The Columbus courier. [volume] (Columbus, Luna County, N.M.) 1911-1920, 1919-02-28
BILL SIGNED BY
GOV. LARRAZOLO
Mayor Hairs BlIi Giving Villages
Additional Powers signed ard
Became a Law Tuesday.

Mayor J. r. Blair received a tele-
gram Tuesday from a clerk Of the
state senate al santa he stating that
the governor had signed his bill. As
Il carried the emergency clause, II
Immediately became a law and y
now In full force and effect
The bin Il entitled IAN Act Con-
ferring Powers on Villages Having a
Population OF Five Hundred or
More" It was introduced by the
committee on Private, County and
Municipal Corporations, a. follows:
"nc II Enacted by the Legislature
Of the State Of New Mexico:
section I. Whenever the Board Of
Trustees Of any incorporated village
shall by resolution elect 80 10 do Il
may cause a census 10 be taken Of
the inhabitants OF such village actu-
ally residing therein. and " such
census shall disclose that the actual
residents of such village are 800 or
more In number, such village shall
thereafter have and possess all the
powers and privileges by law
granted 10 incorporated towns.
SEC. 2. Any return or record Of
census taken under the provisions
Of this Act shall be verified by the
oath Of the person or persons taking
the same. aud shall be taken In du-
plicale and approved by resolution
of the Board Of Trustees. aud one
copy thereof shall be filed aud pre-
served In the office of the County
Clerk Of the County In which such
village is situated, aud the other
copy thereof shall be- preserved In
the records Of the village.
Sec. 3. That II is necessary for
the preservation Of the public peace
and safety Of the inhabitants Of the
State Of New Mexico, that the pro-
visions Of this Act shall become
effective at the earliest possible
time, therefore an emergency Il
hereby declared Ia exist and this Act
shall take effect and be- In full force
and effect from and after It's pass
age aud approval"
II is necessary for villages, Il
order to take advantage Of this law
To have a census Of the population
taken. II they find they have I
population Of 500 or more they ma,
Immediately possess all the poweri
granted towns Incorporated undeI
the town act.
The trustees held their rcgula
meeting last Tuesday evening AM
decided 10 take advantage Of the new
law immediately. G.. n. Rogers wa
appointed as census enumeration
and will no doubt have his worI
completed by the time Of the mex
meeting Of the board Tuesday
March &
There is no question about Colum
hus having the necessary population
10 come under the new law. A care
ful estimate Of the population wa
made while Mr.. Blair wos In SAINT
Fe, and while II may he of two O
three hundred either way, Mr.. Fred
erickson, who made this estimate
believes there are 1900 residents
the town.
Mr.. Blair's principal idea was
be able 10 raise funds for the pun
pose OF putting In an adequate wat'
system. The first plan was the vol
ing OF bonds, hut no learned whe
he flrst reached santa Fe that bon'
could not be voted except at a reg,
lar election. However, boards
trustees In towns are given u
authority io issue certificates
indebtedness for a. large a sum
the people are given the right
issue bonds, which sum cannot -
ceed per cent Of the tax Naluatio
The valuation for taxable purpos
in Columbus h something aroul
S00.OOO. which would give q
hoard Of trustees the power tn iss
certificates Of indebtedness Ia 4
amount Of $4,000, There is s2.O
In the village treasury, which Civ
tho city trustees working capt.
NJ $4,000 for q new water syslc
providing they can dispose Of |
certificates,
4 vote Is not necessary for I
issuance Of certificates, though I
trustees did not wish TO take I
responsibility upon themselves wit
out consulting the taxpayers. MOI
single objection has been made
far aud most all tho business M
have expressed their approval.