Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1910-01-13
CONCERNING TAXATION.

The Morning journal in this issue
presents two statements concerning
the assessment Of property for taxa
ton in New Mexico which. in the light
ef the rec.nt resolutions Of the meet
ing of the district attorneys addressed
To the board OF equalization, demand
ing that property be returned for tax
ation at It's full value, are well worth
careful reading The communication
view our present taxation system II
IL may be called d system-and is
very apparents defects from widely
separated angles. one OF these state
ments Is that of Attorney General
Frank w. Clancy TO the board OF
equalization, in which he supports the
contention OF the district attorneys
that assessment should be made as
required by statute, at the fun value
Of all property. MI. Clancy calls upon
the board Of cqua lizution to comply
with the law which he quotes and
which he states requires the board Of
w ~ NV ff'fdt w gu
property IN zach county at the annual
meeting 70 be held ia January OF each
year. and to furnish an abstract show
Ing such taxable value in each coun-
~, 10 the territorial auditor, to the
end that unon that information the
auditor should make an order direct
ing the county commissioners OF each
county 10 levy Il tax sufficient 10 raise
the amount Of revenue by him appor-
toned 20 the county"
In this connection the attorney gen
cral says;
Notwithstanding The iopulur clam.
or against large corporations Of
which, however. there IS probably loss
IN New Mcxicn than 10 nearly an other
parts Of the United states. | believe
Il 70 be a fact that the railroad com.
panics operating IN New Mexico have
meyer attempted 20 evade their fab
share Of taxation and. "a hereinbofore
stated, they have really been paving
a larger proportion of the taxes than
they would pay under a perfectly fair
aud equitable assessment. There IL no
reason 10 believe that there would be
any serious objection from these cor
porations TO IN assessment OF their
property In accordance with the stat
ute which requires assessment at the
real value, provided that there could
be any assurance that the valuation
of all other property would be made
on the same basis This can be as
sured, u, Ia the performance OF your
duty as TO fixing the valuation OF each
county, @ increase that valuation 50
that after taking into account the
amount of railroad property in the
county there win appear to be Az great
an increase upon the valuation Of am
ether property as "a whole, as that
which may hc made urnn the rail-
road propcrty"
ATTORNEY General CLANCY enjoys in
a very high measure the esteem of
iii~ pcupiv ut New Mexico OF an
classes ana al political 4aiths and his
opinions command respectful attcn-
ton. His statement that the railroads
Of the territory are paving more than
their fair share of the taxes viii.
therefore $50 Jar to chang what Is
@ vefy common impress ION. that they
are pA}inE less than taeir proportion
\ careful annl>sis cot taxation records
nsoffaftf. Shows taat il aouao ,ouli.
ties at ltasl the railroads are paving
considerably more Than their fair pro-
portion ot ttNh ID It's evident. how
ever. either that the %attorno, general
was mistaken in his nsiirf thai the
railroads would not object tp an aa-
sessmcni unnn thr ha~s u- fuiI value.
or that the railroads questioned the,
power OF ability oi fhc board of equal
izstiun to bring the assessment ot
other elassts of property up Co. their
actual value o that lh,r, would De,
no Inequality ln the basis of a,sass-
nsent Arsumonts again.t the assoss-
meni of property at Us actual value
were made before tht board uf equal
izaiiun go lt. present mtsfins. almost
entirely hy faiiruai attornt,s These
attorney based their Opposition o. che
program ~ th' District attorneys upon
The assumption that tU, sixlne au-
thprIfies of tnc territory had thc aot-
counties cannot ts depended upon
q adhere t1 any iine 81 conservatism
or economy in ie,,ine tas@ aud That
with fuli valuation and no maximum
limit upon tHe rate OF taxation. county
boards and other taxing authorities
with au inclination a. sNtriYaeancc
could easily bankrupt the average TAX
payer. corporate or individual
II Is interesting Co. note that tnis Is
the identical Wow taken ~ thr disc
triet atiorne,s program ny thc other
communication presented to-day. that
81 sir W. q Mettan. ~ Albuquerque.
who hoid4 thar the taiireaas ere ar-
rant tax dodgcrs now thsi they all