The Columbus courier. [volume] (Columbus, Luna County, N.M.) 1911-1920, 1917-01-12

small land owner.
The definition Of what consti
tutes a legal fence is so encum
bered with minuti@, as 10 pre-
clude the possibility Of compli
ance with II. | doubt IL there 4
a legal fence in the state, wheI
judged by this definition. N,
matter how substantial the fenc,
of the farmer may be, this stat
ute denies a recovery for tress
pass, unless he can prove all tn,
details Of this definition Of a le.
gal fence.
Moreover, there Is no reason
why the common law rule, sc
use your own, as not TO injur,
another" should not apply to the
owner Of livestock. Ii any class
of property is worth owning, II
is worth looking after, and. the
owner Of stock should be requir.
ed to exercise care to prevent his
cattle from tresspassing upon
the crops of others. This stat.
ute is an invitation to a careless
or spiteful man to turn his stock
loose upon the land and crops of
his neighbor.
] could cite TO you many in
stances where the unjust pro-
visions of this law have been the
direct cause of violence, and in
some cases Of bloodshed and ev-
en- homicide.
recommend the repeal OF the
present statute and the enact
ment Of one in its place more
equitable TO both the stockman
and the farmer. / believe the
law as il stood before the pres
ent law came in force was more
lust TO both.
Banking
There have been no bank fail
ures in the state since the meet
ing of the last Legislative assem-
bly,. This speaks well for the
character Of the men connected
with our state banks, and for the
efficient supervision Of the state
bank examiner. Judging from
the large increase in the number
# depositors. and in the amount
Of their deposits, Il would seem
that both banks and people are
prosperous.
BY an oversight, | believe, on
the part Of the last legislative
assembly. the building and loan
associations OF the state were
left under the supervision of the
state travelling auditor. These
associations are really a part of
the banking institutions of the
state and should be under the
overnight Of the bank examiner.
The state travelling auditor re-
ports that his office now has
more work than IL can properly
attend to. while the bank exam
iner makes no such complaint. /
therefore. recommend that the
building and loan associations Of
the state be placed under the ST.
peryision of the state bank ex-
1miner where they properly be-
Boundary Suits
There is a proceeding pending
in the courts to determine what
is the true location of the bound
airy line between the state of
Texas and the state Of New Mex
leo. A large amount of testi-
mony has been taken In the case
and considerable money eXpend-
ed in its prosecution. The suit
is now at a standstill owing TO
of funds.
There Is also q dispute, | un-
derstand, about the location of a
portion Of the boundary line be-
tween Colorado and New Mexico.
proceeding has yet been in
stituted to determine this ques-
ton In both instances of these
boundary disputes, it is claimed
that the state is losing a large
amount of taxable. property.
| recommend, therefore, that
a reasonable appropriation be
made for the prosecution of both
of these boundary suits.
pe~nitentiary and Reform School
The inmates of both these PEN
institutions should be employ
ed in some useful occupation.
Work, under proper conditions,
to keep those unfortunates
more cheerful and more health
ftl Tho far,,na annna.tal ,,sttk