Albuquerque daily citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1895-1903, 1899-03-21
Hon. 7. A. F;NiCAL.
Member Of Council OF legislative AS
stmbly From B~efnslllo county.

a representative OF the New Mexican had
a conversation with Senator Einical,
who, In reply to numerous queries. made
the following answers:
Happening TO have been a member OF
the Legislature that has just adjourned,
IL would be In bad taste for me TO throw
bouquets at any OF the members OF that
body, aud | could not cOnscientiously
speak in terms OF dispargoment OF the
work that it has done. Tue people of
the territory will, In the next two years,
have the opportunity OF testing some
measures new TO "a citizens. which we
all hope will prove beneficial to their In
%terests. Matters Of local or personal in-
terest. which have ut times been 10 no.
tieeable In the acts OF legislatures
throughout the country, In the recent ~.
sembly were largely relegated 10 the
rear, and il has been the desire OF our
assembly TO legislste for the general good
OF ali. What the results will be time
will tell.
ut has been the prevailing opinion
throughout the territory that New Mex
leo Ia In bad condition financially.
While this has been true "a 60 available
funds. 1t Ia lar from true as to her re.
sources.
"For some reason many OF our people
seem to have become imbued with the
idea that the levyiDg and collecting Of
taxes is an unnecessary infringement
upon their personal rights. and have
forgotten that the preservation OF lie
and property. and the pe~rpetnation Of
government Is dependent upon the col
lection OF lakes. livery good citizen
owes 1t to the government under which
he lives. to assist in the maintenance OF
that government TO the extent Of the
property interests which he owns or
represents, While the territorial debt
Is heavy, and the debts of most Of the
counties appear correspondingly so, this
condition IL due to the fact that the
taxes have not been paid. rather than to
the fact that property has deprecated in
value, or that the people are unable to
pay their share OF the public revenues.
] think IL Ia safe TO say that the unc0l-
lected taxes In nearly every county in
the territory exceed In amount the
bonded and floating indebtedness OF the
respective counties. II the delinquent
taxes were collected, not only could the
debts Of the counties be paid, but the
territorial debt would be almost extin-
guished az we'll.
THE Duncan revenue law will have
the effect OF creating y more healthy
public sentiment, and inducing people
who have failed TO pay their share OF the
public revenues. 10 come In and settle,
for II will hereafter be greatly TO their
interest to avoid payment OF the penal
ties which II imposes on delinquent tax
payers. In the more rigid duties which
imposes on county officials is found the
justification, IL any be needed, for in
~creasing the pay OF some OF these officers
And | think the public will find that the
desired end to be accomplished will fully
justify the means used.
The Bursum refunding bill will enable
many OF the counties, cities and towns to
refund their bonded indebtedness at "A
much lower rate OF interest than they
are at present paying. The issue OF i've
years territorial certificates TO pay the
floating deficiency OF the territorial ia.
debtedDess will impose somewhat of a
heavy tax for the next few years. The
deficiency indebtedness has been the
bane OF every legislature for several
years, and W can only hope that this
hitherto uDtried plan will meet popular
approval, ~ the issuing of bonds TO meet
II would only delay its payment indeli-
hnitely and impose a burden upon future
generations. which should be avoided If
possible.
THE enactment OF the civil jury law
will enable litigants 10 have meritorlOus
cases, and deter them from entering or
defending suits with the intention OF
defeating the ends Of justice by delaying
the trial OF causes. The taxation Of land
grants, confirmed by act OF congress or
the court Of land claims. will prove n
source OF revenue from people who are
able and hitherto strangely unwilling to
pay. Many other measures deserve men
ton, and will prove decidedly beneficial,
while | presume some may not, for il ia
hardly to DO supposed that Legislators esn
~r5aliZs the full, ultimate effect OF all the
laws that are passed.
"Partisanship has been observable
chiefly by its absence of influence upon
either branch OF the assembly. While
the democrats have had only two mem.
bers in each house, little or no partisan
legislation has been attempted. think
the democratic members have every rea-
son to be proud Of their treatment and
influence in shaping legislation, and that
tn, record OF the overwhelming republic
can majority in this respect has been 80
good that two years from now the people
OF the territory will send only members
OF one party to represent them, and that
party will be the republican"
Mr.. Finical, although the youngest
member OF the council, accomplished
more than some Of the older heads dur.
ing this session. In every possible man
ner he worked for the benefit Of Albu,
querque and Bernalillo county and he
fulfilled more than could be expected OF
a man who had spent a lifetime In
legislative halls. He was warmly sup
ported by Hon. james ). Duncan and the
lawyer councilmen OF the council, In