The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1917-01-10

should be 50 changed as to require
this. The state Is losing In revenue
annually from this source alone be-
tween $50. 0OO. 90 aud $50. 10000.
Section 5iN3 Of our statutes reads:
Twenty per centum OF thc income
derived from any state lands except
lands granted By the enabling act FOR
the payment OF bonds of Grant and
Santa Pc counties. and the interest
thereon. shall constitute 4 fund To DE
known AS the state lands maintenance
funds
The language OF this section IL
plain. that this fund consists Of ap-
p%ropriatious from income only. aud
not from the proceeds " The sale or
state lands. or from Interest on such
proceeds. Yet | am advised that
the credits OF the land Office
maintenance have heen made
from both the principal aud Income. Il
would seem hat all the appropriations
TO this fund from the principal since
statehood are clearly Illegal and that
any sums 50 diverted should be re-
turned hy the state 20 their respective
permanent funds.
Some authority should be establish.
ed To sup-s-sc and limit the expense
81 this office. When the sole power
over such an important department Is
entrusted entirely Co ono man. he nat
urally becomes eXtravaEunt with his
expenditure. This IS the case with
the state land office. The business of
the office ought 10 be handled with
one-half % he present force. The cost
Of maintenance now is more than
twelve per cent 81 tho income. which
is excessive.
40 audit Of the state land commits
%sioner's office seems 20 have been
made since the time the office was ca
trhliahed. This Is one OF the most
important departments Of the state
government and some provision should
be made for a proper audit Of Us books
50 that the people may be advised e.,
TO hov this great endowment Is being
managed such AN audit shoIid bo
n%on-uoliticaI In It's character and in
order TO sccuro this 1t should he made
by some party from outside Of tho
itnte. ! would recommend therefore,
that you make an appropriation Of an
amount sufficient to secure % proper
audit Of these books, such %appropria-
tion t. ice expended undc~ the diro"-
tion ~ the governor
State institutions Funds.
Nearly all Of tho amount Geriycd
from the sale OF state lands. donated
by tho general government 20 our
state institutions, has hecu expended
hy these Institutions for purposes 9th
than Investment In income-bearing So
curities. II II would seem that such
expenditure iz contrary to both the
spirit and intent az the acts granting
these lands. The purpose Of ti,s grit
was undoubtedly 90 provide a per
maucut endowment for such institu-
iious Unless this method of eNpcndi-
turc b. checked a: the outset this
princely endowment Of our institutions
Is liable to ho rapidly dissipated AMI
we shall find ourselves compelled TO
rcly upon taxation as the sole means
~ their maintenance.
Budget.
Tho various state institutions ha'"
made reports. FOR which ! ask your
careful consideration. Al Of these
reports ask for appropriations bus
there IS no statement of the purposes
for which the same II "a he used
recommend the adoption Of "a budget
system by the state government. II
this were done. b. would be possible
Ia ~cstimnteIn advance how much ~
levy ls called for by The a~pproprla-
tious asked for, and our expenditures
could he kept within our hf
the heltcr-skoiter method In vogue
now the appropriations frequently eN-
cecd the income. An outline OF sn'h
n system has been prepared and semi
out "a the several state departments
and institutions. calling for a dciall'"
estimate of the amount needed ini ihc
ensuing iwo years A. soon as these
estimates are received, they VIII De
yubmittcd 10 your finance committee
for their consideration.
Election Laws,
The present election law should h'
repealed A free and untramm'i'l
ballot Ia the very foundation upon
which rests our Rcpuhiiruh
form Of government Take away ol
interfere with this right. and our IRE
institutions are undermined, ana m
their place is tuilt up a monarrhl'nl
form ~ government. There N an ur-
need that-thig ASSEMBLY pass "a
modern and comprehensive election