New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1920-06-25

am convinced that no portion of tn,
existing deficiency is due to that eau
Sc, either directly or indirectly. The
records of this office show that from
May 81, 1917, to February 8. 1918
there was paid to the college by or
der of his excellency w. E. Lindsey
then the governor of the state, tt
pay salaries and expenses of coun.
ty agricultural agents, home demon.
stration agents, and expenses in con
nection with the extension service il
the sum of $23,S48.7l. From August
1918, to January I. 1919. there was pais
the sum of 81, ,s%8.7i, there was paid
to the college, by order of Governor
Lindsey ito pay" for barracks anc
equipment for student army training
corps" the sum of $2682s. From Jan.
uary !. 1919 to July !. 1919. there was
paid to the college by my order as
governor ito pay for equipment
supplies. tools etc, for student arm,
training corps" being moneys to re-
imburse the state for expenses in.
CURED as above stated the sum oi
sl8,493.46. Lastly, for the purpose oi
paying the last remaining balance
of moneys spent by the college, in
the construction of barracks for stu.
dent arwy training corps, there was
dent army training corps, there was
paid by my order the sum of $4,8l2,-
81, making a grand total of moneys
paid to that institution, from the
state war fund, in full, of expenses
incurred by reasons of the war the
sum of %3,6794o.
This completely sets at rest the
Gam advanced to the effect that
any portion of the existing ief:it
was incurred as q result OF the .eI-
lege's contribution to the war. i'ie
undisputed fact, then remains that
the present board of regents Of the
Agricultur1! college cid contract II
Gebtedness aga'nst the state, and
over ami lbove the funds that were
made avail. bic to ikem by Law, in
a sum whi N a tie end of the pre-
sent month OF June will exceed $62,-
900.
1t is not claimed by anyone that
this money or any portion of it was
wasted or improperly disposed of
in the absence of any evidence to
the contrary do believe, and shall
always believe, and presume that cv-
erybody else in the state believes,
that. the money was all spent in the
interest of the institution; but that
is not the matter under investigation,
The law positively and in express
terms prohibits the members of the
board from creating any indebted
ness against the state, even though,
it be in the interest OF the institu.
ton, over and above the moneys made
available under the law for any one
year; the people of the state, through
their legally accredited representa-. :.
tives in the state legislature sought
to protect themselves against such
Indebtedness of the
state, to such a point that they pos.
itively declared by the law that is
now in force on our statute books,
a felony punishable by fine or i'm
in the penitentiary, or by
that such conduct would amount TO
both such fine and imprisonment, in
the discretion OF the court trying
the cause. So, then it is not a ques-
ton as far as the present investiga-
ton is concerned OF how this money
was spent; the question is, why was
il spent, against positive legal in
hibition. That the law has been viola
ted by the present members of the
board is a question beyond dispute,
80 far as the evidence adduced be-
fore me shows. What, under the
is the duty of the
governor Section of article OF
The constitution. of New Mexico,
among other things provides as fol-
ows:
Sec. 4. The supreme executive po-
ver OF the state shall be vested in
he governor. who shall take care
hat the laws be faithfully executed"
The duty of the governor under
he law in the presnt case, is plain;
he present board should be reliev-
ID of its duties and new one ap-
pointed. II is not a pleasant task for
he present governor to remove from
,ffice men for whom he entertains
lothing but the very highest re-
yard and esteem, and he sought to
void the unpleasant duty by Civ
ng them ample opportunity to re-
ieve the most embarrassing situa-
ion by their volutary resignation, as
wo Of the members, Messrs. J. A.
'aca and Fred Crollott did at the
irst hearing held before the COVER
Ior on May q, 1920. This, the above
eferred to members Of the board
allied to do. Still hoping to avoid
and unnecessary pu-
'licity, the governor did, in a letter
ouched in such respectful terms as
he governor had at his command,
nd addressed to each one OF the
Ibove members of the board, re-
uest them to relieve the situation
y sending their respective resigna-
ions; this again they failed to do,
nd the present proceeding was the
result.
Upon the hearing of this proceed
ng the governor is satisfied that
dessrs. c. L. Hill, James S. Quesen-
erry and E. c. CHAMPION. as men,
ers of the board of regents OF the
lew Mexico College of Agriculture
nd Mechanic Arts. have been guilty
{ a violation Of the laws of this
tate in the discharge of their du
les as such members of said board,
or which violation of the law tllev
nd each one of them should be re-
loved from office. In view. there
ore, of the foregoing facts, I, o. A.
governor of the state of
lew Mexico do hereby remove
fessrs. c. L. Hill, James s. Quesen-
erry and E. c. CHAMPION, and each
ne of them as members of the
oard of regents of the New Mexico
iollege of Agriculture & Mechanic
lrts. and hereby declare that q va
ancy exists in their respective posi-
Ions in said board.
- t.