Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1907-02-03
The Morning Journal Bureau,
Santa Fe, N. M, Feb. 2.


Santa Fe n NJ, Feb. q.
1t had been hoped that when the
present legislative assembly convened
that the long established and steadily
growing extra-employe graft would
be abolished, or at least abated. The
necessity for extra employees other than
those allowed and paid by the federal
government, has been fully recognized
by every one familiar with legislative
procedure. The governor of the terri
tory recognized 1t for in his an
nual report to the interior department
he recommended the appropriation by
the federal government of an addi-
tional $4,000 for the payment Of
needed extra employees. The $4,000
has since been allowed by congress at
the governors suggestion. All appro-
priations for extra employees over and
above this amount are illegal. The
$4,000 requested by the governor is
more than is actually needed, since
$4,000 would amply cover all neces-
sary requirements. The governor it Is
probable, placed his recommendation
at $4,000, expecting it to be reduced
by the department, as is usually done
in the cases of such requests. His rec
ommendation, however, was allowed
to stand as made.
AS a result there Isl legal SIS, 900
appropriation available for the pay
ment of extra employees at this session
of the legislature.
Knowing that this would be the
limit of the amount which could be le-
gally appropriated for the 'eXtra-em-
ploye payroll, 1t was hoped and con-
fidently expected that the payroll of
the two houses would be held below
that amount
No such thing has happened how
ever. AS the payroll of the two houses
stands today should this payroll go on
through the session, the total amount
to be paid out for extra employees for
the sixty days will exceed $25, 900.
There Is but $4,000 available. Any
further appropriation is Illegal and If
this total Of $4,000 is to be paid out
to these exrta eemployes, 1t is plain
that the $4,000 must be Illegally OBJ
tained.
The tables given below, which show
the exact number of employees in the
house of representives, their names,
alleged occupations and amount of
daily pay received, together with the
number of employees in the council,
and their pay, show very clearly where
this $4,000 is to go.
There are now sixty employees in
the house in addition to those allowed
and paid by the federal government.
BY the original caucus agreement
each member of the house was al
lowed to name two employees. Several
of the members refused to accept this
offer believing that the extra employe
graft should be stopped now; while
ceived no allowance. so that several
of the republican members re-
ceived an over allowance. Most of
the machine; or to be plain. to be filed
by H. o. Bursum and his friends. In adj
dition there was given to Speaker Baca
the privilege of naming five pages and
five messengers, and II. o. Bursum
was allowed to appoint six employees.
Just why Mr. Bursum, who Is not a
member of the legislature, and who
has no official connection with 1t and
no legal relation to it. should be al
lowed to place six employees ON the
payroll to be paid out of the territorial
funds. is not plain. 1t Is attempted tg
explain 1t on the ground that Mr. Buf-'
sum as the chairman of the republi-
can territorial committee, is entitled
to distribute some of the patronage"
but Just how 1t should benefit the
republican party for Mr.. Bursum to
place six Of his political adherents on
the payroll---and what possible justi-
HcdllOH VI lHtlI payment Out VI NuV
funds of the territory, has not been
made clear.
II may be said in justification of this
allowance of the extra employe graftto
Mr.. Bursum. that II was under his di-
rectlon that the extra employe graft
grew TO its present fiourishlng c0ndi-
tion, and that II was under him that
the system reached its highest devel-
opment.
II is not the fault Of the members OF
the house of representatives that the
house payroll Is clogged with the
names of useless employees, and that
illegal drafts are likely TO be made
on the territorial treasury to pay these
the system.
The members. many of them. have
heen instructed to come down TO
Santa Fe followed by a retinue of
men who have or may have been of
political assistance to them In their
local campaigns. They have been
taught that the territorial treasury Is
open for the payment of such political
j debts. They have learned from past
sessions that the treasury Is wide
open and that political debts are to
be so paid by this system of petty
graft which In It's aggregate becomes
50 considerable an item. and they
therefore come down with their men.
fully expecting. and fully determined
to nut them on the payroll and TO
keep them there.
aOther members are getting their
friends on the payroll. so Will l." is
the way they reason
This Is not true Of all OF the mem
hers. and this year there is a cOnsld-
erable number who do not care 70