Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1912-03-12
GOVERNOR MCDONALD READS
MESSAGE TO LEGISLATURE
He Makes Number of Rather Radical Recommendations,
but in the Main Is Conservative and Sane.

Istead of being only $60,OOO,O00. The
state board of equalization is endeav-
oring to raise that figure TO $S0,000,-
1000. There should be some per cent
should be compelled to conform. The
board of equalization should be given
lpower to inquire into assessments of
property in each county.
State Museum.
The rooms occupied by the Histori-
cal Society in the Palace of the Gov
eruors should be turned over to the
Nav Mexico Museum and also all his
torical relics paid for by public funds
installed in the museum.
Public Schools.
A lamentable condition of affairs as
to public education in New Mexico
was revealed by statistics read by the
governor. There are a thousand
school districts, only 1,5S9 school
rooms, 100,045 children of school age
but only an enrolment of 56.77S and
an average attendance OF 32,54S. There
are SO districts that held no school
last year, is had school only for one
month, 45 for two months. 2o7 for
three months and 179 for four months.
The total expenditures including mon
" spent for buildings, last year, We're
$997, ,S91.39, or S732 per child of school
age, $l2.S9 per enrolled child, S22.47
per child attending as against an aver
age of $49.91 for the United States.
The constitution prescribes a mini
mum term of five months and how TO
secure that for each district is the
mCst important question before the
legislature. There are about 10000
children in New Mexico who do not
+ have the benefit Of five months a year
f school. The situation must be rene
died, even though the problem is a
difficult one. The cities boast Of their
municipal schools but at the same
! time there are many districts where
the children grow up in absolute ig-
| norance. Free text books should be
= furnished up to and including the
, eighth grade. There should be sys
: TEN of country schools and q code of
: school laws, the old school legislation
f teing repealed by it.
, The Public Lands.
An important question is that of the
, public lands. The state acquired from
p the territory 5.5S5,175.32 acres tc
q which are to be added 6,569,52 acres
= granted the new state, making a tota
+ of almost twelve million acres. It is
@ an extensive trust but the messag,
d makes no recommendations as to tht
2 selection and disposition of thes
:. lands.
Three Offices to Be Abolished.
As the Corporation Commission ha
: absorbed most of the functions of tn
q insurance Department, the messag
s advocates its abolition. The duties O
# the parole officer, the governor dc
i clares, might as well be performed b
n the superintendent OF the penitentiar
# and the parole officer, who draws 81
a month abolished. The coal oil ir
spector should also be abolished a
G the burden is borne by the consume
,f and the law does not appear for tn
n benefit of the people nor furnish ade
= quate protection. The revenue las
,s year was S16,S3S, of which $10,S57 wa
y spent for inspectors and inspection
Y and the balance $5,9S9, presumabl
d, went to the inspector. as under tn
law not more than the cost Of inspet
ton can be collected and the stat
Il derives no revenue from the inspet
10 ton.
m Travelling Auditor.
le This is one of the most importa1
0, offices and while the governor is ne
" i'll possession of compete data, We
ls he believes that the verbal recon
Is mendation of former Travelling Audi
@. or Jonn Joerns for more help is just
e. lied. Another assistant travelling a.
tn dltor should be provided for
III Mounted Police.
tn Under this heading, the message +
MS fiected on the unsatisfactory state
A affairs as revealed by the mar
be crimes, especially murders committe
al in New Mexico. Owing to trouble
or conditions along the border and i
n crease of population, also, there shou
he be an increase of the mounted polit
force. The sheriffs under the fee sy
TEN, at present are at times not et
nc cient in hunting down criminals al
1v when placed on salary, can hard
"a be expected to become more efficie
- in that work.
,r Inspection Of Mines.
or The constitution provides for
re- mine inspector and until legislation
- provided, the federal mining laws a
AL ply locally.
is Liquor Traffic.
TO- The liquor traffic is not being &C
ed trolled to the satisfaction of the pt
de pie. Additional penalties and mo
On effective methods should be provid
by the legislature to secure enfor,
ment of the laws. Cities should ha
la local option and if city councils
fi- fuse to submit or pass ordinances, t
be voters should have the right to i
nd tiate ordinances to regulate or aboli
ex- the liquor traffic, not only within t
he municipality but in adjacent terrific
in for at least one mile. County CO
. missioners should also be given f
power to regulate or abolish the tr
lar fic and if they refuse to act then
ich people of the county should have t
un. right to initiate such legislation.
full Gambling.
ess A more severe Indictment than e1
rhe the above is the statement of
is message that gambling is tolerated