Weekly Arizona journal-miner. [volume] (Prescott, Ariz.) 1903-1908, 1903-07-29

ions, and attribute improper motives
to our board
The other paper refers to it as Gin
fluence."
The Journal Miner would be sorry
indeed to think, or believe that thu
gentlemen composing the board hav,
been actuated from corrupt motives
preferring to believe that it was sim
ply an error of judgment, but they
should not be surprised if suspicion
should fall upon them. 1t is an oper
and notorious fact that Senator Clarl
was denied seat in the United States
senate on account of corruption and
bribery, in connection with his cleo,
ton, himself admitting on the stand
most damaging, as we'll as most damn.
ing acts in connection with the cleo
ton.
Tampering with juries and corrup-
ton of territorial legislatures in Ari-
IONA, have been openly talked of, and
whether true or false, they have been
accepted as truth and are believed by
a great many people, hence the liabil-
ity to arouse supsicions against any
one in a transaction which on the face
of it is not right. If unjust suspicion
should attach to this transaction it is
but a natural consequence, consider
ing the reputation OF the chief bene-
ficiary of it, for using money to carry
out his ends.
Now a word as to this years assess
ment. In previous discussion of the
action of the board in accepting $50,
600 as full payment OF over $50. 600
taxes and costs due from the United
Verde Copper company, but little has
been said of their other and equally
reprehensible and indefensibIe action
of reducing the assessment for the
present year of the company's prop
erty.
The valuation of the property as re-
turned by Assessor d. J. Sullivan was
s., 200, 600. Is there man in the ter
ritory who thinks that such a valua-
ton is excessive Oh property which
is rated as being worth 500, 600, 600
and is paying good dividends on a
valuation of that sum? But suppose
500, 600, 0O0 which is the accepted
market valuation of the property, may
be considered too high, cut it down
one half and place it at $50, 600, 600,
and if placed on the market at this
price it would be taken up as a snap
in the twinkling of an eye-but for
the sake of argument suppose that its
market value is only $50, 900, 900, is
there any one who will contend that
a valuation of So, 200, 900 for purposes
of taxation would be exorbitant? Is
there man in the county who would
not feel that the tax burden in this
county is very light if he escaped on
the same ratio-and could have his
property assessed at about one six
teenth of what he considered its mar
ket value?
The very lame aud unbusinesslike
excuse is offered that other mining
properties, in other counties of the
territory, are not assessed for what
they are worth and list of alleged
assessments is given in our morning
contemporary, with the apparent and
evident intention of excusing the
Yavapai county board in making the
reduction it has on the United Verde
company. Not disputing the accuracy
of the published list if the supervis-
ors Of other counties commit hari kari
on their constituents, is that a valid
and reasonable excuse why Yapvapai
county supervisors should do the
same thing?
Probably on account of the fact that
number of citizens Of this county
are stockholders IN the Tombstone
mines, and the further fact that one
of the chief promoters and heaviest
stakeholder in them is resident of
this county, the statement is made
that "the great mines of the Tomb
stone Consolidated are assessed at five
of the above company have lain idle
for nearly twenty years, during which
they have not not produced dollar.
They are now simply in state of re-
Mobilization, and money by the hun
dreds of thousands are being spent for
this purpose. The question of ulti-
mate success, as in the case of any
property, in the development stage,
is predetermined. There is nothing
predetermined about the value of
property capable of producing from
So. 600, coo to 5000, GOO in profit an
nually. So that when it is sifted
down every excuse offered is the
merest subterfuge, or evasion of the
real question.
This 81, 000.0 reduction of the
yOdl dcCCSSlilthi, ic
able and unbusinesslike as their S14,
600 donation and the county will be the
future sufferer from it. Unlike the lat
ter transaction they acted within the
limits of their authority in this matter
and all that the tax payers can do is
to grin and bear it. The law makes
them the final arbiters of values, sit
ting as board of equalization, III the
absence of absolute fraud, and tax
payers apparently have no redress
from this outrage perpetrated upon
them.
The Proper Thing TO Do.