applicant will
or may really need for the occupancy
of the proposed building or buildings.
"(2) Because, 1t has been stated
here tonight by the representatives
of the applicant to purchase that, by
resolution of Its board Of directors 1t
is restricted to an expenditure Of not.
to exceed the sum Of $4,000, includ
ing cost of all furnishings, and ex
elusive Of the cost Of the brick, and
in my Judgment eighty feet front would
be space ample and sufficient upon
which to construct any building or
buildings to cost not to exceed the
amount above specified.
"(3) Because, the price offered is
Inadequate for the reason that the
land adjoining this on the north and
further away from the business part
of the town and no more valuable
than this has been appraised at IS
per front foot, and at recent meet.
ing of this board that price was In.
creased ten per centum, and at that
rate the l4O feet frontage proposed to
be granted by this resolution would be
and is worth, the sum Of $1,232, and
do not believe this board can In the
future justify itself in selling this lao
feet front for $500, the price offered.
and thereby making clear donation
to the applicant to purchase, of the
sum of 1882
Violating Trust.
II believe that such action will be q
clear violation of the trust imposed
upon this board and each OF the mem
bers thereof by the people Of the city
of Santa Fe. Besides, the frontage OF
this lot on Lincoln Avenue Is 160 feet
Of which the Board of Education by
(COntinued on Page EIGHTY