Graham guardian., 1905-12-01
RArrs OF LneAL ADVERTISING,
THE MINING ASSESSMENTS

Concerning the mining tax case
which is now before the supreme
court, the Phoenix Enterprise says;
Now that the mining tax case is
before the supreme court for adju'
dication, il will not be amiss to
discuss the matter ofnining assess
ments in Arizona.
For years this territory has been
in the grip OF corporations; no
laws could be enacted without the
consent and advice of these in
terests; the common people were
made the plaything and butt OF
these corporations, the only PRIV
ilege accorded the public was the
right to pay the taxes, their hire
lings were sent to make our laws
and adjust our affairs, and the man
behind the plow had only to pay
the bills. Governors have come
and gone; boards Of equalization
have presumed to adjust territorial
taxes; assessors have taken the
oath of Office to do their duty to
their constituents; and forthwith
become the private property OF
mining and railroad corporations,
and the patient toiling public have
aeouiesced in this lnfamy; but the
worm will turn; there comes q
time iu the history of all countries
when the white mans burden be-
comes unbeatable and the resent
ment that follows such conditions
oftimes brings about deplorable
results. An outraged public as a
rule go far in spirit of retaliation.
The time has arrived in Arizona.
Public conscience has become
aroused at the long years of servi-
tude and submission to bossism.
Arizona, for the first time in her
history, has man in the guber
material char who is his own boss,
who dares to do his own thinking,
and is no mans man. A man who
started in to right the wrongs of
years of oppression and swlndling
by mining corporations; swlnd-
ling is the only Legitimate name
that can be given to the methods
pursued by the big mining cor
porations of Arizona IN their deal
ings with the territory. They
elect assessors, supervisors, and
district attorneys to arrange their
tax matters They elect legisla-
tors TO make laws that will per
nit them to swindle the taxpaying
public by a system of tax evasion
that is nothing short of the
methods of hIghwaymen, and
through their influential eastern
connections they have up to date
secured the appointment of gov
ernors and other federal officers
that would do their bidding. But
some way or other these people
have slipped cog.
j. II. Kibbey secured the ap-
pointment of governor, by what
influence or through whom we
know not, but we do know that he
is the first man that ever filled the
position of governor in Arizona,
who has had the nerve and the in.
dependence to tell these mining
bosses that their reign of super
vision in territorial affairs is over,
that they must put their producing
mines on the tax roll and pay in
the same manner and at the same
ratio as does the farmer and cattle
man, and 10, the thunders burst
forth--these men who have had
Arizona throttled for years and
dictated to Legislators, assessors,
supervisors, district attorneys and
and judges, who stood appalled, at
the attitude Of this presumptuous
diciation.
"we will remove him forthwith"
shrieked Walter Douglas, but the
threat failed of its purpose. The
executive kept right on pressing
the button, and demanding that
these arrogant corporations pay