The evening herald., 1920-08-31


pressing opposition to an appointive
commission to administer the state
lands. or to any change in the
states land policy which would take
the selection Of the administrative au-
thority out OF the hands OF tho peo-
pie. Hon. Holm o. Bursum. rcpubh-
can national committeeman, said
today he favored submission Of n
constitutional amendment proposing
the creation OF an elective non-par-
tisan commission OF three momhcrs to
nasume the duties now devolving on
the state land commissioner. and all
other functions connected with the
state lands or the trust funds derived
therefrom.
The plan suggested by AIR Bursum
proposes that the land commission.
ers be elected, for terms OF j., anu
o years two OF whom, nt the first
election would be chosen by the ma
jority and one by the minority party,
those elected to draw lots to deter
mine their respective tenure oE Of
flee after election. Thereafter tho
commission would be continuous, it's
membership always including re-
preventative OF the minority party.
chosen at the polls. He indicated that
a tentative plank had been drawn em-
bodying this plan, FOR the considera-
ton OF the platform committee of the
coming republican state convention.
Mr.. Bursum was asked by The Her
aid 3 representative to discuss tho
plank in the democratic state plat
form relative to state land administrn-
tion, which he found Indefinite; and
other proposals FOR changing the state
land administration, including that of
the Albuquerque journal for an np-
pointivc commission.
II would prefer to tell you something
OF what have been trying to work
out In Aconnection with the state land
administration" Mr.. Bursum said.
rather than TO criticize or discuss the
democratic platform and other pro-
posals. which do not seem to mo to
suggest any constructive changes in
our state land policy or anyt. ing like
~ to lead to administration more
satisfactory to the people.
II would like to say. first, that |
think the state Is entitled TO he con-
graduated upon the splendid results
from the administration of our state
lands Hince the endowments to the
state were made by congress. From
the beginning up to the present time
the financial returns to the state have
been extremely gratifying and profit
able. The net profit, or yield In rcve-
nue. from the land has been IN excess
OF 95 percent. with an expense ot nd-
miniStration averaging 8 percent, and
| In recent years nearer percent Of the
gross income. Few businesses OF such
size. either public or private, are able
to make any auch showing.
I'VE have been fortunate I'm the
personnel OF our state land commits
| aloners thus far. A. A. Keen, Robert
p. Ervien and Nelson Field. who have
served as commissioner OF public
| lands In the order named have demon
strated not only the highest integrity
| but exceptional ability In difficult
and exacting administrative position
No other state in the Union can boast
| OF such n record as New Mexico has
| made, within the same number ol
| years from the Inauguration OF III
state land administration. when the
character OF our lands IL properly
taken into consideration.
New Conditions Create Demand
However. as time goes on, as popu
i lation and values Increase ana MS
available range land decreases III,
scramble for range land increases
State lands for which there was abso
lutely no demand ten years ago ant
which went begging for users ever
five years ago. are now In eager de
mand. The burden upon the Ian,
commissioner increases and daily 1
becomes more difficult 10 satisfy eithe
or TO satisfy public opinion.
Therefore ! am IN favor OF sucl
changes In the management OF ou
public lands as may improve the ser
> vice and equip constituted authorit
to proceed with the confidence OF tn
masses OF the people.
Opposes AppOIntive Commission
Il am opposed to tho suggcstio
that bipartisan commission h
created and appointed by the COVER
nor. Unless the state should adop
the short ballot. In which case IN
principle should apply to all electiv
offices, to delegate the power Of an
pointment OF land board to ia
governor would simply mean In effet
that the governor would he the Ian
the power now exercised by the pee
pie OF choosing the land commission
err, and turn II over to the governo
A non-partlsan board created by an
pointment In impossible There IN n
such animal in political life up
date. II simply means that OF a boar
OF three persons, two members woul
be selected from the majority part,
one member selected from the minoi
ity party, all OF them selected by IN
majority party. or its governor, VIII
% times out Of 100 would select som
weak member from the minority wh
probably had betrayed his own part.
That sort OF combination woul
not make a non -partihan board
FnVOrs Elective NOn-pnrtisnn ROars
II favor non-pa artisan hoard
be composed OF three members wh
shall all be elective. for a term Z
.. and D years; two OF whom sha
I belong 10 the maiorifv nnrfx aud an