New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1920-06-11
Ill.

Ill.
We believe that the adoption Of
the principle of the short ballot in
the executive department of our state
government will go far to relieve
our people from the burden OF the
present irresponsible. extravagant, and
un- democratic government which is
plunging the state into more and
more debt, and more and more IN
creasing the burdens of taxatios
without n corresponding benefit
or protection and more and
preventing the investment OF capt
tai in the state for the development
of its natural resources.
w
We believe that the tendency to
Capitalization of power and autho-
rity in the general movement made
specially manifest during the Nations.
participation in the World War
and the consequent enroachment up
on the Constitutional power and att
thority of the states a be sue
icessfully resisted, only through a
like consolidation and Capitalization
lof power in the state government.
whose executive should be clothed
with sufficient authority to control
public expenditure and the admins
ltratiye policy of the state and who
would exercise his powers with a
full sense of his responsibility to the
people while the people would there
Inv be enabled to place responsibility
for extravaganza and mai-administra-
ton of public affairs. Experience has
demonstrated that the increasing
costs of the administration Of the
government are directly traceable to
diversified responsibility a large
number of elective officers detract
from executive power and make II
difficult if not impossible. tor the
neople TO locate responsibility for
results which they d%isapprove and
lprevent them from securing efficien-
cy in government which is the prin~
lcipal concern Of the taxpayer.
Some of the states have already
adopted this reform. noticeably the
state of Illinois with great success,
It is under consideration in many
Others. We respectfully recommend
that your Association urge it upon the
people of New Mexico.
w. E. LINDSEY. Portales.
:. Chairman
JAS. G. FITCH, Socorro.
r. w. CLANCY. Santa Fe.
! NELL B. FIELD. Albuquerque.
F. R. WRIGHT. Santa Fe.
: Committee
:. The Executive Committee on the
| Taxpayers' Association has been con
| suited as to this report and it is the
t opinion Of that committee that the
Recommendations of the Lindsey com
mittee be unqualifiedly endorsed by
. the Association and that the Asso~
: citation do all that it can pro
perly do to secure the ado
ption by the legislature of the
-~resolution recommended and by
:, the political parties of the platform
plank suggested. With this in view
: copies of the report will be sent to
!. the party leaders of the various pol
! itical parties asking that the action
e recommended be taken at their res
I pective conventions.
The report of the Committee OF
e which Governor Lindsey is chairman
! and whose members are men OF the
highest standing in the community
with long experience in public affairs
twas drawn up after mature and care
full deliberation and merits the care.
full consideration of the people OF
: the state. Our constantly increasing
e total and per capita cost of govern
Z ment makes it positively necessary
that. the people. through their elect
ed representatives. devise methods
: for more business like and less cost.
ly administration of their affairs. Il
will next be impossible to attain thi,
r end until we have a responsible gov
eminent and if the plan proposed
{ meets with the backing and sincere
endorsement of the voters of New
I Mexico. irrespcctive of party. we be
G lieve it can be made to solve man,
OF the difficulties we now labor un
der.
We heartily commend the rcpor
10 the public and bespeak for It tn,
active help of every well wisher o
the State.
The Executive Committee of tn,
Taxpayers Association of New Mex
leo.
By H. J. HACrRMAN
n Chairman