Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-08-21
N. N. TAXPAYERS
Ass N OPPOSED To
ROAD BOND ISSUE
Committee Goes on Record in
a Carefully Worded Argu-
ment as Being Against Con-
StitutionaI Amendment,

ESPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE TO noSHihe JOURNAL
Santa Fe, Aug. 20.-The New Mex
leo Taxpayers association will nod
its annual convention in Santa F'e,
october II and IS. That was the decis-
ion reached today by the executive
committee which has been in session
two days, adjourning last night Inc
committee drafted carefully worded
argument on the proposed S2,OO0,ooo|
road bond issue to be voted on TINS
fall. The committee pronounces
against the bond issue but in moderate
and guarded terms. No stand was
takeiI~against the proposed amend
ment to the constitution placing al
number of New Mexico Institutions
under a board of four regents to be-
paid 5000 a year each.
The main arguments presented
against the proposed amendment are
those of economy, efficiency and ex-
pediency. 1t is pointed out that it is
proposed to start out with an initial
salary expenditure of $4,000 a year
to which will have to be added the
cost of office force and equipment.
All the institutional boards, including
those not covered by the proposed
amendment, last year spent $2i500' or
which $500 was by the penitentiary
board, so that all the rest cost the
state only 5000. Yet these boards
without salaried members command
ed the services as well as interest OF
men like Hon. Nathan Jaffa, Hon.
Frank Springer, Hon. E. c. CHAMPION,
Hon. Levi A. Hughes, and other men
who would not accept a salaried
place under any circumstances.
The proposed board would be APP
pointed by the governor without the
consent of the senate and the danger
lies in the appointments going to mere
politicians. IT has been found that
when place becomes desirable for It's
salary alone that the struggle for II
among men least fitted for it is often
the strongest and that the appoint
ment or election often goes not to the
most worthy but to the man who puts
up the hardest fight for it and can
bring the hardest pressure to bear or
who makes the biggest promises. 1t
is also argued when an institution has
a board of its own, it generally has
men upon it who know intimately the
needs and limitations of the institu-
ton, while a general board would
hardly acquire the knowledge. The
proposed amendment unfortunately
provides for merely a two year term,
instead of following the more modern
and more efficient plan of having
only one members term expire each
two years.
The opportunity for graft would be
multiplied, for contracts would be CIV
en- for all sorts of supplies and equip
ment by wholesale, and the tendency
would be to buy far ahead of needs.
The distribution of supplies would
open other channels for graft by en-
ployes and thus all the way down the
line the chances for economy are far
less than when a board in charge of
one institution counts the pennies and
tries to make the very best showing
for its own institution.
The matter of local pride, in state
iike New Mexico. in institutions
should be fostered rather than be
frowned upon, as for the present, New
Mexico institutions must continue tc
draw heavily for pupils and support
front immediate surroundings. This
NAV be changed in time but the
strength that will draw the universal
SUPPORT will have to rest upon the To-
cal foundations. The effect of placing
the penitentiary and the university
and all kinds of institutions under the
one board, and at the same time in
GLIDING only some and not all the in
stitutions, make the proposed amend.
ment seriously defective.
The only result of its adoption, fol
the immediate future anyway, would
be extravaganza, inefficiency, poltica
chicanery and detriment to the state
institutions Possibly later, with 8
more carefully drawn amendment
with one paid commissioner at ade'
auate salary, this may be different
Bu,. such commissioner and such 6
board already exist in the state board
public instruction. Why not let then
take charge If the adjustment of {
board for each institution is deemed
undesirable.