Bisbee daily review., 1908-02-18
END OF FAMOUS
 TAX CASE IN SIGdT
United Verde Suit Has Been Waged Bitterly Since
 1902 In Courts.

The end of the famous United Yer. de tax suit, which has become of Ter ritorial importance, and one of the most bitter lawsuits ever waged in Arizona, since it's origin in 1902, seems in sight, and from the action taken in the district court recently, 1t seems a safe inference that the United Verde Copper company will have to pay the $14,000 or more now involved.
 Judge Sloan yesterday oyerrued de fendant's demurrer to the complaint and sustained plaintiffs demurrer to defendants answer, allowing defend ants attorneys, Norris & Ross, time in which to file an amended answer, however.
 The controversy originated over an attempt of the tax collector of Yava- Eai county to collect taxes from the United Verde on $1,250,000 assess ment, made by Assessor Willard, in 1902. Representatives of the copper company streluously resisted the as sessment before the then board of supervisors sitting as a board of equalization, and the matter speedily became assailed by partisans of both sides both in office and on the streets, but the assessment was finally sus- tained.
 The United Verde company then ap- pealed from the decision of the board of equalization, but the appeal was dismissed by Judge Sloan on the ground that no appeal bond, as fixed by law, had been given. The case then dragged along until July, 1903. a new board >of supervisors, composed chiefly of Democrats, having been elected in the meantime, the assess ment playing big part il the cleo. tion, it having been made an issue of the campaign. This new board of supervisors publicly announced that on the third Monday in August it would take up and consider the mat ter of the United Verde tax question, but in July the board held a secret midnight meeting, and out of this so- called executive meeting" grew the mise," the members of the board having agreed to accept some $12,- 196 less than the taxes d the com pany for 1902 totaled.
 This piece of juggiery on the part of the supervisors only added to the bitterness of the controversy. and Attorney General Clark, then district attorney, immediately pronounced the alleged compromise void, and in- stituted proceedings in the district court to have the action of the board set aside. Attorneys for the United Verde rushed to the assistance of the board and the case developed into a prolonged contest, which was termi- mated. by the court rendering de- cision declaring the compromise null and void and in excess of the juris- diction of the supervisors.
 That the matter had not been f. nally disposed or, however, was made apparent at the next election, waen District Attorney Clark was defeated for reelection by a goodly majority, and by the action of the supervisors, who appealed to the Territorial su- preme court from the district court decision. The supreme court was un- able to agree, the vote standing 2 to 2, and the decision of the lower court N1S luuS 5dlAOMCu bO AS uO further appeal was possible, Judge Sloan's decision became final, so far as the illegality for the compromise" was concerned, and it only remained for the tax attorney to file suit for the collection of the remainder of taxes due for the year 1902 by the United Verde.
 Reese M. Ling, then tax attorney, in May, 1905, was finally induced toi bring suit against the company, which he did, but 1t was not until the lat ter part of last year that the summons was served upon the company, after pressure had been brought to bear upon those who were delaying tae service of the instrument, and the case finally placed upon the district court docket.
 On January 4, this year, the attor- neys representing the copper com many and those representing the coun- ty agreed upon a statement of facts and submitted the matter to the court without argument, yesterdays action being decision on this statement of facts, and while attorneys for the United Verde have been allowed time in which to file an amended answer it seems as though this is but putting off the day when the company will have to pay the back taxes, which now. with accrued interest, amount