Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1907-12-27

fore the board at this meeting ant
protest against the raise and give the
reasons therefor. In the absence OF
such protests, the county board natur
ally supposed that those raises were
acquiesced in, The same holds true
as to the July meeting when the coun.
ty commissioners met as a board OF
equalization to hear the protests where
such were to be made, and determine
the rights Of their claims. At each of
those meetings there were few prop
erty owners who had been duly noti-
fed who did appear and their cases
were acted upon.
Many good citizens and tax payers
of the county of Santa Fe urged the
board to take action In the month of
August, knowing the seriousness Of
Mr. Ortiz's afflictlon. The board de-
clined at that time to give considera-
ton to these complains, hoping that
Mr.. Ortiz's recovery might be speedy
and that he might be able to resume
the duties Of the Office at an early date.
In this, however they were very much
disappointed. At the meeting of the
Territorial Board of Equalization In
the month of September the law spe-
cifically requires the assessor Of each
county to have his books completed
schedules made and in readiness for
their inspection. Mr.. Ortiz failed in
this manner. The books were not rea-
dy for the inspection and approval of
the board until in the month of Oc-
tober, at which time Mr.. Ortiz appear
ed at meeting of the county board,
when the books were duly approved.
I'VE did not fully realize the many
discrepancies in the matter of assess
ments until after the collector and
treasurer Of the county had sent no.
tices to the different tax payers stat
ing the amounts due. BY comparison
with the assessments Of previous
years, some noticed the advance In the
amount demanded. which caused
them to make inquiry. In fact inquir-
les Of this kind are so numerous that
it becomes very annoying. People
were questioned as to what their re-
turns had been as compared with the
previous year and whether they had
been notified of the raise of values.
The complainants asserted that they
had no knowledge Of any raise; that
II they had had knowledge of such
raise, they would have appeared be-
fore the board in behalf of their inter
ests.
"Our experience In these matters
has led US to the conclusion that but
few property owners really object to
paying their portion of the taxes re-
quired to carry on the county govern
ment The whole matter is one of
equalization The question of fair and
equal assessment is one that interests
property owners more than almost
any other In the management of coun-
ty affairs, and requires a man with
clear head and one who is informed
as to property values and is possessed
of strong sense of justice, as well
az being fearless and tireless in the
performance Of his sworn duty. To do
this throughout the county. an assess
or must devote the greater portion
of his time to the work of his Office.
Each precinct should be visited an
values ascertained and equalized. He
should also endeavor to advise those,
who are not we'll informed, as to
what is expected of them in the mat
ter Of taxation. Where this duty is ne
elected or overlooked on the part of
the assessor, confusion is bound to
follow as the county board, when sit
ting as board of equalization, cannot