New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1920-12-24
CAN THE LEGISLATURE
RECONCILE PUBLIC BUILDING
NEEDS WITH RETRENCHMENT
By Guthrie SIN tn


What New MeXico needs now is a
legislature composed of wizards, men
who, in the legislative and financial
fields, will be all that Luther Bur
bank has been in the vegetable king
dom. They will literally have TO
make some $40 pennies blossom where
only 100 grew before. There has no
been time in the history OF New
Mexico when constructive skill and
prophetic vision were so urgently
needed.
For several years there has been
growing in some quarters and among
some elements OF citizenship de-
mand for retrenchment in every de-
partment OF the states administra i've
affairs Only a part of this demand
ha. any foundation in fact and pos
sibility. During the recent campaign
vast deal was written and spoken
10 the general effect that considera-
BIZ less than half the property in
thc state is being taxed. The real
purpose of these wild statements was
not so much to describe actual con-
dilions as to make votes through the
creating of dissatisfaction With the
legislative and administrative work
of the dominant party. There is
much room for improvement in the
la and Inefficient methods of list
ms property IN the several counties,
b., the raising OF the standard by
some p to IS per cent world not
produce revenue great enough to
meet the Increasing needs. It is
almost certain that the mine tax law
will be revised, so as 20 impose a
much heavier tax upon the operat-
inl nine properties; but reasonable
Improvement in this direction will not
mean any substantial reduction in The
taxes of other property owners
Over on the other side of the leg
isIstive ledger is to be set down the
most insistent demand for more
money. This demand comes from
practically every state institution,
and, in addition, from every section
o: the state where good roads and
better schools are necessities. II is
said upon good authority that every
educational institu' ion with the ex-
ception of the school for the deaf
and dumb, at Santa Fe. will have to
ask the legislature for deficiency ap-
propriations 10 cover deficits. There
is no room for doubt about the Agri-
cultural college, which has a net de-
fici. OF more than SS0O0 One other
institution has n deficit that already
as more than 90 per cent of the year
ty maintenance fund. The Univer-
sity. at ATbuiuerque, after an ex-
haustve study of the situation by
its tc7- n of trustees, finds that 4
building appropriation of $4,000 is
iniprratively needed The peniten-
tiary needs about 100000 to begin
TO put the institution into fair con-
d;tion. There ought 20 be eXpend-
ed not less than 10000 for an ad-
di.ion to the capitol. Other ins;i-
tutions have brildinF programs OF
real merit. Now against these claims
puc the statement OF some Of tic
men who will serve in this next
legislature: Not a dollar is to be
appropriated for new buildings.
Manifestly. there must be a re-
concilia'ion Of these two opposing
programs. Ut how TO reconcile them
will tax the ingenuity OF New Mex
ico's ablest men and women.
The people OF the state recently
voted down the proposed bond issue
o. S200000 for the construction of an
addition to the capitol. And vet s'ch
an addition is a real necessity, IL the
peoples business is not 10 suffer bad
iy Before the legislature is con-
vcned on Jan. II, the drafting de-
partment OF the state highway COM
mission, numbering p men and now
occupying the senate chamber, W 7
l. I.raI tt. -s
ment of health, the travelling auditor
and the state tax commission also
are occupying rooms that belong 10
the legislature and viii have TO be
Sacated. 1t has been years since the
state bank examiner has had quart
ers in the building The dcna-tment
OF education occupies quarters not
ore-third large enough. while the
s'a'e highway commission and The
state highway engineers de1artments
need for- or five iimes their p-os.
err ano"n, Of space. The land com
missioner's and the state corporation
commissions quarters are badly
eiowded.
Another proposed bond issue Of
c000O00 was voted down in the re-
cent election. This was for the con-
struction OF roads. and was to pro-
vide the states share OF the pro-
gram for federal aid roads. for which
the federal appropriations already is
available. II the states share is not
made available now through another
special road levy. the state will be
urable to take advantage OF the fed
erai offer, and consequently the state
will lose the golden opportunity TO
secure several million dollars worth
Of sadly needed roads