Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1921-01-21
GOVERNOR URGES
| RELIEF MEASURE
FOR CATTLEMEN
Sends Special Message to
the Legislature Involving
Changes in Some ReguIa-
lions of Land Office
nY CIINTON p. ANDERSON.

Santa Fc, Jan. 20.-Defmito
measures to relieve the unfavorable
conditions now existing in the live
stock industry were recommended
to the members of the legislature in
q special message by Governor
Mechem this afternoon, The COVER
nor asked that the rent be collected
at the END of the gear Instead Of
in advance. that the thirty day cam
collation. clause in leases be re-
pealed, that the stockmen pay
taxes on the exact amount of their
equity in state lands instead OF up
on forty per cent minimum and
that the legislature consider the
question of the wisdom of a reduc-
ton in the rentals charged for
state lands.
The message follows:
"Gentlemen:
THE present unfortunate con-
dition of the live stock Industry
is well known to all of you and
is such that any possible relief
that can be afforded cattle and
sheep raisers should be promptly
given.
81 therefore recommend that a
law be passed, fixing the date for
the payments of rentals and inter-
est on leases or purchases of lands
for grazing purposes at the end of
the year for which the rent or
interest accrues, instead of in ad-
vance, as is now the case; and
that lessees and purchasers shall
be relieved from all penalties and
forfeitures which have accrued
for failure to pay rentals or in
terest in advance. Many of our
citizens have been,and, will be
unable to meet rental and interest
payments now due without eX-
tensions.
Section 519S of the Codifica-
ton of 1915 should be amended
by striking out the provision that
the commissioner of public lands
can upon 80 days notice cancel
any lease where an application
for purchase of the land leased
has been made. Under this pro
vision no lessee of state lands has
any assurance of keeping them for
any definite period and this situa
ton makes for uncertainty anC
instability in the industry.
Section 3, chapter SO of thu
Session laws of 1919, which pro
vides that lands sold by the STATE
shall be assessed at 40 per cen
of the purchase price, should bt
so changed that purchasers o
these lands will pay on the actua
value of their interests therein
If the lands are actually Wortl
less or more than the contrac
price the assessed valuation SHOULD
be fixed accordingly.
while the state is interested
in obtaining the greatest revenue
from her lands, yet these land
have their limitations of revenue
producing possibilities dependen
upon economic conditions. | be
lieve the legislature will be JUST
fled in considering whether read
iustments in rentals of grazing
lands are not now necessary. l.
is certain that the actual lessee'
of state lands now using them car
nav as much as their use is wortf
and no more. and to force then
, to live up to their lease contracts
is. of course, impossible if the
rentals are not JUSTIFIED by th'
prices they receive for their pro
ducts: and no one will approve o
cancellation of leases under sucl
conditions, which will inevitabl!
not only cause far reaching II
nancial disaster to the stock rails
ing industry and as well, serious
Nv affect other industries in the
state, but will during the perioC
of REIMBURSEMENT materially reduce
the income from such lands, which
goes to the support of the common
schools. 1t is in view of The
emergency which exists in a vita
industry in this state that l take
the liberty of making the above
recommendations and also, tc
suggest that the commissioner OF
public lands be given the power
to make readiustments of rentals
on grazing lands. under such limi'
tations and conditions as may be
deemed proper.
Respectfully submitted,
m. c. Mechem,,
governor of New Mexico