The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1918-11-21
Editorial and Magazine Page of

A REPORT has Just been made public in Santa
"A Fc covering Il complete audit of all tranSac-
tiors of the New Mexico state land office for
the past nine years. II was made by \. g.. Whit.
tier. state travelling auditor aud il shows, IN the
auditor conclusions and summary, HAT tins de-
partIncnt, row handling financial transactions total
ing over a million dollars annually, has emerged
from the searching audit with a record that runs
100 percent IN efficiency aud accuracy of account.
iug. ass-ss
AT the same time another audit, made at the
direction of Governor Lindsey aud by request of
Capt. Fritz Muller, the acting land commissioner,
by X. + Asplund, director of the state taxpayers
association, shows the same 100 percent record of
accuracy of accounting and efficiency IN manage
ment.
The audit of the nine years period just com
plctcd by Auditor Whittier, was begun several
months ago at the request of the late Robert L.
Ervicn, the commissioner in charge during all that
period and until his untimcly death in October. Mr..
Ervicn 5 term would have expired ON January |
next. He sought AN audit which covered every de
tail of the department during his incumbency aud
the sad feature of the outcome is that the fine show
ing of efficiency and square dealing the audit shows
comes after Mr.. Ervlcn 5 death.
This double audit of the state : most mpor-
tant department gains special interest because of
numerous efforts ia the past 10 drag the office aud
its management into political fights and to make II Il
target for political criticism in an effort to make
political capital; IN other words. AN effort 10y poll.
ticiGnS To get control of the office. Referring to a
partial examination OF the department made "a
1914 the auditors say
1T (thc examination was made by
Guilfoil. accountant. No report of such cA-
animation was made except a verbal state
mcnt by MIR. Guilfoil that Everything was
all right II is also safe and pertinent TO
add that ifanything had been found 10y the
examiner mentioned. report IN full would
have been made long ago. II is practically
correct to say that the land office has not
been examined since the Stafford audit,
made IN 1909 for the Guiltoil cNamina-
ton does not seem to have been considered
even 10y it, friends an audit. II was
rather an attempt 60 make political
capital.
Vet the partial examination here referred to
was made the basis for a vicious attack upon the
state land department during the last Legislature
which was maintained throughout the major por.
tion of the session and which at times INSTRUCTED
the public business, II failed to make amy effective
Roadway because Of it., evident lack Of sincerity
or foundation and it's apparent political purpose.
The fact Is that New McNico's state land man
agcncnt has been kept clean. accurate and highly
efficient, because the late commissioner. through
all his incumbency. rigidly excluded politics from
the business nf the department and from all his
dealings in nm official capacity. lie established
ccdurc of the land management and created a de-
maud for the continued exclusion of politics and
political activity from the office which was re-
Elected IN the result of the recent election.
The states huge land holdings are a mighty
asset. The people do not want them made the bat
tle-groumd for political contests and maneuycring.