Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1907-01-13
TAXPAYERS OF THE
TERRITORY ARE
UNANIMOUS
IN DEMAND FOR
NATIONAL REDUCTION
Business Interests of AIbu-
querQue Unite in Petition for
Legislation to Bring About
Immediate Remedy,

WIN the thirty-siXth legislative as
sembly enact "A law which VIII abolish
the fee system for the payment of
county officers and reduce the pay of
such officers to q basis in fair pro-
portion to the service performed?
Il Is safe to say that 80 per cent OF
the taxpayers of New Mexico desire
such legislation, and If given an op-
%portunity, would demand it.
The republican party of the terri
tory in convention assembled. has de-
clared for this legislation, with equal
solemnity.
The government of the territory has
long TODD for legislation o. this kind.
The time certainly seems to have
arrived for action by the legislature,
and action such as the people desire
and a large proportion of the
taxpayers are beginning to demand it,.
Men acquainted with the personnel Of
the Legislative assembly which will
owen a week from tomorrow, say
they believe the needle salary legisla-
ton will be enacted. Other men who
have desired this legislation for many
years and who have seen Legislature
after legislature pass il by. say they
hope for the best. but fear tina ma
chine made county officials will prove
strong enough to block the proposed
legislation.
There never has been a great deal
of doubt as to where the taxpayers Of
the territory stand on this question
There is now no doubt at all. The
people who bear the burden of run-
ming territorial and county govern
ment have come Onward to demand
action. Petitions making such de-
mand are in circulation in all of tho
larger towns Of the territory. In Al
buquerque the demand for lower sail
aries is practically unanimous. II is
almost as unanimous in Silver City,
in Las Vegas, in Ration and Roswell.
VIII the legislature heed the de-
mand?
1t is a question which a great many
people are asking these days. 1t is a
question which will presently be an
swered. If the Legislature does not
heed the demand it will not be through
ignorance of it, for these petitions are
going up from every city in New
Mexico. accompanied by delegations
of the men who have signed them.
The unanimity of the taxpayers ia
favor of this legislation is shown by
the Albuquerque petition.
The albuquerque Petition.
For about four weeks Mayor Frank
Mckee has had the Albuquerque petit
ton in his office in the First National
bank. He las not circulated il. The
taxpayers, knowing of its presence
there, have voluntarily gone to the
bank to sign it. until three hundred
and fifty names already appear on the
document. These names include prac-
tically all of the heavy taxpayers OF
the county. They include practically
the unanimous business interests.
wholesale and retail of A~lbuquerque.
They include the united professional
interests, they include the large land
nxUpnYc and nVyngrG of the most NalIa-
BILE holdings Of city property, They
include those names most active in the
npbuilding of Albuquerque and the
county. the names which Stand for
progress and good business. Mayor
Mckee has stayed quietly in his office
and has watched his petition grow.
Once or twice he has taken ii out with
him. But one man, of al those APP
preached, has refused to sign it. and
the mayor thinks this gentleman had
dyspepsia just at the m when
he was approached. The petition IS
still open and any taxpayer who de-
sires TO sign ii may do so by calling on
the mayor.
Taxpayers who desire to have
county salaries brought down to a
fair basis are urged to sign this peti-
ton. 1t will be forwarded 70 the leg
stature on the opening day OF the SEES
sion. The demand Of the taxpayers OF
|l1tIIldllilO county lOl lONfi tVhiNA ~
aries is strong and positive. 1t should
he made unanimous.
The petition and the names of the
taxpayers thus far attached thereto
are given below:
70 the Thirty-Seventh Legislative As
sembly of the Territory of New
MeXico: :
Your petitioners. the undersigned
taxpayers, respectfully petition and
ask that you repeal all laws providing
for fees for county officers and that
you pass an act putting all county Of
iicers on a salary basis without tees'
from January list, 1907. and that the
salaries in the counties of the first
class hail not exceed the following:
County commissioners, $500 each
per mum.
Probate judge. 5000 per snnum.
County school superintendent.
$500 per mum.
Probate clerk. $4,000 per annum,
and SIS per month each for two depu-
Ties.
The assessor. $500 per annum. and
500 per month for deputy.
Treasurer and eN-Oficio collector
5eO per annum, and 500 per
month for deputy.
Sheriff SO. 600 per annunl' n SlZ'
per month for deputy.
District attorney, $2.5Oo per an
First National bank.
Frank Mckee.
Ernest Meyers e. Co.
The American lumber company, ny
+. Johnson. president.
W. =. Johnson.
The Albuquerque Electric Light, Gas
& Power company. by C.. X Durbin'
vice president.
The +. l.. Washburn company.
J.. -. Herndon.
State National bank.
Fred Harvey, by John stein sup
'~rintendcnt.
Albuquerque Traction company, by
A.. StoItz.
Joshua ;. Rayn0lds.
Albuquerque Morning journal, -.
,, a. Macpherson. president
T. ". Putney.
AZ. 4. Burke.
ffeld Brothers.
H "A. Briggs.
~ a. Iefeussnn
Frank A. Huhhell
A u MulnY.
"a y Naiipn.
storm sfh'uas A fn