The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1920-06-24
Governor Removes 3 Regents
And Replies to Their Letter
Cites Auditors Report to Show That Real Deficit
Exists and Says as Much as He Regrets it
He Must Gust Members

II his Agricultural college board had
a right 10 exceed the appropriation
ana other funds available. for what
was believed TO be the good OF tho
~inatitution. then every other state
hoard has a right to ignore the law.
n ] failed to remove this board.
painful az tho duty Is to me. then
enforcement OF other laws For such
failure | would have no adequate de-
Tense.
The stRtemen. Of the three re-
gents denies that any deficit exists.
and declares that. on the contrary.
tho college has a credit balance OF
more than 5000. lfthat ~ true.
| regard q Az singular that the "a
ditOr OF the Institution should be 10
badly misinformed, as In also Presi-
dent ciothier. have here 4 report
lege auditor. IS " June 10. 1920.
which shows the status Of the ae-
count AZ accurately IA can be done
before the books are closed at the
end Of the present fiscal year. Now.
you may recall that after tie confer
enee In this office on May 20. Il was
announced that the deficit was some
thing more than $4,000. Auditor
Hendricks report shows that on June
10. the total liabilities. which takes
Into account the authorized eNpendi-
lures was tiii.f2O.f0. To offset this
there are assets which reach a total
o. f~52.7fT,sj. which leaves a deficit
81 f~5s.g72.56. This is about $1,000
greater than the deficit that was an
nOunced on May %. Conservative
estimates Of further expenses that
will be necessary will bring the total
OF the deficit up to $50. 10000 by the
firs' OF July J cannot disregard this
report prepared 10y h accountant
OF the college. I am afraid that the
credit balance referred 20 In the
statement by the three regents Is
more imaginary than real, though l
have no doubt OF their good inten-
lions In quoting such credit balance
Citrs Presidents Letter
1T IL unreasonable. to believe thht
the president OF the college does not
have access 10 dependable informa-
tion, Hers Is q letter to me from
DR.. ClOthler. president, deted May
IL Please notice that In he very
first line he declares that on taking
char &C. Of ne institution IN April is,
ono OF the fr1 things he discovered
was that there existed a deficit ~ APP
~proXimateiy $4,000.
"a great deal has been made Of
the presumed fact that an enormous
expenditure had to be made on Nc-
count Of the war work in which the
ccilcgs was engaged. The college did
do "a wonderful work In preparing
New Mexico for full participation Ia
the war for the freedom Uf the world.
Nobody In ptouder ~ the achieve
ment than I am. but mat work does
not explain The present deficit. Early
la. 1919, a short time after | assumed
the duties Of governor. Or, Austin
- Grille. then president Of the col
lege. came to mo and reported that
the college then had a deficit OF a
/ considerable sun. ! said to him; II
tina dcncit is chatgahie "a war work
make me a statement showing that
II Is. and I will authorize "A voucher
from the wal fund To over He
prepared "a statement. In detail. show
/ ing the net deficit on account OF
war work 20 zoe tg3.3O5. ~. Thrro
was issued to the college under my
authority. a voucher from the state
war fund for $4,000. And that vas
not all the financial aid that the col
lcge received from the war fund. a
report ! have here from he state
uuditoTs Jfice shows that from May
81, 1917, until July T., 1919. the As
ricultural college received from the
state wa fund. under authority III
former Governor Lindsey and myself.
the exact sum OF t73,67str.
The yist Of the whole situation
mas been mere ave 10 you Win ul'
supporting documents. II there are
persons Whu persist IN reading "A po-
litical significance into the removal
OF these three cstimablc gentlemen
WhO have given 80 generously 81 their
uuie IN an effort IN .grye the state
% New Mexico, then / have to sty that
such persons GO far beyond h re-
cord In orltr to do 81. II the dis
charge 81 this mOt unplctsa, I duty
. ahnfIl hiring unnnf "A condition AhNfl
should prevent the republican CON
vcntiuu FOR reuOminatiug me for gov
--HUf OF New Mexico, thcr I shall
have To- face defeat II I should nav,
To- face defeat I could do so with tbs
comfort that comcs from The knOwl'
edge that I discharged the duties al
tie high office In mlfillmcnt Of tn,
oath that touK when | was innugi-
rated governor. ! elect 20 stand upon
fha rsagUfd.