Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1922-07-02
SLASH EXPENSES
To FIT REVENUE
NECHEN' 8 PLAN
Making Appropriations and
Then Scurrying Around to-
Get the Money Should Be
Discontinued.
Especial correspondence 20 TIc Jor


pledges to cut the cloth OF appro-
priations strictly according to The
pattern Of revenues available will
be one of the most popular sports
during the forthcoming campaign.
And it should be. Gov. NJ G.
Mechem, in an important address
delivered several months ago, de-
clared that the next Legislature
should adjust the expenditures to
fit the revenues, rather than fol-
low the former custom of making
the appropriations first and then
scurrying around frantically to turn
up the revenues.
The burden of taxation is heavy
almost intolerably so in many
instances--and more especially in
the case Of the comparatively small
property owner. Strange as it may
appear. many Of the heavier tax
payers are not in sympathy with
the more drastic policies of re-
trenchment which have been adj
vocated in some quarters. 1t would
seem that possibly they have stu
died the situation more thoroughly
and therefore more keenly appre-
ciate the fact that New Mexico
must continue to advance and de-
velop, If it is TO appeal to resi-
dents of the more crowded dis
tricts as a desirable place to build
q home, lay out farm. or laun,h
a business enterprise. Being busi-
ness men, they understand that
such development costs money, but
| that it Is necessary.
Roads and Schools.
Roads and schools have been the
main targets for the advocates of
| retrenchment. One recommended
| ton is so extreme as to recon-
mend a recess OF two years. In
which the public schools are 20 be
closed for that period so as TO
give the overburdened taxpayers a
| chance to have little breathing
| spell. Advocates of this plan are
| not numerous, but they are in
deadly earnest, and they are in
fluential Others loudly insist that
the limit has been reached in the
road building program. and that a
halt in building ought to be called
until the state can afford good
roads.
The middle ground is that ex-
traVagance and waste ought to be.
eliminated in every branch and
department of country and state
government. 1t is unquestionablv
true that in number of instances
school management has been So
poorly directed and so eXtrayagant
as to amount to shameful waste.
A member of the senate of the last
legislature reported, after invessi-
cation, that he found in one iso-
lated rural school district the pu-
pills were being taught how ~
serve grapefruit. Highly india-
nant. he declared that the states
finances do not warrant such n
finished education" for pupils In
rural districts. There are nlanv
who agree with this senator.
New Deal Demanded.
The general demand now on tha
part of the people is for a "nev,
! neai' from both OF the major par
,les. with new names on the ticker.
business men being substituted for
the politicians who, with members
or their families and with their
iittle circles of supporters, have
held the public offices for years
and years. How far conditions
viii be changed by this present
demand remains to be seen, The
party which complies fully with
these demands certainly will b,,
pioneering in n field not yet chart
ed IN New Mexico. The long-s,is-
ierlng public is given to demand
ing certain improvements and re-
forms; but the public heretofore
mas not backed up the demands nv
displaying an active and intel,i-
gent interest in the preliminary p,1-
lltlcal moves. Only the faithfu,
ever think it worth while to At
tend the party primarics-yet it
is in these primaries that the prac-
teal politician lays his foundation
TO perpetuate himself. his family
. and his ring.
Even in the general election.
there is too great q laXity in dis
eliminating between the qualified
| candidate, with no political follow
Ing on the one hand, and the Jolly
good fellow who has the backing Of
the gang In about nine times
in ten, the jolly fellows wins by
J an imposing majority. If the pee
/ pie generally are really in earnest
in their demand for new deaf"
then it will be safe for either
; one of the conventions to become
a pioneer. IF not, then the party
pioneering" will be taking big
risk. 1t ought not to be overlooked
that the politicians have not yet
lost control of the party machin-
: cry and the machine still does tho
work.
Z, Much incompetence.
[ New Mexico has been afflicted
with enough Incompetence and
, negligence in public office to wreck
D the Standard Oil company or the
United States Steel corporation.
: There have been hundreds Of couu-
ty officers who did not make even
la pretense of taking, care of the
!. business of the office. The maxi
, ing Of an occasional visit to the
, office, say. once month. was
! looked upon as hardship and an
encroachment upon personal liber-
, ties. This brand Of absentee eff
\ ficeholder is still dead weight TO
e the taxpayer and brake upor
Q progress He will be present after
X the next election. too, sad to say.
And there have been state Off
v GERS who did not average visit
Il to the office once month.
v A large part of the states prob
S lem will be solved and the burden
c of taxation lifted when the pah-
l. lie takes enough intelligent interest
n to put into public office men and
d Wnrnen who nre nualifiel and ~ q