Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1910-03-25
NEW MEXICO JUST
AS WELL Off A
TERRITORY
STATEHOOD ISONLY
GOOD ADVERTISEMENT
Paul Morton, President Of the
Equitable Life, IN Interview
Says Enabling Act Isn't Such
a Boon as It Seems,

Paul Morton, president OF the
Equitable Life Assurance society OF
New York, former secretary OF the
United states navy ana prior to his
connection with ,he battlcship de-
partment, third yicc-prcsident of the
Santa Fc railroad, made a brief stop
in Albuquerque last night, en- route TO
the City of Mexico.
Mr.. Morton is an unusually busy
man. When he isn't thinking about
insurance, he is occupied with the
building of railroads, and when there
arc no moro railroads to build. MIR.
Morton takes a slip of paper and fig
lrcs out how many first class battle
ships the United States should add to
its naval equipment each year if
Japan and China and a few other
eastern nations are to be kept at bay
ana the United States is to retain pos
session OF the Philippines.
Last night Mr.. Morton was very
busy. reading stock reports and Cos
sip from the New York stick ex-
change and the story of the day from
the Chicago wheat pit. But the for
mer head of the navy hads d brief
minute to say Il few terse sentences to
newspaper men who called upon him
in his private car at the Santa Fe
station.
The unique statements that New
Mexico is better off as a territory
than it win be as a state and tina
Albuquerque is better off without the
New Mexico Central railroad than 1t
viii be with that long hoped-for inn
provenlcnt. were the most interesting
declarations Mr.. Morton was willing
to be quoted upon, when asked by a
Morning Journal for a brief interview
on local conditions,
Statehood for New Mexico will be
q good advcrtisement-that'seab about ali
there is to II" said Mr.. Morton. II do
not know any more about the state
hood bill or its prospects for passage
than you people down here do. But
my opinion is that the territory is
making just us much progress under
a territorial form of government as it
will when it heeepes a state New
Mexico today, as a territory is pros
crossing as much a. the states of
Wyoming and Nevada"
Mr.. Morton was rather reticent
when questioned with reference to
railroad matters which interest Albu-
querque. but came out with a direct
statement that it was his own private
opinion that Albuquerque is better off
with the Santa Fc railroad than il will
be when the New Mexico Central rail-
road builds its tracks into the city.
Albuquerque is getting along all
right said Mr., Morton. 1T is true
that the Santa Fe is the only railroad
here. But the santa Fe has 100 per
cent interest in the city now. when
another road comes in the Santa Fe
will only have so rer cent interest.
The Santa Fc has large property hold
ipgs in Albuquerque and has prac-
~tlcally made il what 1t Is. | don't
know the men behind the negotiations
for the purchase of the New Mexico
Central railroad. I hope they are not
friends of mine
What do you think OF the rumor
current today TO the effect that h
Pennsylvania has practically complet-
cd an alliance with the Santa Fe,
which Will result in a coast to coast
road?" was asked Of Mr.. Morton.
II don't know anything about ii
except what I read In the papers. such
a thing might happen and wouldn't
hurt either the Pennsylvania or the
Santa Fe to a very great extent
do YOU know that the Santa Fc
is double tracking its coast line be-
tween Albuquerque and Los Angeles,
and has such a move any Significance
in connection with. the rumored all
lance with the Pennsylvania ." was
next asked.
TO this question Mr.. Morton said
that he was aware Of the fact that
the coast lines were being double
tracked west of Albuquerque and toi