Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1915-03-06
LESTER SAYS HE
IS QUITE PROUD
Of HIS ENEMIES
Former Member of Board of
Regents Of State College
Tells of Affairs Connected
With Road Board Office.

SPECIAL eoRREsPoHoENoG MORNING JOURNAL
Las Cruces, n. NJ, March 5.-Fran-
els +. Lester, Of Mesllla Park. former
member of the board of regents of
the New Mexico College of Agricul-
ture and Mechanic Arts, whose resig-
nation was recently rendered and
accepted, and who is also we'll known
as the chairman of the Dona Ana
county road board today gave out
the following interview.
"The public is not usually interest
ed IN these misleading street rumors
50 frequent in Las Cruces since the
bank failure. But they are interest
ed in mans official acts.
Sources of Criticism.
1.-THE criticism that has been direct
cd against me in connection with my
official position as secretary treasur-
er of the Dona Ana county road board
comes from one or two individuals
closely connected with the inside in
terests of the defunCt bank, and is
actuated by a motive to cast suspi-
cion upon others than the real cul-
prits responsible for the wreckng
Of this bank. In line with these
facts | have been charged by direc-
tor Of the bank with being as much
as 100000 short in my road fund
account; by prominent citizen, who
is an attorney, of having padded pay
rolls and with other irregular and
improper misdeeds.
my relations as secretary treasur-
er Of the Dona Ana county road board
with the First state bank We're at all
times regular and proper and these
transactions were made in an open
manner with the fun knowledge and
approval Of our road board protected
by $4,000 bond regularly APPROX
ed as required by law The method
Of keeping the accounts was as pre-
scribed by the state highway COM
mission, and the method Of drawing
and disbursing monies was definitely
approved by the attorney. general of
the state, by the district attorney and
by the legal advisor of our board
These methods were strictly followed
at all times and are those which in
our opinion guaranteed the greatest
degree of efficiency in the work UNI
dertaken by our board. Every dol
lar Of the county road funds drawn
was covered by warrants on the
county treasurer. drawn in regular
form as prescribed By law, and APP
proved at meeting Of our road
board The balance on hand in the
First state bank to the credit of our
road board when the bank closed was
almost all of il legitimate collections
made by our board from one source
and another as shown oy the records.
When ! first heard Of these ru-
mors Of improper handling Of funds
on my part | Immediately made
request upon the chairman of our
road board for an impartial and com
plee audit to cover my entire official
record and transactions This audit
was promptly made and has been
Practically completed. 1t shows that
In the discussing of approximately
$4,000 Of county road funds dur
ing my term of office involving the
issuance Of over $4,000 labor payroll
checks every dollar is properly ac-
counted for; the records complete
and regular i'm every respect, and my
accounts i'm exact balance with the
books Of the bank and as between
warrants and payrolls, with the eN-
ceptl0n of a difference of 10 cents
which has not yet been located, and
which is over and not short, and
doubtless a clerical error
In carrying out my official duties
during my 2is years term of office
have tried to do what | can to see
that the people Of Dona Ana county
were given a good, efficient, honest
administration of their road funds.
This has required quite a sacrific of
personal time and interests. | have
not received one cent of salary or re-
muneratlon either Glrectly or indi-
rectly and my services have Deem
gwen willingly without it. But it
seems as though the moment any one
gets into public life, no matter how
hard he tries to do the right thing
ne becomes the target for the attacks
q few unprincipled individuals
most of whom never stirred a finger
10 Try TO benefit his community in
an unselfsh way. My experience is.
no exception Some people, however
are proud of their enemies and here
again is no exception, for | am GER
Ialhly proud of mine"