Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1907-03-05
HOUSE PASSES RESOLUTION To
LOOK INTO CHARGES AGAINST
CHEF EXECUTIVE.
Offence SERIOUS
governor Accused Of Conveying to
Pennsylsanla Deselopmen, Com.
pany 1000 Acres Of Timber Lands.

Santa Fe. March s,-The house d
Representatives passed a resolution
Monday afternoon that win no doub
shed some light on some Of the al
legged crooked land deals that have
been pulled on in the territory durins
the past five years. The resolution
provides for thorough investigation
knowledge that the Hon. Herbert J
to said transaction. The resolution
which 10 self explanatory. follows:
Text Of Resolution.
House resolution No. Z, providina
for the appointment OF committee
TO investigate the alleged unlawful
disposal and sale Of certain territorial
lands by Hon. II. J. Hagerman. COVER
nor OF New Mexico.
Whereas. there was granted by the
act OF congress approved June 81
1898. a large portion Of the public do
main OF the United States In New
Mexico for the benefit OF certain edu
cationaI institutions OF said territory:
and
Whereas. said act OF congress
among other things. provided that not
more than 100 acres Of land should be
sold to one person. corporation or as
ISOLATION OF persons: and
Whereas, It Is currently reported
and has become matter OF general
knowledge that the on. Herbert j
Hagerman, governor Of New Mexico
without the knowledge and consent oi
the commissioner Of public lands oil
the territory, who, under the law OF
the territory. Is solely vested with the
jurisdiction over and power to dispose
OF such lands, and during the tempo
rary absence from his office OF said
commissioner Of public lands procur'
ed the office Of said commissioner AMI
delivered to W. 8. Hopewell. general
manager or agent of the Pennsylvania
Development company. certain deeds
conveying to said company 1000
acres or more timber lapds in the
Manzano mountains. In the county OF
Torrance. heretofore selected under
said act of congress, and belonging to
said territory. at the price OF 81 per
acre. In contravention Of said act OF
congress: and
Whereas. It is also reported that
the said governor, during the afore'
said absence Of the said commissioner
of public lands, also procured from the
office of said commissioner. who. un'
der the law was and Is sole custodian
thereof. the official seal Of the board
Of public lands Of this territory. and
unlawfully affixed such seal to such
deeds conveying said lands: and
Whereas, It Is also reported that at
the time Of affixing such seal and de-
livering such deeds as aforesaid. the
governor then and there accepted
from said Hopewell check for ?
large amount of money on account OF
the aforesaid purchase price OF said
lands. made payable to the order OF
the said governor, which was after
ward by said governor Endorsed over
n the said commissioner OF public
lands: and
Whereas. It Is also reported that the
said commissioner OF public lands has
ND to this time declined to accede |"
the repeated demands by said COVER
nor that he distribute the proceeds OF
the aforesaid check to the credit OF
the aforesaid territorial institutions
IN behalf Of which the lands were soid
nc aforesaid selected and alleged to
have been legally disposed o. ana
that said commissioner is holding the
nroceeds Of such check intact as
separate deposit giving as his reasons
FOR so doing tha. said lands were sold
nv said governor as aforesaid. in cor,
travention Of the act Of congress: AMI
Whereas. II is reliably asserted that
+ha said several acts of said governor
named herein were In defiance OF law
bv reason whereof the territory has
been deprived Of a large area OF Its