Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1904-01-30
Excellent Work Of
Territorial Auditor

plaza and Bridge street and estimate
the value 81 Land fronting on the same,
per foot. They will then take the sep.
arate streets and settle the valuation
Of ali land fronting On these streets
within specified boundaries. The as.
SCISSOR In turn will not have to accept
the owners estimate Of his property,
but viii siupiy ask How many feet
do yon own and the valuation has
been settled. improvements Will be
estimated according 81 their value, IN.
dependent of the real estate and as
uniformly ali possible The result 81
this inst and uniform valuation ~
property Will Die 10 raise The grand
total III every town, county and ter
ritory Ill large, And this viii n turn
result Ia i lowering ~ the rate of tax.
alton. The reform Will operate for the
public good Just In proportion AL II Is
uniformly adopted and honestly prac.
ticed iii the assessor and The proper
III owner. The efforts III neither can
meet win success without the cooper
alton Of The other.
Mr.. Stafford stated that On January
lit there was On hand IN the territor-
Hall treasury si6p.o00. This Il 4 surplus
of $50 900 over amy previous year, and
III d result of the first step II The ~.
der of things.
IA levy IL one mill rcaps for terri
torial purposes about 100000. There
fore. d surplus of $40. 900, would IN.
dictate i prospective reduction 81 three
mills IN the levy. a raise In valuation
can mean only one of two things: eith-
er the accumulation Of q surplus Or q
lower rate RI taxation, The former
Ii not 10 be desired while the latter Is
greatly to be desired and -
the proposed object of The
efforts being put forth. II
the total valuation In the territory
could be increased by Is or 10 per
cent, II should bio followed by q 81
responding lowering ~ the rate In
county ana town ali well as territorial
levies. The present levy III San MI
gtel county per 800 Of valuation ii,
for territorial purposes s1.50. for coun.
~, s2.a5, for tho city Of Las Vegas.
$2.2s, and for the town Of Las Vegas.
50 cents. Mr.. Stafford stated that the
rate III the city Of Las Vegas Is higher
than hi any other municipality IN the
territory. Therefore, 1t should Ger
tainly be d Of the first to take nd
vantage Of the opportunity offered 10
get q fairer valuation established with
4 correspondlngly lower rate.
Iii tho detailed discussion 81 these
questions Of taxation, Mr.. Safford's
comprehensive knowledge OF the sub.
ject was equaled only BY his modest
disclaimer Of any credit for carrying
out the new order or things. AS q mat.
ter-of-fact, On the efficient perform.
0f hts duties. and his constant
supervision or the whole scheme, de-
ponds the result. And The Optic Is
only voicing tho conviction Of every
one who Ii familiar with the energy
and ability be has displayed, In saying
that Governor 0tero could not have
d more competent and rom.
scitntious nan To establish the finan,
ciaI affairs Of New Mexico ID d sound
and substantial basis. He II an cx-
aert. and Id Is an enthusiast His am.
lltion IL III bring results io the Tux.
,asors IT Tile territory. Hi Il striv.
for this ttrst. last. ami always, and
4 Il iii t~Sasgefatton ii say that In the
list year III his service BIZ has saved
he territory i modest fortune He Is
slatfned i'll The friendly cooperation
which Inns everywhere met hts efforts
,mong The taxpayers themselves, and
IeeIs that me SUCCESSES nf his eifoits IN
MI future MIL ~ measured urinetpal
tin this fnctnr Tho wisdom ~ the
at legislature Iii creating his Office
Il worthy III tic highest praise II he
i allowed 10 nil Il Ill liz & able 70.
hls utility ii ! servant III Till public
Will lie immeasurahle The Optic
urges upon all the necessity III every
me '.toting fair and cooperating
Tho administration. ihP board Of
equalization. the auditor. The county
commissioners and The assessors In
establishing iii New Mexico ! Just and
eqnahle nFsstSgh, ~ taxation which
shan put IN on The ~sonndsst possible
financial basis and be a conclusive
and unanswerablc argument Oh y
% COVER ourselves In all
and 10 enjoy The highest priv
Of American ~citizenship.