Bisbee daily review., 1905-08-30


 has adjourned after doing about all the damage it could to the real interests of Arizona and neglecting to correct several evils quite within its power to control The MaricOpa band has again played that well known solo: "Givei Give. Give," which has been so effect lively repeated from time immemorial, and. singularly they generally get what they clamOr for.
 At the spring meeting of this board the members relieved all county as sessors of any responsibility as to fixing the rates on railroad property by sim ply grading them to suit themselves anl those who advised them on what would be proper and equitable-politi- cally and from the point of view of the tax manipulatOr Therefore there was no debatable ground left for the as sessor, and his implied instructions were to soak the big mining corpora tions"
 The former levy on other property was pretty nearly as steep as it would do to go. and a mild increase was all the average citizen would swallow without Q kick from the voter which is always to be avoided when possible-sO the obvious deduction was that the big tax shirkers,' as they have been characterized, should stand the boost More revenue vas required-so the Territorial officials concluded and it was also desirable that the tax rate should be reduced for all but Territorial purposes. In short, good politics demanded that the stand and deliver" policy should be brought into vogue again and it has been applied with a vengeance.
 Unlimited Gall.
 The action of the board and those who composed the self-appointed steer ing committee has no parallel in the history of the Territory. The roll was not called when the final resolution to increase the mine assessments was put, so any member can say that he did not vote for the resOlution-eXcept the If there are no objections meth od What was the use? Governor ktb- bey found that there was one man on the board that he could not handle. He called for his resignation and ap- pointed another in his stead upon whom he could rely, so the vote was to ? on all propositions. Roll calls were a waste of time. The records ot these sessions will probably play very important part in the litigation which will assuredly follow the the tax levy based on this rating. Phoenix newspapers are loud in their praise of tlte cJETd's action and cannot say enough in cOmmendatiOn of Governor Kibbey and the noble four who so greatly distinguished themselves and have so widely advertised their origi- nal anl peculiar brand of equity.
 The Old Song of See-Saw.
 The Territorial board considered railroad assessments in the spring and concluded that as it had been "lean year." rates should not be materially changed. The storms and floods had caused great damage, and repairs and improvements called for large expen- ditures But they got even by running a bluff on the refrigerator car com panies and other "sleepers which had long been overlooked. Much capital was made of this-tOo much, by half as the assessment was knocked into a cooked hat when the representatives of the l.rmour and Swift companies put in an appearance before the board last week The pitiful amount left standing might well never have been placed on the rOI-it's a joke.
 We believe in encouraging railroad buil--ag and affOrding the companies every just facility for expansion where local interests are to be benefited As for through lines in competition. the West now knows it has little to expect in the V ay of reduced rates un- less vclurt tarily conceded or when the law shall step in-as in Texas-and control to 3 certain extent the charges made for passenger and freight tolls.
 In Arizona the assessed valuation of all rallroads is but 9.7 per cent of the commercial value of their stocks and securities in the open market. In no other State or Territory is there any valuation less than 15.2 per cent, and that in Oklahoma, which is the newest of the Territories This is simply a bald fact. Seems to be room for a little readiUstment somewhere.
 For many years the Old Dominion mines have been opened and one smelter has been in operation. Many men have besn employed, millions expended, and these mines and the shelter have been the backbone of the camp. The various companies mat have come and gcne-into liquidation O rforced sals-haye paid taxes regu- larIy. and the amount has been for years a very large proportion of the total paid in Gila county.
 No shareholder of these companies has ever received a dollar in dividends not one of the companies has ever paid a penny to the men who advanced the capital to develop Globe and make Gila county what it is today.
 If the PheIps-DOdge people had no: gained control 9 year and a half ago and put their unlimited resources be hind the enterprise. and built the mag nificent new plant now in successful operation. there would be but small village here instead of thriving city of 1000 people, and the whole valua tion of Gna county would be less than a million dollars.
 Last year the Old Dominion interests paid more than one-fourth of the taxes of the county. According to the new tax roll submitted by our assessor and board of supervisors they would have paid even a greater proportion.
 Figures That Do Not Lie.
 And yet, the company has fiostins
 a. F..-..