Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1909-02-07
MAKING NEW COUNTIES.

JHtlt are sfNtIll INDUSTRIES Dtl'if
the legislature at the present time for
the organization OF new counties. ana
other bills for similar purposes are
iikely ~ fnliuw-~nnd we favor all of
them. because practical experience
hna abundautiy demonstrated TINT
small. compact counties can be much
bstter and much more economically
governed than larger ones Az We
have said on more than ono occasion.
every county IN New Mexico. with
rne possible exception OF Bernalill0
and santa Fc. Is too large. for the
good OF the people Of the county ~
seif. and for tho good Of the people Of
the territory. There are numerous
sound reasons for this fact. hut they
are 80 we'll known thai II Il not lleees-
nary to repeat them here.
There Is no more hopeful sign Of
the times than the general ana press
ing demand for new counties at the
present session OF the legislature. and
no way la which tEc legislature can
10 more 10 accommodate the people
OF the various sections Immediately
Interested, and az the same time for
ward the general interests Of the terri
tory. thDn by promptly and cheerfully
granting all OF these requests The
assumption that the people Of o civ.
cn section are not able to maintain
a county government. rs a sort Of rna-
sonlng that should not be given any
weight rs The legislature. IL the neo-
Pile OF the district Immediately inter.
ested regard tho advantage Of home
rule" az sufficient to outweigh the
tfifling additional burden of expense
II might possibly pui upon them that
~ their business. exclusively. Home
rule II one of the fundamental prin-
cirlsa of our American form of gov
eminent. anl as regarded hy every
American citizen as one nr his dear.
est rights, but Il cannot be enjoyed
" the seat of government Is inaccos-
-ible 60 the citizen. ns u practically ia
now IN many Of the counties of New
Mexico.
one OF the new county propositions
now before the legislature. which has
50 much Ia It's favor. and SO little thai
can be urged again IL that Il ought
20 he passed by unanimous consent.
Is the bin for The creation of Bent
county This Is a measure that pro-
Vldes for taking fractions of Union.
Mora. San Miguel nud Quay counties.
amt organizing them into the county
of nent All OF tho four counties
from which the land is taken would
be better OF without il. while the
people living within the limits Of the
new county would be- given a measure
81 accommodation which could hardly |
be expressed IN dollars. since they are
practically Isolated ~ present from
ihe several seats or their local gov
~crnmcnt-a fact that rcpels immigra-
ton. retaris tho development of that
section. and thus docs serious harm to
h Interests OF the territory as q
whole
Ana this is a case that Is not open
90 any objection on thc ground oil
lack OF resources The governor
rockons eight hundred thousand dol
larl' worth Of taxable property. at
present valuation, rs sufncicn, "a sup
port a county. and tho value Of the
property within the limits OF the pro-
posed county Of Bent 10y last years
aserssment. was practically douhl.
That Hence IL VIII be seen
that tho people OF the district ia aucs.
ton have ample resources a. draw np-
m for the support OF the county gov
efnmsnt-but az We have said above
" : not the property. bat th. reo-
ple, thai We should consider in the I
making Of new counties And when
The cost. in hardship and money Of ,
fearhins the county seat freul any i
eeiinn OF the old count, IL so ,
great that the scat ~ government is Z
inaccessible from that section. the
people Of the section are forced TO I
the burden of government with
out sharing In lie benefits. being thu F,
practically compelled TO submit 10
taxation without representation. the 4,
great wrong which impercd our
American fofefathcrs TO take up armal,
against the king Of Great britain. f,
The best Interests Of the territory 4,
demand b q the whole people Of the