New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1919-02-14
BUDGET IS BEFORE
The LEGISLATURE
EXPENSE THE SAME
CAREFUL PROGRAM OF Elk.
PFNDrTURE SUGGESTED
BY GOVERNOR TO GIVE
BETTER ADMINISTRATION
TAX RATE LOWERED
Budget Of Efficiency

Budget Of Efficiency
Contrary to expectation the ex-
penditures recommended by the
governors message do not call for
an added burden Of taxation, inereas-
,ng the cost of state government
only by an estimated $1,000. VA re-
duction of the state levy from 81
70 mills is possible if the governors
program is adopted.
AN Money To Go To State
The governor recommends that all
money received by the departments
DC paid into, and handled by the
treasury and not be carried by the
departments as is now permissible
in some instances.
The message is long. the salient
items OF general interest being
No new buildings should be erected
for the present. A big road bond
issue that would place a proportion
Of the burden of the cost on the
expanded population that will in the
future benefit from the roads is a
desirable solution of the big high
way problem of New Mexico. A
small annual tax carried over long
period of years is suggested as ano-
.her method
About $7sO,Wo already appropria-
ted and not expended for public de-
fense could probably be re-appro-
priated for the benefit of state ms
titutions.
An increased auto tax of $4,000 to
$4,000 a year, an indirect tax on
rac01 Aot, od To ,rsa1J Cd0Os IN
yearly is advised reasonable fran
chise or license tax on corporations,
a 2 cent tax on movies, an inherit
snce tax and graduated income tax
are also cited as a means of reliev.
ing the burden of direct property
tayation.
More zeal in collecting delinquent
tax payments is urged by the COVER
nor, who also believes that the office
Of game warden should continue to
operate on its own fees without a
special appropriation.
Hetstates the need of $25000 for
maintenance of mounted police and
recommends higher salaries in GER
tain Instances for state officers.
Public Health Bill
The bill to create a board Of public
health for New Mexico was intro
duced by }. Frank Curns of Mora
county last Friday and has been re-
ferred to a committee. The bill pro-
vides for a state department of
health headed by health commits
sioner. and consisting of five mem
bers, not more than three members
to be physicians.
The bill gives the board d;scre-
tionary powers in the making and
enforcement Of necessary" health
rules. The commissioner must be a
physician, and his salary is fixed at
$500 a year. A chemist, bacter; olo-
gist, sanitary engineer, register of
vital statistics. inspectors. nurses and
clerks are called for. The depart
ment may investigate the causes of
disease and epidemcs, inpect public
and private buildings. and regulate
to an extent plumbing, drainage,
ventilation, light and water supply,
and is empowered to compel re-
port of such statistics as births.
marriages, and deaths. and may look
into the sanitation and sale of milk.
Cooperation with county and mu-
nicipal health officers is provided.
The bill states nothing in the act
shall interfere with a persons Sc
lection of "his own choice of treat !,
ment" which is interpreted as safe
guard to those who prefer mental
forms of treatment
A tax of one fourth of mill is I
called for in the present draft of
the bill, the revenue to be covered
into a department of health current
fund.
Anti-Cambling Bill
An Anti-gamb;ing bill which makes
It incumbent upon law officers to
ferret out supposed cases of gam
bling, or to suffer penalties them
selves. was passed by the house this
week after debate which indicated
that some of the members consider
ed the bill difficult to enforce.
Whist parties where prizes are gwen
to winners are defined as gambling
onder the terms OF the law, which
was introduced by Mr.. Blanchard.
For School Consolidation
A bill introduced by Robertson and
Linwood and passed in the house
on Wednesday. provides that rural
school districts may consolidate for
the purpose of economy and con-
venience though the district are in
two or more counties. the expense
to be divided by the counties
A program of several bills relating
to education was presented this
week. They have the approval of
the governor. A special message
from Governor Larrazolo on revenue
needs and taxation mea sures is look
ed for in the legislature this week
Pyramid County Halted
Opposition to the creation of
Pyramid county from the southern
portion of the present county of
Grant developed this week on the
part of people from Silver City the
present county seat. Superintendent
of the IS nine at Lords I
,ufg has added his presence to the q
obby for Lordsburg, which wants |
he new county. Percy Wilson an T
from Silver City arrived
Monday with credentials to appear {
,efore the house committee on coun- I
les and county lines to state the q
:ase for 10 division. q
Among boosters from Lerdsbufg {