Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1889-11-02
The TAX PAYERS AROUSED.
The Situation in County Affairs Be-
comes so Serious as 10 Demand
Action by the People.
A Simple Matter of Business-Proceed
ingS Of Last Nights Meeting-An
Investigation Committee.

A special meeting OF the Santa Fe
Board OF Trade took place last evening,
Chairman Creamer presiding and Sec,
Arthur Boyle at tic desk.
Gen. Bartlett was called upon to eX-
plain the purpose OF the gathering, and
he did so by stating that its object was
one OF simple business, q meeting Of tax
payers to devise ways and means of ar
irving st the true status OF the county's
present financial condition. He said it
was well known fact that no statement
Of the financial condition of Santa Te
county had been published as the law
provides. 1t was 4 matter OF current re-
mark that the general condition OF the
cOunty's finances can not lie asccrtained
from the records in the hands OF the col
Letting and accounting officer, and it was
proper ior this board to take such steps
as the eXigencies of the situation would
seem to demand.
Col. W. W. Griffin suggested that the
board Of trade undertake, in behalf of the
tax layers of the county, to ascertain just
what the condition OF affairs is. lie said
he did not deem it necessary 10 Gala pub
lie meeting OF tax payers at this time, but
thought the board should probe first for
the facts and be governed accordingly;
the county records, under the law, were
open to inspection, and could be exam
med in the interest of the people.
). Wedeles spoke at some length on Il
plau for managing the county's affairs and
presented some approximate figures,
scarcely germane to the question under
Gi.Cuss on, however.
Mr.. Staab and Col. Frost urged the ap-
pOiutment Of q committee composed OF
representative tax payers who should he
authorized TO examine carefully into the
subject and repOlt ut an eally meeting oil
the board OF trade.
Capt. Sol. Spiegelberg said little over
eighteen months ago he had served as
foreman Ct the grand jury and had then
endCHvored to investigate The finances OF
He county. but he found the records in a
very unsatisfactory condition. He thought
Il little more than 80 per cent of the
taxes levied had been collected; these
were about enough to pay the percent
ages OF the assessor and collector and the
police, and nobody seemed TO care for the
balance.
w. Nj. Berger spoke OF the importance
OF securing an expert accountant to 60
through the records and bring order out
OF chaos, so that the tax papers might
realize to the fullest the present perllous
condition of affairs.
j. u. SChumann inquired what remedy,
in case fragrant violations and utter dis
regard for the law were found, the people
had at their command.
This brought ont several interesting
statements concerning the provisions of
law that apply in such cases, and numer
GUS sections Of the compiled laws, 1884,
were read. These included sect Oh 357,
calling for the publication of financial
reports by the county officers; also the
law regulating the payment into the treas
ury OF all moneys in the hands OF the col
leCtOr prior to TIE 10th of each month
sections 2o07 and 2S98, relating to the
publication OF semi-annual statements by
The county commissioners; section 800,
penalty Tor sheriff retaining funds after
demand for them is made by the county
board and sections 29l5 and 20lG, author
izing the su>T ensiou from office of the |
cole ctor and suits to recover the amounts |
Iue ON his bondsmen.
After some further discussion of the
subject the following was unanimously
adopted:
Resolved, That o committee of SIX tax
oay ers of The county be appointed to ex
tnir c die books and accounts Of the
county officers, and also the books OF the
errltorlsl auditor, to ascertain whether
lie laws of the territory in regard to the
objection and payment OF taxes have
been complied with, and if not in what
particular they have failed; and that the
district attorney be requested to accom-
'any said committee in their investiga-
ions, they to report at the next meeting
# this hoard.
Under the resolution the following
FAMED gentlemen were appointed, to-
ether with District Attorney TWtchell,
0 ascertain ii the laws have been COM
lied with, and il not, in what particular
nd by whom have they been violated.
A. Staab, Il. j. Palen, W. &. Simmons,
!. II. Gildersleeve, S. Wedeles, Il. Ii.
This committee enters upon its duties
his afternoon. {