Albuquerque evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1911-1914, 1912-04-12
TIME TO END HORsEPLAY AND GET BUSY
SENTIMENT OF SERIOUS MEN REVENUE
AND LAND MEASURES MOST URGENT

legislature That Is a fact which tho
thoughtful. sefl0us men In the assem-
bly, understand. They know there has
heon q suiilclency cf horse play, OF
party politics, of personal striving
and antag0nlsm. They know it rs
time to get down 10 business. Wheth-
er they are strong enough to control
the situation, II Is likely 1hgt the
coming week will show.
The legislation required from thls
session. In volume, is small II can
be placed In a very thin volume. But
is Importance IL enormous.
First and foremost Is the question
OF revenue Under the constitutional
provisions alone the state is required
TO carry an increased expenditure IN
salaries for the various departments.
judicial, executive. legislative and
miscellaneous, OF more than s7O.O0O,
and this il placing the cost og this
legislature nc It's very lowest possible
figure, while no provision Is included
for the organization of the corpora
ton commission. beyond the salaries
OF the three commissioners, or for
maintenance Of the various state de-
partments
| There are deficits In the various In
| atitntionR which must be cared for and
which total close 10 100000 There
are the various expenditures for state
and Institutional purposes. and ia
nearly every case increased appropria-
tions are being asked. and ia many
cases are required for the best inter-
ests OF the state and ~ the various
Institutions
II Is conceded that al the present
time and upon the present basis OF as
sessment sufficient revenue to meet
the necessary expenses OF a growing
commonwealth cannot oe met within
the levy permitted BY the constitution.
The most conservative estlmuie places
the increase In cost oe the state gov-
ernment over the territorial govorn-
menJ. at more than 100000.
II Is conceded by tnc authorities ON
the subject, including the fiscal off,
GERS Of the state, that the average re-
turn Of property IN New Mexico Is up
on basis OF loaH than one-sxth OF its
value, and that property % an enor-
nous amount IL absolutely escaping
taxation under the existing system Of
assessmenL
II ~ the plain duty Of the lesisiR-
ture 70 provide a new. or more csfoc-
tive system of assessment, a revenue
sysiom under which tue state can ex-
Isl. a Tow men are thinking about
this problem, There are a few mon
who have been able TO forget senator
ships and personal and political quar-
reis long enough Go give this frat and
biggest problem serious consideration
There is a solution and Il IL not un-
likely that several Of them viii bo
presented In the near futuFe That
the legislature must take some action
and that that action must be wise ana
that ID must be takon without regard
10 political. personal or corporate in
terests BE- plain 10 every one. II the
state is 90 start ita career on a sound
} financial basis
Another feature OF the financial
problem la in the bonded Indebted
ness which the state must assume. Al
} present the bonded Indebtedness is
; something less than one million doi-
lars; practically n0thing for a CONE
! monwoalth with the resources Of New
! Mexico. But the state must assume
7 the bonded Indebtedness OF the sew
eral counties. and while the several
counties are required 10 carry the In
terost the credit OF the state will DO
4 involved % the eKteut Of more than
Hgc times irs present outstanding
bonded obligations
TIE state must make provision for
the guardianship and management Of
ita i2.00o. 900 acres of public lands.
~rhis matter has been taken up la a
serious way aud is now having consld-
GRAFTON before 4 senate committee. But
among the large body % legislators u
iH safe % assume that no serious
/ thought has been given u.
There Is demand for other logisia-
ton including that VA behalf Of the
public scnoola. roads. irrigation, im-
miBfationi in a word working state
/ Development progFam. There 10 need
for am Intelligent, modern election
p system, a corrupt praciices act and q
few otler acts OF equal importance. it
3 is y bis legislative program. 40 ID one
: that should command the best thought
! tho legislation can givc.
B There Is ErowlnE feeling among
+ those men who haNn considered the
, importance 81 this needed legislation,
. that II Is lime TOR the assembly % dis
/ pose of peraonai Interests, % stop
/. party politics. a. push aside ioalousiea
( nAd bickeriuga aud 10 sea down 20 bus
) lnoas, 20 90 the things which are %
{ bo done and which must be done Cor