Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1914-09-18
Mr.. Ferguson, in Action.

Tuesday Of last week, September
9Th, was a sad day for Harvey b, our
congressman. Speaking in the YER
nacular, he got 1t puta all over him that
day.
The first trouble was In the execu-
tive session Of the senate, there his
first postmaster to get it In the neck,
got his. Dirk e. Seligman, whom he
had got appointed as postmaster at
Las Cruces, was rejected by a vote Of
the senate, and will not bump the
present postmaster.
1t was private bill day In the house.
On private bill day the many little
bills that are not of public interest,
are considered in the committee Of
the whole. The congressman who
presents them explains them, and II
there are no objections to them they
pass the committee, which practically
means they pass the house.
Mr.. Ferguson had a bill to set
aside 80 acres in town ID south, Of
range 4 west, up in Sierra county, and
putting 1t under the control Of the
secretary Of the interior.
There are some valuable springs on
this land, and the secretary was direct
ed to care for and lease them and to
put the money received from the
lease In a fund for the maintenance
and preservation Of the reservation.
Evidently Mr.. Ferguson had found
opposition to the bill and before any
objection could be made, announced
he was willing to accept an amend
ment that would put the money into
the general fund Of the treasury,
what amendment was made.
Congressman Stafford, OF Wisconsin
wanted to know why the state Of New
Mexico did not undertake the control
and management Of these springs.
Mr.. Ferguson explained the state
had no law providing for such work.
Congressman Stephens, a fellow dem
ocrat from Texas, wanted to know II
the New Mexico constitution did not
prohibit ~the:state doing such work,
and Mr.. Ferguson admitted he did
not know what the constitution con-
tained regarding such matter.
Congressman Mann and Stafford be-
gan joshing Ferguson about the
springs, wanting to know II they
would cure hay fever, or would pro-
duce perennial youth, and Mr.. Fer
Russon sat there speeches. until Con-
gresham Ferris, Of Oklahoma came
20 his rescue, and explained that con-
gress had reserved the springs. which
we're lying there useless, as no one
could improve them; that the legls-
lature Of the state Of New Mexico
was not In session to pass a law pro-
viding for their lease, and the only
way to make them Of use at present
was to pass this bill.
Mr.. Stafford, Of Wisconsin, explain
ed there was great objection to hav-
ing the government go into this busi-
ness Of renting springs. Its exper-
fence with the Hot Springs, Of Ar
kansas, had not been pleasant. He
told MI. Ferguson this bill had been
before the house for at least six
weeks, with the same objection, and
he had declined to follow the sugges-
tion of those opposed to the bill.
Mr.. Mann, the republican leader,
came to the aid Of the helpless New
Mexico congressman, and made a nice
talk about natural springs, told how
many people went to the European
springs, that as they we're shut of
from them, now was the time to ex-
plot the springs In this country,
which we're fully as valuable as those
IN Europe.
Mr.. Sherley, Of Oklahoma, put an
end 10 Mr., Fergusson's agony by ex-
planning that there we're so many
valuable springs In the country that
II the government went to exploiting
them the appropriation bills would
be foundered, and objected to the
bill, which killed IL.
The same day Mr.. Ferguson had
another bill up. IL provided for Civ
ing the Santa Fe company a right Of
way across the Fort WIngate military
reservation, SO 1t might straighten
It's track.
Mr.. Stafford, OF Wisconsin, was
again after Mr.. Fergusson's pet pro-
ject, and said the land was In a forest
reserve; that there was nothing in
the report on the bin showing that