Albuquerque evening citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1905-1907, 1905-09-18
Y TAX POLL

The Pennington Hustler gives some facts about tax
ing customs. in San Juan county. which no doubt are
equally prevalent in most if not all counties OF New Mex
leo. Tax valuations in this territory are ridicuious'y lo"'
and the tax rate, of necessity, must therefore be raIseu
unreasonably high.
Say for illustration, one has a piece of property ne
would not part with for $1,000 or $4,000. Now which is
better9 To have that property valued at $4,000 and taxed
G % cont mr. to have it valued at $4,000 and taxed at .
O cent? The amount the owner pays is exactly te
same in either case, and so many seem to think that II Is
a matter of Indifference which plan is pursued On "e
contrary. it is a matter of the very greatest importance
shat nronertv for tax purposes shall be returned for not
less than two-thirds of saleable price thereby sre"''
reducing the apparent tax rate OF the terrlIorS'
Take two points, though many others might De D"
,,oned. The entire tax valuation of New Mexico a"u
-. j.. aho,t s4o 600 600 each, or $50 100000 for the
two. Does anyone suppose for an instant that tnere "oUU
bo tho same opposition to statehood, joint or separate
&c i ~ shown by the states already in the Union were
the tax valuations of the two territories SooV'oOo'Oo0'
Again. when asking loans from eastern capital OF ursi"s
investment by eastern capitalists, Is II suppoS"O' '
there would be the same difficulty experienced were on
tax rate 2 or even 8 per cent lns'eau " pl
cant Thus it is an evil which works both by ne Nv
,nn n, real nroperty values and the raising of taxation
rates. But here is what the San Juan huS"ei 100
say: Ill ,n tbis vea which has
been published in all the county papers is worthy 0 y :.
.;derable study. There are some astonishing uihss III a.
The first thing that catches ones eye Is 'n"' '"' "
only $1,000 in money in the county .horos or
' Anntber thing is that there is only S3,11O shares Vi
4ool~ hold in corporations. Isn't it funny what d cnanse
h. assessor makes when he appears on the scene'
Another feature is the agricultural lands' ~
oo vo1nation is SIS per acre. There cannot be a uouo'
hit 1ybat with an average of that kind there must De a
verv wide variation in prices from that asked the y"
be purchasers. oorr No one
Another glarlng error Is III "a "N -.
u,rorsont With the county believes for a moment tha'
s1 776 is a lust valuation for even taxable purposes d 'e
hay and corn in this county. +h, entire
In some places the commissioners have 'he emu.
+sx roll nublished when completed and before the WORK
NJ equalization is done. This has resulted ~ such an IN
crease as to more than pay the expense as wen d. ~
result in a real equalization. -
Take for instance those men who give IN thelr ~
and hay. if they only knew the names of those VINO uu
not they would no doubt bring the matter 10 the aOten
tion of the board of equalization. If the list was pup
lished they could easily tell. 1t is the only feasible pai
that we have ever heard of to get real and true equaiiIa
ton. and it should be given due consideration by. th'
nroper authorities. We believe it should be adopted here
and If a change of law is necessary to this end a chaDg'
should be made.