New-York tribune., 1907-08-01
NEW MEXICO REFORMS.
GOFERNOR CURRT'S PL1N.
He Discusses Territorial Conditions
zcith the President.
iBy Telegraph to The Tribune. J

Oyster Bay July 3f-PrOblemS confronting
the administration in New Mexico and
Arizona were we'll thrashed at Sagamore
Hill to-day Captain George Curry, Rough
Rider, ranChman, lately Governor of Samar, and
more recently appointed Governor of New
Mexico came down by appointment to talk
things with the President before proceed
ing To his new post of duty, and with him cane
Judge Rodey of the Porto Rican Federal Court
Judge Rodey was, until the last Congressional
election. a Delegate from New Mexico with
seat in the House of Representatives. but COM
mitted political hara-kiri by advocating state
hood for the territory Chief Justice Kent OF
the Arizona Supreme Court was also Il guest
at the Presidents summer home this afternoon
and joined in the discussion of territorial ques-
tions.
Governor Curry was not inclined to talk az
length over his plans. L have lived in the
territory for eight years. he said. .'and, there
fore, am not familiar enough with conditions to
say much about them for publication. All
care to say is that the President has Compli-
mented with the appointment because he
believes will do my best to bring order of tire
somewhat chaotic state of affairs that is said
to exist in the territorial government l have
been A Democrat all my voting life but am
Roosevelt Democrat. If | can find first class
men in the Republican ranks to fill the terri
torial offices my disposal l will appoint Re
publiCans; If. on the other hand, | can find men
in the Democratic party who are better fitted
for the places, | will appoint Democrats. am
going to do my best to clean up the territory
and clean out the grafters and uudesirabIes if
find any such As I have been away from the
territory for a considerable length of time,
cannot be charged with being allied with any
OF the contendng ciques that are causing all
the trouble | viii stop a day in Washington
and then go at once to Santa F6'
Governor Curry has what | consider the
hardest job I'll in the whole administration.
said Judge Rodey. He is also, to my mind the
best man the President could find for the place.
He has made a splendid record Governor of
Samar. and what he has done in the Philippines
in the way of purifying the atmosphere
rounding the executive offices l believe he can
do i'm New Mexico The people of Samar thought
50 much Of Governor Curry that when ne left
they raised a purse of S10eo and presented it
TO him. He said he was very much obliged. but
declined to take it. and accepted cane instead.
He left the Philippines poor as left Con
gress after I had made and lost my statehood
fight"
Judge Rodev predicts that the revelations of
official crookednesz that are to come i'm New
Mexico will make the insurance scandals look
small In comparison He also processes faith
i'm the ultimate victory Of statehood for the two
Western territories. but admits that. in view OF
its crushing defeat last year, it viii pr"naoiE
bc some time before Il can again be brought |"
the front
..--I,a -rea. railroad mining and grazing in
rerestS will continue to fight statehood 10 the
last ditch" said he, for every year statth"oa
js deferred means millions OF dollars III iH''r
,ockets In the matter Of taxes alone the treas
-. of Eay- Mexico is being robbed of millions
a year which would at once be poured INTO us
rnNers If statehood came Then therf i IN"
leuienCv that the courts have always Sho"E t'a
-4irnads I'm the territory. Search In" recoTuS oI
,f,. Now, Mexican courts for tWoHty-S'Vril years.
from, lid TO I'D and defy You 10 ma Sii'Etr
dec,sin,, that has really hurt the railroads. 't
course this may he a coincidence hit 'ie d''i
age citizen is ready to pronounce II very re-
,,,arl,afl. state Of affairs. to say the least.
Trdra Rodcv told the President that the tax
,.a1narton II, New Mexico had been outraseous.y
iurpled bv the railroad and mining Interests,
lie said that the value of one MN" was "iu''
n The tax assessment for the whole territory
and that the actual valuation Of the railroads III
the territory was more than double the eh'i''
tar valuation Of all property
nudge Rodev added his mite to the lore ~ inc
nature students by declaring the time honoreH
h.ler that a shark rolls over on llS Si'e a.
attack its prey to be myth. I nave pH"o-
,I econ more sharks" said Judge Rodey.
.,har any other American citizen "lthin ''iF
last ,ear Down at san Juan. where / nav
80, living there IS a place IN me HaFp''
bsra the sharks coucregato by the thousands
IT,. come n eat the offai from the slaughter
bouees which is cast into IN" sea just Oh
,, -,,,la and for several months l have
made II my daily practice Z" 2" "u' 'hete
-i+I, = rifle and shoot at them tell YOU II
i tho hest sport | know. It's no easy matter
to kill a shark with rifle bullet Wheh ne Is III
motion but you have the satisfaction "l Know
two that YOU are putting 'varmlnt OUT 81 the
,- ,,.ren Won kill one. I have seen these big
- ,,,.o1,-e and fourteen foOtcrS time and
,t,,c apai, swim up to the floating carcass OF
- ,,, ~ calf and bite II in two without turning
an inch to one side the other. instead "i
turning over. as is the common oehe'' ti't9'
,oI+n Rf-ar sharks lift their heads above water
and close down their jaws upon "h1'"Ee' '''S