Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1897-02-01
rHE REASONS GIVEN.
why Certain Laws should he En'
acted by the Territorial Logis-
IAtur0.

lAbWH0s
To tho Editor OF the Optic.
PUERTO DE LUNA, N. NJ, January
17lh, 1897.--In answe to your pub.
lished invitation on needed legislation,
I would respectfully suggest that the
following laws bo enacted by the
present legislature:
coNsTABLEs TO ASSIST ASSESSORS.
Be it enacted, etc., that the county
assessors Of the Territory Of New
Mexico shall furnish to the constable
OF each precinct within their respect
i've counties a constable's precinct book
Ia which the constable shall enter the
names aud addresses OF all the residents
and nonresident property owners
within his precinct, together with the
kind and amount OF the taxable prop
erty which they own. or control; and,
shall, personally deliver said book
TO the county assessor for his inspec-
ton and use, at such times as he may
be requested by the assessor.
Upon receipt Of the c%onrtabls's pre-
cinct book, the assessor shall supply
the constable with tho requisite num-
| Der OF assessment blanks, for delivery
within his precinct.
Each constable shall be paid for his
services, Ia cash, by the county treas
ursr, at the rate Of % per day, for the
Time required to deliver bis precinct
book to the county assessor, and > per
cent. Of the amount OF taxes collected
from his precinct.
Should the constable Intentionally
omit any anne or names, or Intention
ally mls-state the kind or amount Of
taxable property owned or controlled
by any party or parties within his pre-
cinct, he shall be deemed guilty Ut =
misdemeanor, shall be prosecuted by
the county commissioners, and fined in
. sum not to exceed $500, or, to i'm
prisonmsnt for a period not to exceed
SIX months.
Reasons: There are many settlers
living at considerable distances from
the main roads and especially along
county bound aries, which the assessor,
in = hurried trip, and without an init
mate knowledge of the country, a
hardly include. There are many border
county settlers, Of considerable prop
srty, who do not know in which
county they live. The increased
amount of taxes which will by these
means be raised will amply pay the ex-
psnse Of raising it.
sQvATTERs.
Be 1t enacted, etc., that all squatters,
or settlers upon grants or on the pubic
lands, shall, after the FIRST years occu-
patton or use, be assessed, in the dis
erection Of the ASSESSOR, for the amount
Of land occupied, or used, or for the
amount Of land to which he is entitled
within the grant, or, If upon the public
lands under the homestead law.
Reasons: There are many hay,
sheep and cattle ranches in desirable
locations on the public lands, where
the claimants only occasionally reside,
tut still claim as their ranches. They
will not make entry Of them In the
land Office, for the reason, as they say,
they will require to pay taxes.
COUNT BOUNDARIES.
The surveyor general should be
authorised to amend the county bound.
aries before the meeting OF the next
The boundary lines should
correspond with the township lines and
the counties made rectangular in shape.
Reason: Il is extremely difficult, in
many places, to trace the lines upon the
ground. Bernalillo county has a strip
OF land about six inches wide and sew.
enty-two miles long.
JOHN CAMPBELL.