Albuquerque weekly citizen. (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1891-19??, 1903-01-24

I ollectors. he conducted In a business
} like manner.
AS an economic measure, the sys
, ,ematising of the puolic business ol
! the territory would work no hardship
IN any interests. but would without
doubt result In the increase OF the rev.
enues OF the territory by many thou
ands OF dollars annually, and a CORE
spending decrease In tar levies. For
these reasons. | again at this time rec
ommend this measure to you for your
consideration with the end In view of
obtaining results, which will not only
be of benefit TO the administration OF
the public business of the territory.
but also to the benefit OF every tar
payer.
An examination of the report OF the
territorial board of equalization viii
disclose the very serious defects in the
manner In which the property Of the
territory is returned for taxation, the
errors In the compilation OF rolls and
the unequal valuation placed on the
same classes Of property OF like value
By the different counties for taxation
purposes. also the great disadvantages
with which that body has to contend
by reason Of limited and restricted &C.
tion. commend their whole report to
your earnest consideration.
My attention during the last two
years has been called to the condition
OF county collectors accounts with the
territory II appears ,Iat II has been
the exception. for outgoing collectors.
to close their accounts with the terri
tory, and as a result balances aggre-
eating very large amount appear in
the ONCE OF the auditor unsettled and
unaccounted for. This is bad condi-
tion of affairs and should be changed.
and believe 1t could be by the crea-
tior OF the office of travelling auditor:
as such an Official will be able to Sc
cure the returning OF assessment rolls
properly and correctly compiled. and
In connection with tho territorial
board of equalization. do much to-
ward obtaining full. equitable and Just
assessments Of all classes of property
throughout the territory. and the plac-
ing OF accounts between the territory
and county collectors on business-like
basis.
To show the fluctuating charactor. of
the values placed on property for taxa
tion. call your attention to a COM
parison between the rolls OF 1901 and
1902. The total assessed valuation for
the territory, subject to tax for the
latter year being 1888 ,993 .27. an In
crease over 1901. of 81 $1,656,e45.3S. and
which increase Ii made up by sixteen
counties making total gain OF So
25,933.42. and the remaining Ave counr
ties decreasing In assessed valuation
S6dS.sSS.09. leaving the net increase as
stated above.
Glasses showing increase and de-
crease follow.)
Rio Grande River and Tributaries.
There Is still pending before con-
gress that iniquitous measure known
as the Culberson or Stephens bili.
which Is intended to deprive our citi-
zens OF water flowing In the Rio
Grande and other streams In the terri
tory. for the benefit of certain citizens
ernment now has suit pending In the
Third judicial district court of this
territory to prevent the building of a
dam across the Rio Grande at Ele-
phant Butte. The sole foundation or
which suit is that impounding the wa
ters at that point will AFFECT the navi-
CATION of the river at a point 1,20O
miles below. have caused the terri
tory to apply to the court to be allowed
TO intervene In that suit as defend
ant. on the ground that the 1000, 900
acres of land donated to Il by the
United States will be directly affected
by the result of the suit This petition
for Intervention has not yet been acted
upon, but In case It is allowed, 1t will
be necessary for the territory to ex-
pend some money In defending ita
rights by the procuring OF witnesses.
scientific data, ETC.. and l would rec
ommend that a reasonable appropria-
tion he made for the purpose OF de-
Tending this suit which liz founded
upon the theory of the Culberson or
Stephens bill above referred to and is
OF such great Importance To onr terri.
tory.
Rio Mimbres Flood Sufferers.
You are all aware of the terrible
flood on the Mimbres river last Sep
lember, which practically destroyed all
improvements, orchards and crops In
that beautiful valley. rendering home
--------.-.-----
Continued on page eight,)