Arizona weekly journal-miner., 1902-07-16
ALLEK APPEARS BEFORE THE BOARD

Assessor Willard's raise on that com pany's taxes. The board took the matter under advisement. ."-Jerome 
 Mir. Aliens appearance before the board has given rise to all sorts of rumors around Prescott, which, for the good of the county, as well as for the good name of the parties con nected with these rumors, it is hoped l are not so.
 No disinterested and impartial mau can charge that the valuation placed upon the property of the United Verde company is excessive. It amounts to about Sl, 100000. The property is rated in the markets at anywhere from S50,000000 to S1OO,- 100000 It is a sure thing that it cannot be purchased for the former figure, and 1t is doubtful if Sen ator Clark would let it go at the lat ter figure. What sort of argument could be adduced to convince a sen sible thinking board of supervisors, who are attempting to conduct the business of the county in an honest manner and do full justice to all con- cerned, to lower the assessment is beyond comprehension. The assessment is too low, and in stead of a reductioG it should be ad- vanced to at least S3,OOO,OOO; and if it were raised to S4,OOO,OOO it would not be excessive. And in raising this assessment it should not be done in any spirit of Unfairness or prejudice ] but a general raise of assessments all along the line should be made, as the United Verde is not the only mining property in the county which is assessed at a ridiculeusly low valu- ation.
 The Journal Miner does not be- lieve in an excessive or prohibitIve tax upon the mining industry, but it does believe in having it pay its just proportion of expenses of running the county government.
 Que of Mir. Aliens arguments two years ago for wanting a new county created was the lack of business ability exercised by our boards of supervisors, claiming that while the tax rate was excessive there was such profigacy in expenditures our debt is not being reduced and the tax rate is being increased. The assertion is not without force either and the pres ent board has the opportunity now, | if they will have the nerve and good business sense to relieve themselves of being included in the above charge. Will they do so, Is the question which is on the lips of every taxpayer, and the outcome of MT. Aliens visit before the board is awaited with interest.
 There is one thing certain, and the members of the board of supervisors are probably aware of it, or if they are not they should be made aware of it, and that is that no member can vote for a reduction of the valuation of the property of the United Verde Copper company without laying him self open to suspicion of being infu- enced by other than honest and hon. orable motives.
 Mir. Clark's methods of influencing officials to his way of thinking have become so notorious that a man es- pousing his cause must be backed up by better argument than can be ad- vanced to secure the reduction of an assessment which should be S3,000,- to a point below Sl 100000 to escape suspicion.
 No intelligent man possessed of any business sense, and who is not prejudiced in some way, can advance any argument for reducing these fig ures, but on the contrary, the general opinion is that they are already too low.
 In seeking to have this assessment reduced Mir. Clark is looking to the future, and the question of county division enters into it. There is no doubt whatever that plans are being laid to introduce this subject into the next legislature again.
 The United Verde and Pacific Rail way company's ten years tax exemp- tion expires next year, when that road will be subject to taxation. With a low assessed valuation this year, should he succeed in securing county division next winter, the new county would escape its just proportion of the county indebtedness, and then he would be able to manipulate af- fairs in the new county to his own liking and have the railroad assessed at figures which he may dictate.
 Will the people of Yavapai county tamely submit to the dictation of this man to the extent of jeopardizing their own interests, or will they stand up for equal justice for themselves, and at the same time be just to Mir. Clark?
 If MT. Clark is willing to go upon the assessment roll at a reasonable and just valuation for his property, and will be willing to assume for a new county a reasonable and just pro rata of the public indebtedness, it is doubtful if he would meet with any serious opposition to the creation of a new county. It is the selfish and entirely one-sided proposition which he insists on which makes it objec- tionable.
 On account OI the interruption caused 10 traffic in the Jersey City depot by the kissing of relatives and friends on the arrival and departure