The Winslow mail., 1897-05-01
A Few Words with our Supervisors

EDITOR MAIL-Permit me through the
columns Of your valuable p&pcr, to Of
fer a few suggestions to our honorable
Board of Supervisors. II doing SO,
wish to state in advance, that it is done
without the least feeling and with the
best Of intentions.
I suppose they are aware tziat our
county IS already ii dobt over tu6 fo.r
per cent -3;nsit 1zed by ae aa.si5oa
act Isupp0s9 they are also algs.rc iaar
ia the case Of .BartA VS.. A4r2cho county
a judgment was obtaiEed Ear so:nol hing
near $4,000. There is no doabt out
that Navajo county viii haze to pay
ner just proportion OF that judgment,
which will be in the neighborhood Of
5000 I suppose they are also cogni-
zant Of the fact that l4rge proportion
Of the people Of our county are poor;
that il is burden on a majority OF them
TO pay their taxes at the present rate
of taxation, and that any raise would
work still greater hardship on them.
I suppose they are wesl aware Of the
fact that the taxable property Of the
county is not increasing-f II anything.
it is On the decrease. suppose they
are aware that those who are the most
able to pay taxes, have the larger pro-
port on Of their property in stock,
which can be driven from one county
to anothep at q noments notice, and if
the rate Of taxation is increased, the
most Of this property viii 60, and re-
main whore the rate Of taxation is less,
SO that it will not only drive property
out Of the county, bu5ciii1ens as we'll.
This is nothing but natural. 1t is self
preservation, which is ''the first law Of
nature"
There is still another threatening
feature, which our Supervisors should
not overlook, in thejr an1iety to foster
the schemes Of q few property holders
at our county seat. 1t is a well known
fact that the Atlantic G Pacific rail
ROAD company, which pays nearly one
half Of the revenue Of the county, have
always contended that under their
franchise, which was obtained from the
general government, they were exempt
from taxation. Suppose TIE company
were to refuse to pay their taxes, which
it is liable to do in case of an increased
rate. The county would have TO bring
suit The company would appeal from
court to court, until it reached the
United States Supreme Court, whore it
would probably remain from four TO
six years before thecass could he reach
ed. Think, gentlemen, what predica-
ment that would leave you IN. One
half your revenue stopped, your coun-
ty government to carry on with no
diminution in expenses, your interest
on the bonded Indebtedness to meet
promptly, large fees which you would
have 30 pay lawyers, and one-half Of
your remaining source Of revenue driv-
en- from the county. Can you see any
thing but bankruptcy and dismem Der
ment left?
But, say that this picture is over
drawn and not likely to occur which :
am not willing to admit, thsre is stlil
another strong argument against IN
creasing our public deot, tnersoy IN
creasins the rate o taxation to meet
the interest. Cotsj1e of your inme-
3iate town, Mr. Ea.tor. tae county IS
setrosradlae, bo5h ia prop ertyslls3 pep
alation. What We want, and what every
one in the conntT, VINO Esss its ~slfara
lad that Of its citizens TT iear5, is an
inflow Of outside capital we need g