New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1917-01-12
FRIDAY JANUARY, IL, 1917.
THE GOVERNORS MESSAGE

before the joint session Of the legislature al
noon Wednesday, by Lieutenant Governor
Lindsey, at the request of Governor f. c. dc
Baca, who is so critically i'll that he can not
leave his bed at the Sanatorium, was a disap-
pointment alike to his political friends and op-
ponents, in that ii utterly failed in any respect,
save by one or two vague suggestions, to pro-
pose any dcfinate plan for any constructive
legislation along any line whatever, but was
devoted almost entirely to d discussion Of
minor and petty criticisms of the statutes and
Of proposals to further limit the expendi-
lures and thereby cr1rtail the efficiency and
rctard the work Of our public institutions.
Let it be understood that we do not for
one minute hold the governor personally res
ponsible for this message. Governor de Baca
is a very sick man. At the most he could not
have done more than offer some suggestions
regarding the tenor Of the document and cri-
ticlsm of him can extend, only to his failure
to select broader minded men, converscnt with
The needs Of the state, and having the courage
to present them, as his advisors.
Had Governor de Baca been able to have
prepared his message himself we opine that it
would have been for more constructive and
statesmanlike in its proposals. 1t is a pity in
deed, in effect, it is a disaster to the state, to
deprive the people of a physically competent
man to head their affairs, because Of a poll
teal party's exegencies. But that is exactly
what was done, knowingly and Intentionally
at the last democratic state convention and
We are now reaping the disadvantages.
The people of New Mexico had a right
to expect recommendations for a more ex-
tended improvement of our higher education-
al institutions. The attendance at all Of them
has greatly increased during the past few
years. All of them need better equipment,
most Of them need more buildings. some of
them need increased and ADLER faculties-all
Of which tales more money, but money which
the people do not object to paying if they get
results in better service and a broader and
more complete education of the rising genera
ton.
The legislature had a right to expect a
clear and positive declaration of public road
policy both as to the means, or plan, of rails
ing a large amount of money for immediate
Use, and as to the improvement of the present
methods of dispensing it. But instead they
receive only the formal announcement, which
an net Of congress required him to make, that
a certain amount of money would have to be
provided during the next five years in order
to secure a like amount from the federal 60
vernmcnt with not a word about prompt con-
S~truction. IF roads needed now. and not a word
about improvement If the present system.
The criticism Of the system and manage
ment of the state land office reflects nothing
but a churlish and perverse attitude toward
an officer and system of management that has
been signally efficient and remarkably success
full and beneficial to the state.
The charge of extravaganza in this Of
flee is a mere assertion not sustained by a
Single incident of fact. The statement that
the business of the office could be handled
with one half the present force demonstrates
that the author either has no conception of
the amount of business detail connected with
the administration of over fifty million dol
worth of lands, scattered over a territory
nearly four hundred miles square, and leased
to over five thousand tenants, in addition to
the continual struggle to secure them from the
government, or that his charge is made purely
for political purposes TO create odium where
the appreciation Of the state for a service well
Derforrned IS due.
The statement that 10 audit of the Of
flee has been made since the same was es-
IS one we very seriously question.
At least the financial records of the state land
,ffice bear the check marks, o. KS and in
of no less than three different auditors.
: V. Stafford in 1900 and Mossman and