Albuquerque evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1911-1914, 1913-11-14
EXTRA SESSION OF
LEGISLATURE IS
MATTER FOR
FUTURE
Governor Promises Ample No
tice Should He Dsoids TO
Convene Lawmakers to Take
Up Taxation Problem.
MCDONALD STRONG FOR
COMMISSION ON TAXES


II will give ample notice IN the
event that I decide 20 call an extra
session OF the legislature" said Gov
crnor Mcdonald al tho Alvarado ho-
tel this morning before leavinR Tor
Santa Re.
Nothing has been decided as yet,
and am far from convinced that the
best Interests Of the state would be
served by converting the legislature
In. special session, II is just punHilsie
that. were the Legislature 10 meet UNI
der call that would restrict it, nc-
tivitics 90 ono or two subjects. con
siderable good might be accomplished.
ON the other hand there Is the pos
glhilily that majority Of the mem
beers might resent being called To-
uether and refuse 10 do Anything.
thus making the session a nsciess cN-
pensc 60 tho tnxpeycrs."
The governor. referring 60 the tax
alton matters now pending In The su-
preme court. indicated that matters
more important than the county sal
aries bill might develop which would
render special session desirable.
Discussing the recent revelations IN
san Miguel and Eddy counties. con-
tanned In the report Of Travelling Au-
ditor Howell Earnest, Governor Nc
/ Donald was Inclined Go mildly resent
the charge that he had published the
| report IN order 90 make political cap
iinl.
1.-THE report, when IL was filed ln
my office" said the governor. "bo-
came public property, and any ciu-
zen. whether n newspaper man or not
was and 4 at liberty to examine or
copy II. The report. MS I understand
u. is based upon the records OF the
various county offices examined II
scts forth conditions az shown by the
hooks. and no attempt Is made hy the
auditor to draw conclusions from
those conditions.
"In the case OF San Miguel coun-
lty. the report takes In a period OF
eleven years. and necessarily In the
transactions covering so long period
o great deal OF explanation of some
of the entries IL possible. But u is
not the business of the travelling ou-
ditor to seek explanations Ills func-
ton Is to examine the books ana re-
port Explanations can be- offered
or demanded later a. circumstances
may seem 20 require.
zone thing seems clear. however s.
and that Is that In many instances
the law has been loosely observed by
various county officers Tho prac-
tlcc Of taking money from one fund
and using e for purpose foreign 20
that for which Il was collected seems
Ia have been a common one and
should DC stopped Public officers
can not be too careful IN obeying IN,
ilaw and In cases Of doubt should al
ways consult the district attorney
IN Is true that should the district at
torney give wrong advice Il does moi
free the county officer from rcspon'
sihlllty. hut the transaction becomes
o. matter of record and the county Of
fetal who acts upon the advice o
the district Is freed from oven th'
suspicion Of actual dishonesty"
The governor expressed himself al
strongly in favor of tax commits
b sion, the members 10 serve withOu
compensation other than that thei
; expenses would be paid by tho state
This plan was presented To- the las
legislature but failed To- meet tn
\ views Of majority Ia either house
I Tho governors idea Of "a solutiun o
J the problem of supporting the stat
; government Is that system shout
be devised whereby each county woull
! be required 90 contribute definit
Z sum 90 the state. the amount 10 b
based upon the taxable wealth of IN
= county and 10 be ascerlained hy
7 non-puriisan board which would b
I free from local prejudice or intercH
7 We're this plan adopted. In the opiu
J ion ct the governor, there would n
! longer be any object for the oountie
: 90 keep down their valuation In ordo
! to escape paying AN undue proportio
Z of the state taxes
"As e. matter of fact" said the gov
= yruor. "evcn now the counties woui
I bee materially benefited were they {
! Increase their valuation oven bcyon
4 the rate required by law. and then r.
! duce their tax. rates. since the Pre-
= portion 81 taxes that goes 20 the stat
z la so small that the advertising valu
! 90 low tax rate would be so Erel
4 as 90 more than offset any small af
Z ditional amount that might be pal
> 10 the'stato boy any county,