Albuquerque evening citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1905-1907, 1907-03-01
Another Bill to Protect.

Mr. Holt explained that there was
another bill being prepared which
would give the stockraisers of the ter
ritory ample protection from rustlers
without the enormous expense of
maintaining the mounted police force.
Studley replied that the stockmen
of his district favored the mounted
police and until the new bill had been
enacted into a law he could not vote
for the abolishment of the present
force. Mr.. Beach then moved that
the bill pass. Abbott of Colfax coun-
ty spoke upon the bill and termed
himself "a representative of the cat
tie and sheep interests of New Mex
ico.' Mr.. Holt asked him IL MEM
ber of the mounted police force had
ever been seen in Colfax county. He
replied that the mounted police had
made the abolishment of this depart
ment a campaign issue and that he
knew the sentiment of his constitut-
ents were for the doing away with
this department.
Warm Debate.
Beach said: "If we want to burn
the peoples money, let us build a
bonfire and do it right" He stated
that in a committee meeting Mr..
Springer of Colfax county had said
that a member of the mounted police
force had never been seen in Colfax
county since the force was organized.
Beach said you cannot find a men,
ber of this force anywhere but In
Santa Fe county and then principally
in the bar rooms.
Hudspeth replied that he favored
the retaining of the mounted police
and charged that there were ulterior
motives on the part of the opposition
in seeking to abolish this force.
Mr.. Ruppe also made a speech
hi fnh ct ri att ia Ia
NAL of the assertion of Beach that
the members of the mounted police
force spent their time in the bar
rooms of Santa Fe.
Holt is Heard.
Mr.. Holt, the acknowledged leader
of the house majority, and the most
forceful speaker in that branch OF
the assembly, then took the floor and
made a strong appeal for the abolish
ment of the mounted police depart
ment. 1T seems to me-" he said,
that an undue amount of excitement
has arisen over this bill On behalf
of myself and the members of this
body / desire first of all to refute the
assertion that we are actuated by any
false or unseemly motives in the pas
sage of this measure" He then
stated that he considered the fact
that certain members opposed the do
ing away of this unnecessary force
as one of the strongest arguments
that the people of New Mexico were
not entitled to statehood. He said
that if we could not elect sheriffs and
constables capable of enforcing the
laws without maintaining the costly
mounted police force then ii could
not be hoped to elect the right kind
Of governor and other officers. That
the maintenance of this force was a
standing reflection upon the peace
officers of New Mexico. 1.-The figures
down stairs" he continued, will
show that the live stock interests of
the territory pay only about 10 per
cent of the total taxes Shall the peo-
pie be taxed to raise $4,000 annual
ly to protect these interests? Shall
we maintain a force of policemen
consisting Of three or four officers
and eight privates, three of whom
am reliably informed spend most
of their time in the capital when
there are counties in which 1t is stated
bands of organized thieves and cat
tie rustlers live year in and year out?
What protection do the cattle inter-
ests get from this force? L believe
the sheriffs are capable of enforcing
our laws. However, l am very much
in favor of protecting the cattle in
terests, but l do not believe 1t re-
quires the present mounted police
force. When the force was first or
ganized $4,000 was appropriated -
pay the expenses thereof. l under
stand that members of that forceiwill
appear before the committee on fin
ance with a deficiency of from $4,000
to $1,000. Gentlemen, 1t will cost
$2l, 900 to MAINTAIN this force of men.
II is urged that the mounted police
has a deterrent effect on criminals,
Shall the people be so heavily take l
to maintain a scarecrow? The Law
specifically states that the captain Cf
the mounted police shall maintain his
headquarters in the widest and most
exposed portion of the territory. Is
the capitol at Santa Fe the widest
and most exposed portion of New
Mexico? Are the live stock Interests
and the people protected when the
chief Of that force, surrounded by
two of his men, sits down here in his
office? i want to say that the live
stock interests are working with
members of this house in drafting a
bill which will give them ample pro-
taptiop without this anOrmOus aN-