Arizona republican., 1906-11-03

assumes Importance in connection with
the fact that the territorial tax rate
in New Mexico is twice as great as it
is in Arizona. The counties Of New
Mexico are so weighed down by debt
and mismanagement that the county
rate alone is as high as seven per cent.
Thus. on the showing last week by an
Albuquerque newspaper. the tax rate
in that city is 1OIa per cent per
cent county, per cent city and IL
per cent territorial. Yet the debt of
that county is not nearly so great pro-
portionately as that of other New
Mexican counties.
The school system of Arizona is con-
ceded to be equal TO that of any in the
United states. The school system of
New Mexico is admittedly the worst in
the union. There could not be two
school systems in the same state.
Our assessed valuation exceeds that
of New Mexico by $2O.OOO.OO0. So what
would we gain in revenues by joint
ure?
New Mexico is. we believe. the only
state. except some Of the southern
states, which preserves the antiquated
ballot system. because of its simplicity
along with its facility for fraud. It
is explained that by reason Of the
character of the population there n
modern ballot system is not practl-
cable. What system would prevail i'm
the joint state. seventy-seven parts
New Mexican and thirty three parts
Arizonian?
Under the head of probabilities we
will speak of the invalid indebtedness
Of New Mexico. consisting of 100000
of railroad bonds and militia warrants,
estimated at from 100000 to $1,000
600. The precise amount even New
Mexican officials pretend not to know.
But the holders of them know. and who
doubts that we would all find out
shortly after jointure?
All jointist arguments contain prom
Use of only two positive benefits to be
derived. one IS that under a state
government the big corporations would
be compelled by the Legislature TO bear
their share of the burden of taxation.
Yet they do not show i'm what manner
"a legislature composed necessarily of
Arizonians and New Mexicans
would do what the jointists al
lege the New Mexicans and Ari-
zonians corrupted by the big corpora
lions have steadily failed to do. Would
it not be more convenient for the cor
pcrations to corrupt one state legisla-
ture than two territorial legislatures?
How viii jointure render legislators
incorruptible?
The jointists also attempt to deIude
US with hope of a cheaper government.
yet in the same breath they assure us
that none Of those Institutions which
create expense are to be abolished \
dual set of penitenuaries, insane asy-
lums, normal schools. etc, is to be
maintained. Yet with no provision for
a reduction of governmental expenses.
and the cutting off of the money re-
ceived from the national government
for the support of the executive cm-
GERS. the judiciary and the legislature,
a state government viii cost us less.
VIII the jointist arithmetic,ans show
US how?
The rest of the jolntist endeavor is
confined to the proving to the voters
that jointure cannot possibly harm
them. We think a majority of intelli-
gent Arizonians believe that harm and
even ruin would be Inevitable.
Then. in conclusion. there is that in
famous bride which in itself if accept
ed would be an irreparable calamity to
New Mexico and Arizona alike. that
100000 acre gift Maricopa county
would be less disastrously affected
than any other part of Arizona if that
land should be stolen from the home
seeker and transferred to the land
pirate. as we believe it was intended
it should be when that provision was
incorporated in the joint statehood
bill There is within this county very
little of the public domain. We are
beyond the reach Of the land robber