New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1920-06-25
STATE COLLEGE REGENTS
REMOVED BY GOVERNOR

Governor Larrazalo, by an execu-
tive order, issued Thursday morning
June "a, removed c. L. Hill, president
and E. c. Champion and J. S. Qu-
esenberry, members of the board oi
regents of the State College, on ac-
count of a deficiency caused by
the fact that the board anticipated
the receipt of funds coming to the
credit of the State College from tax
alton and otherwise and made ex-
penditures of the same before they
were actually received
The Governor says in his order tina,
1T is not claimed by anyone that
this money, or any portion of it. was
wasted or improperly disposed Of" but
considers that the law has neverthe-
less been violated and that it is his
duty to take such action.
The full order of the governor and
the full statement of the board OF
regents filed with him on June q
follow:
Executive Order
In the matter of the hearing upon
the order heretofore addressed to- and
served upon Messrs. c. L. Hill. Jane
S. Quesenberry and E. c. Crampton
members of the board of regents OF
the New Mexico College of Agricul-
ture & Mechanic Arts, requiring
them and each one of them to be and
appear before the Governor OF the
state, at his office in the city OF
Santa Fe, N. NJ, on the 23rd day OF
June, A. d. 1920, at 10 o'clock a. m.
of said day, then and there to show
cause, if any they have, why they
should not be removed from office,
as members of said board of regents.
On this 23rd day of June, A. D.
1920, at the hour of 10 o'clock a. m.
of said day. the governor OF the
state of New Mexico. Hon. 0. A.
Larrazolo, was in his office, ready
to hear the above named members
of the board of regents of the New
Mexico College of Agriculture & Me-
chanic Arts. upon the above named
order to show cause why they should
not be removed from office as such
regents.
Neither of the above named MEM
bers of said board appeared, but fiji.
ed with the governor their joint an
swer to the charge of malfeasance
in office, in this, to-wit, in that they
and each one OF them, in their of,
ficial character as members of the
board are charged with having au-
thorized and incurred expenses and
contracted liabilities against the state
beyond the terms of the laws auth
orizing expenditures by them as
such members OF said board and n
that they and each one OF them au.
thorized the contracting of indebted
ness, an did actually contract indebt-
edness in behalf of the New Mex
leo College of Agriculture & Mech
anic Arts, and ostensibly against the
state on account of said institution
in excess of the appropriations made
for the maintenance and support
thereof for and during the seventh
and eighth fiscal years, ending res
pectively November 30. A. d. 1917.
and November 30. A. d. 1920.
There were present at said hear
ing the Honorable o. o. Askren, at
torney general, representing the
state of New Mexico, and Messrs
r. w. Clothier, president of the COL
iege; J. N. Hendricks, accountant
and auditor for the college, and Earl
7. Wiley, chief clerk of the state au-
ditor, the last three having been sum-
moned bv the governor as witnesses
at the hearing. The governor read
the answer of the regents, in open
session and proceeded to take the
testimony of the above named wit
nesses, who previously thereto had
been sworn as directed by law TO tell
the truth, the whole truth, and no.
thing but the truth, to the best of
their knowledge and belief.
To the defense made by the re-
gents, to the effect that a deficit ex-
isted at the time they took charge
of their respective offices as mem
bers of said board il was proven by
the testimony of Mr. Hendricks,
the official accountant and bookkcep-
er of the institution, that the defici-
enc,- now existing in the financial af
fairs of the college was created abb
so'utely by the authority of the PIE
sent board of regents; that the total
expenses incurred and authorized by
the present board of regents for the
cur, ent fiscal year, up to and ins,rd-
ing June 10. A. d. 1920. amourA to
sli .410.40, as against resources am
.unting to Ss2,747ss. thus leaving
de- cit on the eth day OF June, q.
- s.S.f7k IS
II was further testified by the wit
ness, Hendricks, that in his opinion.
this deficit would be increased by the
end OF the present scholastic year,
ending June 30. 1920, by about $4,000.
creating a total deficit, at the
close Of the current scholastic year
June %. 1920, in excess of $4,000; all
OF which was done by order and au- !,
,hority of the present board OF re-
gents. q
II is claimed by the members of
the board, in their joint answer that
a great portion Of the money thus
was necessarily so expen-
ded by the college in its noble efforts
and endeavors TO rended its full mea-
sure of assistance TO the country. in
the successful prosecution IT the war
against the central powers of Fnroo@
that moneys had been expended. with
that object in view. in securing larg-
er production Of foodstuffs, in build
ing and equipping barracks for the
accommodation and training of young
men who were TO enter the service
Of the government either in the ar
nv or navy during the war. and in
naily buying at a very low rate me-
chanical and engineering material for
the college from the United States
II any portion of the now esistins
deficit in the finances of that insti-
tuition yrere due to actual expenses
incurred in assisting TO prosecute the
war to a successful issue. |. would
not consider IT a violation OF law.
much less would I hold IL as suffici-
Emf reasor fustifvirp the removal of