Albuquerque Morning Journal

PROSPERITY SMILES ON SUNNY NEW MEXICO
(Continued from Page 5, Column 4.)

a very handsome structure, is nearing completion.

I take this occasion to officially commend the services of the Capitol Improvement Board, and it affords me pleasure to invite the members of this assembly to personally inspect the building. The board may well be congratulated upon securing the services of that very able architect, Mr. I. H. Rapp, a man who stands at the head of his profession in the west, and whose identification with the successful construction of our various territorial institutions, notably the capitol building of New Mexico, gives our citizens confidence that the task now in his hands will be economically and conscientiously carried to a successful completion.

I invite your special attention to the report of the Capitol Improvement Board hereto appended, and the recommendations contained therein meet with my unqualified approval.

Board of Equalization.

I desire to call your attention to the recommendations made by the board of equalization, especially the one asking for an appropriation for the payment of the expenses of the board when making investigations. The investigations of this board have resulted in materially advancing the matter of securing fair assessed valuations, and I think it would be money well expended. I also believe that the recommendations of this board relative to laws governing appeals, namely, that they be simplified and made clearer, are good, and that authority should be conferred upon the proper territorial and county officials to take appeals to the territorial board, with a view of securing more uniform and equal assessments.

Cattle and Sheep Sanitary Boards.

These boards are of great value and importance to the stock raisers of the territory, who represent our leading industry, and I invite your special attention to their reports. The accounts of the sheep sanitary board show a balance on hand of $3,449.80. The drouth during the past year has caused some loss to the sheep growers, and a depreciation in prices, but conditions are improving. An effort is being made to induce congress to reduce the tariff on wool, and in view of the fact that this is one of the most important industries in the territory, I recommend that this assembly petition congress not to change this tariff, for by doing so they will injure the interests of this territory. The accounts of the cattle sanitary board show a balance on hand of $5,485. The revenue for the maintenance of these boards is raised by a direct levy on the sheep and cattle interests of the territory, and I trust that the recommendations of these boards will receive your careful attention.

Forest Reserve Funds.

The congressional act making appropriations for the department of agriculture, approved June 30, 1906, contains the following provisions:

That ten per centum of all money received from each forest reserve during any fiscal year, including the year ending June 30, 1906, shall be paid at the end thereof by the secretary of the treasury to the state or territory in which said reserve is situated, to be expended as the state or territorial legislature may prescribe for the benefit of the public schools and public roads of the county or counties in which the forest reserve is situated: Provided, That when any forest reserve is in more than one state or territory or county the distributive share to each from the proceeds of said reserve shall be proportioned to its area therein. And provided further, That there shall not be paid to any state or territory for any county an amount equal to more than forty per centum of the total income of such county from all other sources."

A recent act of congress has amended this law and allows twenty-five per cent instead of ten, for the purposes now about to be mentioned. From a communication received from the chief forester at Washington it appears that $25,000 has accrued to the territory in this fund, and of this amount we have received $14,256.96. A statement specifying the reserves that produced this fund, and naming the counties wherein they are situated, as well as the amounts credited to each reserve will be furnished for your information, and I respectfully recommend that the assembly take action in this matter in accordance with the federal act above given.

School and Museum of American Archeology.

For many years the Archaeological Institute of America, incorporated under the laws of congress, with headquarters in Washington, D. C., has been successfully maintaining well endowed schools of classical archaeology at Rome, Italy, Athens, Greece, and a school of Oriental archaeology at Jerusalem, Palestine. This institute is now about to found a school of American archaeology in America, which will be the only institution of its kind on the continent. Because of the historic interest of Santa Fe and its famous old palace and because of the unrivalled opportunities for archaeological investigation near Santa Fe and in all parts of New Mexico, the locating committee and the institute itself have determined upon Santa Fe as the most suitable place for the proposed school; although there has been active competition from much larger and wealthier cities in other commonwealths. The legislature of 1907 voted unanimously to convey the old palace and grounds and two thousand dollars, to secure the location of this school in Santa Fe; but on account of the near approach of statehood it was not deemed advisable to part with the title to the property. The offer to locate the school, with its accompanying museum at Santa Fe, is upon certain conditions stated in resolutions adopted by the locating committee and the institute which, together with an explanatory communication from the Archaeological Society of New Mexico, I attach as an exhibit to this message for your information. In my opinion, the school and museum would be of great benefit to the territory if located here and I deem the terms upon which the location is offered as reasonable, since all the money sought to be appropriated is to be expended upon our own property and within our own territory. I therefore recommend this matter to your favorable consideration.

Railroad Commissioner.

I recommend the creation of a railroad commission, which I believe would be of great benefit to the taxpayers and business men of the territory. This commission should consist of three members, one identified with the mercantile, another with the industrial, and a third with the live stock and farming interests of the territory. No more than two members of this commission should be of the same political party, and if practicable the members should be selected from different sections of the territory. The members should receive a fair compensation for the time in which they are actually engaged in performing the duties of their office, for instance, ten dollars a day each, and expenses. This commission should be empowered to employ a competent attorney, provided territorial officials are not available. The main duty of this commission should be the investigation of freight rates in the territory as compared with those in other states and territories; also the consideration of the question of discrimination between localities.

Game Laws.

While conditions in respect to game and fish have improved somewhat in the territory, I believe a law should be enacted providing for a license system. Such a law is in operation in practically every state in the union. It is estimated that this method would result in an income of about $5,000 which would pay the expenses for a proper administration of the office, and insure effective protection of our game interests. I would suggest that a resident pay an annual license of one dollar for big game and birds, and that non-residents pay a big game license of ten dollars annually, and five dollars for bird license. I do not consider it advisable at the present time to license either residents or non-residents for the fishing privilege. This license system would relieve the general taxpayer from the burden of maintaining a fish and game department.

Medical Laws.

The territorial board of health recommends several changes in the medical laws of the territory, of which I approve. Representatives of the board will appear before you with these recommendations, and I trust you will give them favorable consideration.

Uniform Divorce Law.

I recommend the enactment of a uniform divorce law for this territory, along the lines advocated by the national congress on divorce, and attached hereto you will find a copy of the uniform law proposed by this organization, for your consideration.

Historical Society.

The Historical society is carrying on its work of preserving the antiquities of New Mexico with increasing success. It is difficult to overestimate the importance of securing historical material while it is still obtainable, and preserving it for the future. The additional accommodations in the Palace obtained two years ago have given an opportunity for the proper arrangement of exhibits, and for the establishment of a separate library room, with a convenient place for the accommodation of those who come to consult it. The library is now the best in the country on New Mexico topics. The report of the society will be found to contain much of interest. The historical rooms are the place first visited by almost all tourists, and the register shows that over 10,000 visits were made to them during the past year. A continuance of the legislative assistance heretofore granted to the society is earnestly recommended.