Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1906-09-08
Bursum's Peniten.
tiary Manage
rnent Honest.
SAYS EX-GOVERNOR 0TERO
Speaks From Personal Know.
ledge of Affairs and
Character.

fore part of this week on the sheep
ranches of the Salado Live Stock
Company in Guadalupe County Of
which he is president. He found the
live stock of the company and the
range north and south of the Arroyo
Salado in very good condition and the
outlook for the winter as regards
water and grass for the animals of the
best.
Urged Mr.. Bursum to Take Prison
Superintendency.
Concerning the publication of the
alleged experts reports on peniten-
tiary conditions in which Fl. o. Bur-
sum, former superintendent of the
prison, is charged with mismanage-
ment and malfeasance in office the
Ex-Governor said:
About seven years ago, appoint
ed Mr. Bursum to the position OF
superintendent of the penitentiary. He
did not wish to accept the appoint
ment and had to urge him consider
ably to do so in order to serve the
best public interests. AT that time
the condition of the penitentiary was
not worth talking about from a stand
point of economy, efficiency and self
support. Mr.. Bursum took hold of
uhe work energetically and, compare
lively speaking, in a short time,
changed everything greatly for the
better and indeed in a few years
brought about very satisfactory re-
suits. re-appointed Mr. Bursum to
the position three times against his
judgment and against his inclination.
He accepted, because I demanded 1t
and because his friends insisted upon
it. When he was reappointed in Feb
ruary, 1905, ii was with the under
standing that this would be the last
time and that he would tender his
resignation during the present sum-
mer as his private business interests
were growing too great to allow him
TO remain in any official position.
Tribute to Hon. n. o. 5ursum in
Strong Terms.
During the period of his superin-
tendency of the prison, have had an
intimate knowledge of conditions and
matters connected with it and l have
become thoroughly acquainted with
Mr.. Bursums character as a man, as
citizen and as an official. | am glad
to state that | fully believe that there
is no man, not only in New Mexico,
but in this country who stands better
for morality, for honesty and for fair
dealing with all men, whether in Off
cial or in private life than Mr. Bur-
sum. l am sure that the administra-
tion of affairs under him at the pris-
on was clean, honest and economical
and that a fair investigation OF the
books and careful inspection of the
records by unbiased and competent ac-
countants will demonstrate that the
prison affairs under his superintend-
ency have been conducted as stated
above. The board of penitentiary com.
misSioners while he was superintend-
ent, consisted of good and honest citi'
zens and successful business men, who
gave careful attention to the super
vision of prison affairs and who, in
my opinion, would not have coun-
tenanced anything that smacked, in
The least, of dishonesty or OF graft.
II am very glad to make this state
ment as / think it is justly due Mr..
Bursum who has the gratitude and
respect of the people for his upright.
ness, efficiency and success in
the difficult position which he held
nearly seven years and during which
he has made the prison self sustain
ing to great extent and has
brought its management from a very
low plane to high state Of eff.
cheney. To be sure, Mr.. Bursum's
character, official and private, may be
assailed, just the same as the charac.
ter Of any other man in New Mexico
no matter how good a citizen or how
competent and honest an official, but
rs to proving any charges of dishon.
esty or malfeasance or misfeasance In
office against him, am convinced this
cannot successfully be done. 1t is not
in the nature of things and after all
truth prevails.
1T is true that do not agree with
Mr.. Bursum upon the joint statehood
proposition, but that, certainly makes
no difference in this case. I think
Bursum is entitled to what
~ said above concerning him. II
Sow any man well, DIT is he; If
af acquainted with the official record
ny man during the past nine
in New Mexico, it is his rec
Again j am gratified to put my
thus publicly on record in his
b it,"