Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1906-03-28
|Fullerton's Letter
To Gov. Hagerman
Captain Of Mounted Police De-
tends His Record and Pro-
tests Against Executives Ae.
ton.

The following letter conveying the
resignation OF Captain John +. Fuller.
ton OF the New Mexico mounted DO.
lice, OF his Office and addressed To
Governor Hagerman, has just been re
ceiyed by the New Mexican with re,
quest that the same be published In
fIl:
Socorro. N. NJ, March 2G. 1906.
To His Excellency, Herbert j. Hager.
man. Governor OF New Mexico, Santa
Fe. n. NJ:
Sir:--Replying to your communica.
ton dated March 10, 1906, stating in
effect that you were not satisfied with
the service OF the mounted police. of
which have had the honor of being
captain during the past twelve
months, and that you intended making
a change In the captaincy OF said
company on the LIST OF April, In this
connection permit me to state that
this company was organized less than
a year ago; that for the first few
months the matter Of railroad trans.
portation not being obtainable, was n
serious handicap to successful admin.
istration on account OF long distances
between points OF operation and the
extensive area to be covered. This
was, however, remedied after a few
months and the force equipped and or
ganized for business. 1t naturally
takes some little time for a force If
this kind to become thoroughly famil.
lar with conditions and be able to rem.
der efficient service. The compensa.
ton provided by law is extremely lin
tied and less than the amount provid.
ed by other commonwealth for siml-
lar service, yet In spite Of all these
obstacles. | candidly believe that the
mounted police have, during the past
several months, rendered valuable ser
vice to the public. and especially have
they been Of material assistance to
the stock interests, namely, sheep,
cattle and horses; considerable pOrper-
ty has been restored 10 the rightful
owners. Many law breakers have
been apprehended, and many important
arrests have been effected: much nf
business OF the mounted police has
not been given publicity for the rea.
son that, ip the majority of cases,
secrecy Is absolutely essential to sue
cess.
Work Is Commended.
| have received words of common
dalton of the highest character from
the various portions OF the territory,
representing substantial live stock in
terests, expressing satisfaction Of the
efficiency of the mounted police force.
No doubt some mistakes may have
been made. However. | have. at all
times, used every effort to do my duty
to the best OF my ability in order TO
perfect the efficiency of the company.
to meet the designs intended by the
legislature.
I recognize that you. perhaps. have
the power OF removal or substitution
in my case, If arbitrarily exercised,
F, vet the law creating the office OF the
captain of the mounted police failed
to Ak any definite period or term OF
Office, but limited the authority OF
the executive to sixty days, after the
passage of the act creating the police
force. in which to appoint a captain
! (see Section 2. page 3, Laws l9O5)
the evident intention Of the legisla-
ture being that no change of Officers
was contemplated, and the provision
of law for the enrolment OF men be.
ing for one year seems to have re-
ferred to enlisted men only.
viii Not Contest Removal.
It seems to me that your contem.
| plated action Is unfair and will ne
the means Of preventing me from de-
monstrating the true worth OF the
force and deprlving me Of the benefit
or credit accruing from my efforts
given In good faith toward p~erfecting
the organization to . state Of efficien-
cy which, I believe. Is an accepted
fact BY the public most vitality inter.
ested. and to which, in all justice, ]
should be entitled. shan not contest
your right to make the change on
April 1st next al hereinbefore stated,
although I believe, your action con-
trary to the intention Of the les'sla'
ture and not demanded BY any pub
! lice interest, and certainly unfair to
the present incumbent.
You kindly offer your good onices
toward securing for me some other
employment in the territorial; service
which are hereby most Respectfully
ldeclinedsaI remain. ~.
Respectfully,
sti JOHN r. rulsIERTpN.
Captain Mounted Police.