Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1922-06-21

supplied by a far from wealthy
community, for the education OF
it's children, are spent upon ineftl-
cient supervision and incompetent
instruction; If there are eNpendl-
lures for frills and fads to the neg
lect of fundamentals of educatlon'
if necessary education for the rev
is allowed before the elementary
education of the many is secufeu'
If local communities do not appre
ciate the advantages Of long terIns,
by demanding good teachers, ana
by sending their children regularly
to school; we submit that there Is
waste and extravaganza in school
expenditures which we cannot al
ford and which must be eliminated
We know of counties and muillcl-
nalities in the state where every
dollar for education return its luli
value in service. If it is imposslple
to secure efficiency in county OF
community, then any inettlclehcy
should be paid for at the loWest
possible cost to the taxpayers. we
urge that free education shoulu pe
regarded not merely as rlght put
as a privilege, and that IN Fetul =. !,
for the taxpayers Willingness ~
train themselves to meet legitimate
school costs-even in times u
stress-all school authorities anu
parents of the children who are tie
beneficiaries, should be constantly
mindful of this fact. History SHOWS
that ali things worth while are
worth striving for, and the plle,
nomenal progress Of the unlteu
States is largely due to the iact tna'
difficulties have had to be over
come through hard work and sacr'-
flee"
Highway Program
After education, highway ooh-
struction and maintenance REQUIRE
the largest expenditures lha'
good roads are necessary Is ac-
cepted as automatic. we belieVe
however, that the state has more
than reached its limit IN inc
amount annually spent for the con
struction of roads From the stahu'
point of the peoples power TO pay
the road question may be salu' II
a great measure, to narrow ltsell
down to one of whether or not the
road program of the state hlgh'
way commission, as at present de-
terniined upon can possibly be car
ried out without overburdening the
taxpayers of the state. We are In
formed that federal aid allotment'
will probably continue under pres
ent and prospective acts or con
gress for a further period of from
four to five years. About 3,2O(
miles of these federal aid roads
have been planned for New Mexico
and the states quota for the con
struction of these roads, undeI
present laws. must, we understand
be made available within a four
year period. To complete the prog
ects already in course of construc
ton, to initiate and complete thos'
not yet started, and to maintain
them all for the four-year perio'
will require approximately $4,000,
900 from the state of New Mckee
in addition to the amounts fur
nished by Washington. This sun
spread over four years will meal
100000 per annum.
Such a sum. in view of presen
and prospective economic condi
lions in this state is, in our opin
ion, far more than New Mexico ca
afford. 1t would require not onl
a continuance of the present three
mile road levies, but an additions
levy of between l y and mill
for the four years. Either thi
program should be spread out owe
much longer period than at pres
ent contemplated, or part of
should be abandoned.
We must not forget that the roa
proposals for these federal al
projects comprises only a part {
the total road expenditures. an
that the cost of construction an