The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1920-08-04
Reflect NELs. FIELD

MTELsON A. FIELD, state land commissioner. who is now finish.
~ ddatc for reelection. We are fla to @esr t. "a Mr. Field Il Z ' has
given q good account Of himself during his 10 months of service in
every claim his friends made in behalf of his election in 1918 and has
s saarp ! i y asse :, 70 a ssys the Est STATE tso better en. service e. during nn the next two
Mr.. Field. He has earned the honor of a denomination and 81 far
aiven the nomination he Mil be elected and by a larger paSicorit ~ II tSa n
that accorded him in 1918 when he was one of the leaders of his
Nels Field is a plain, unassuming business man; an experienced
livestock sntS grover; an expert judge Of grazing land and grazing land
the highest integrity, He is the type Of man most likely to continue
state lands. and that is the kind of administration that must be con.
tnued. The state needs the money and II cannot afford to risk losing
reckless experimenting with theories.
Agitation TO change state land policy and administrative
method y about normal for this period in a campaign year. There
are about the usual number Of proposals for change from sincere en-.
.mvSa ~ . about J, the same number Of theories being offered BY dream,
at the state land administration. The fact rem aims that New Mexico
lands than has been paid for similar land anywhere on the continent.
The state lands are producing every dollar that the traffic will bear
switch s~.,s the nv traffic will result s,n,i in simply losing to the state the very i'm.
about many millions Of revenues that should be coming from the state
lands. No one has yet been able to demonstrate their productivity in
the grazing fees charged on the national forests, but they pay more
fer grazing their stock on state lands stOckmen pay considerably
higher grazing rentals to the state than are paid ON patented lands
when available. II would be easily possible to put out Of business
one-ialf Of the present. livestock industry of this state by placing an
exorbitant rental unon state lands. or by terms al sale that stockmen
cannot pay. \ is difficult to see how such a policy could be of ben
The present land commissioner knows the land situation in New
Mexico orr Of many years Of close contact with the livestock indus.
the state and to administer the lands justly for all concerned. That
= the business NJ the land commissioner. Under the law he has moth.
ing to do with administration OF state land funds after they have
been received. The law requires him to transfer these funds al the
end OF each month TO the state treasurer, who distributes them to the
credit of the variors trusts
Some Of this years campaign crop Of state land department
criticism leaves the impression that the land commissioner Is charged
with investing the funds received from sale and rental Of state lands.
Whether this is due 10 ignorance or the malice Of political plotting Is
not yet determined. II may be a little Of both.
TIE law provides that the land commissioner shall transfer funds
received by his office 10 the state treasurer every month. Permanent
funds or funds derived from sales are required TO be invested in in.
feffst bearing eeeurities The law provides that the principal shall
not be- touched. The governor and two other state officers are
gthsreF9 with responsibility for these Investments The lsud commits
nforeF has nothsnR to do with the money. Income funds those receiv.
81 from lease land rentals, are credited to the accounts Of institutions
owning The lands and are avaiebIe for current use. The demand for
p commission TO handle these funds, IL il is an honest demand, and
not 3 political medicine ball. should be q demand for a commission