Albuquerque weekly citizen. (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1891-19??, 1901-01-26
rnr rIsANcr. or rsnrrro. Y.


No government can long exist with.
out revenue. The question OF revenue
Is the most serious ind important one
that coufronta all government. and the
manner Ia which 70 ia solved de-
,ermlnes whether an administration or
q reign has been prosperous From that
point OF view the administration OF
Governor Otero the past two years has
been emlnently successful. says the
New Mexican. Not only was sufficient
revenue raised 10 pay all current ex-
penses and appropriations. but, as 10
shown ~ Governor Otero's message
the territorial debt was reduced by t85.-
i3i. ana there remain t6s,s7s.I6 Ia the
treasury which may be applied 70 tho
same purpose. The territorial debt Is
now only ti.27O.tli. or about per cent
Of the total assessed and perhaps
l per cent OF the actual valuation.
The recommendation IN the message
hat 4 per cent bonds be issued In time
10 take up the debt, which may be re-
deemed at the option Of the territory
Is wise one. for that debt bears a
higher rate % interest and was made
when territorial bonds did not con-
mhnd a premium ss they do AZ present
Considerable may be saved In interest
charges, and the credit OF the territory
be sul further strengthened
The question Of decrease 10 assess
mcnts IL discussed BY Governor Otero
While tho territory has grown In actual
wealth, several OF the counties show a
"A faan A.
fact the rate OF assessment throughout
the territory IL Ia most instances only
from one-quartor to one-half the actual
value Of property IL dare not be for
gotten, however, that our neighboFing
state OF Colorado has decreased 10 tax
able valuation from almost a billion
collars To less than t3O0,OO0.OI0. that IA
counties like S0corTo. the establishment
Of the ella forest reserve. the closing
down Of the smelser az Rooorro. the
driving out OF cattle by drouth ana by
sheep. which have not yet been as
sessod. was bound 10 cause a decrease
In the assessed wealth OF the county.
but nevertheless. Instead OF being only
ta6. 900 900, the assessed valuation OF
New Mexico should almost approach
the ti00.000, 900 mark. nniofs the terri
tory desires 90 stand before the world
with less valuation per capita than
the poorest country OF Europe or the
poorest state In the union. The remedy
lies IN electing only competent. honest
men TO the Office OF assessor. The ter
rltory, as such. can exert no influence
en- such election. but the proper oficlals
might be glyen power % renoye an In
competent assessor, one who either ig-
norantly or wifully under-assesses
properly. Such power vested IN the
board % county commissioners O, the
governor OF the terrliry would exert q
healthy influence. Also the power 20 re-
move boards of county commissioners
who DO not do their full duty IN that
direction might be- vested IN The exeou.
tive of tho territory. District attorneys
should be compelled 10 appear before
the board % equalization 10 dofend the
actions 0f the boarda OF county COM
missloncyy who have raifed assest-
menis other remedies win readily sus-
gett themselves % tho legislators. and
Governor Otero ala well 10 calling at
tentlon 20 the serious defect IN assess
ments which seemingly show an in-
crease Of poverty IN the territory, while
actually there 10 an Increase % wealth.