Graham guardian., 1905-09-08
SHOULD INVESTIGATE

n = the past year surprising
mber of widows have been de-
oped in some OF the lower pre-
t.aets of the county. 1t is alleged
that in one precinct down the Gila
valley there are now fifty-two
widows, and as each widow is en-
titled to an exemption of $1,000
there has been a most remarkable
falliug off of property values in
that precinct. The question which
is now interesting the people and
tax payers of the east end of the
county, is whether or not they are
genuine widows, or are they of the
summer variety. The impression
seems to have gone out that many
of these widows are a myth, or
that property has been decided to
those who are of the genuine
variety in order to shirk taxes.
The Era has not Investigated these
charges and therefore does not
state positively that they are cor
rect, but there is no doubt in the
minds Of the people who ought to
know that there is more or less
truth in them. They should be
carefully investigated by the next
grand jury, and if women other
than widows have been receiving
the benefit Of this exemption cause,
they should be punished. 1t is
quite remarkable that all Of the in
crease Of property values should
be from precincts In the east end
OF The county, while nearly all OF
the precincts in the western half
shows phenomenal decrease
Copper Era.
We are little surprised that the
IRA, which always tries to be fair,
should allow itself 10 be SO far mis-
lead as the above indicates.
We heartily agree that the tax
perjurers should be Investigated
by the grand jury. whether they
are widows are wealthy tax
dodgers. An investigation of the
matter would possibly reveal some
abuse Of the widows exemption,
for the assessment roll shows l53
widows, while an abstract of the
records show 1l6 owning real
estate. All of the remaining thirty
seven cannot be regarded as per
jurers, however, because number
of them own nothing but personal
property, while there are others
who have not had their deeds re-
corded. But those who are abus-
ing the exemption law and per-
juring themselves should be dealt
with. Now that the Era has called
attention TO this abuse, let 1t follow
the matter up and get after the
wealthy tax dodgers who do not
hesitate to commit perjury con-
cerning their taxes every year.
There is a broad and fertile field.
The valley precinct that the Era
refers 10 as having dfty-two wild
ows is Pima. That has been com
mon talk over the county for some
time. The assessm ent roll for
1905 shows widows in the differ
ent precincts as follows: Clifton,
"a; Pima, "a; Thatcher, 26; Solo
monville, 23; Stafford, 81; Morenci,
II; Duncan, 5; Matthewsville, 4;
Thomas, 4; Central, 2; Metcalf l;
Eden !; Bonita, l, An investiga.
tion of the records fails to reveal
any increase in their property over
last year.
The records also fail to show
a decrease in property valuations
to any great extent in any pre-
cinet in the county. 1t is true that
the Clifton precinct is short of last
year on account of the floods, as is
also Pima and one or two smaller
precincts for the same reason. All
other precincts are above last year.
As the board finally adjusted the
roll it stands just S6S,174 higher
than last year, Metcalf contributing
more of this amount than any other
precinct, this on account of newly
patented mines. This amount will
yet be reduced by $4,000, as the
patents on twenty-nine mining
claims have been held up by the
for the Shannon Cop
per company and they have APP
piled to the board for the reduc-