The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1920-08-30
THIS REFORM

~ NE of the faults found with the Bernalllo county convention s
I platform by Mr.. Magce is that it does not adopt his vague
scheme for reform" i'll the state land department.
What is this scheme3
1t has never been stated in detail or with any degree of definite
ness. but as nearly as it can be ascertaned, it proposes a mon
partisan commission Of three, appointed by the governor to super.
wise the state land commissioner, or to handle the administration Of
the lands through a superintendent; as Mr.. Magee puts it. ito set
one party to watching the other - lest somebody steal something.
Is this a constructive suggestion for the welfare of New Mexico
and for better administration Of the state land trustF
What is the experience of this state-and every state, with the.
non bipartisan commission 1t is, invariably, that the party in power,
having the majority and full control, draws from the minority party
a weak sister, picked to go along" TO 'sit in" and do what he.
is told.
What kind of a nOnpartsan state land comission of three do
you think you would get at the hands of Mageeis candidate for gov
crnOr, Mr.. LarrazcloG II would mean that Larrazolo would be, in
effect, the land commissioner, wouldnt it,
Would you citizens want him in any such positionf
Let us 20 into this reform a little further. To bring about
this non partisan commission of three land commissioners, an amend
ment to the state constitution is necessary, and thereafter an act of
congress amending the enabling act by which the lands were granted
administration, not New Mexico. Mr.. Magee knows this. So does
Larrazolo. At the conference in Santa Fe at which Larrazolo agreed
to adopt the Magee platform Of pautudes the cynical suggestion was
made that. as to this particular plank" the difficulties of achieve
ment nulified it anyway, but that it was good enough to kid the
voters with.
Will Mr.. Hal Kerr, the democratic nominee for state land commits.
soner, who is a practical cattle grower, who knows the land situation,
the state land situation and the relation Of that situation to the live.
stock industry and its future existence-wil he say over his signature
that he personally approves this scheme Of an appointive non partisan
land commissionf Here is an opportunity for Mr.. Kerr to get Mr..
Magees active support, and we invite him to make such a declara.
ton over his signature.
There is a way to help to better state land administration. 1t
has received very thoughtful confederation from men who have spent
the better part OF a lifetime in studying administrative problems of
this kind. But ii does not contemplate turning over the state lands
and their administration and the administration Of the trust, funds de-
rived therefrom to any "non-partisan commission appointed BY a
partisan governor. We have a non partisan commission of that kind
right now. Governor LarraZoo is o member Of II and state land trust
funds that ought to be invested permanently in interest bearing Sc.
curties-when the kind Of securities the state can invest in are bring
ing 5 to 6 per cent-are lying in banks, uninvested, and bearing only
8 per cent. To give N more Of this would be a curious kind Of reform,
wouldpt if