Albuquerque evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1911-1914, 1913-11-17
SUGGESISGOVERNOR
MIGHT PAY HIS
OWN TAXES
San Miguel County District
Attorney Calls Executives
Attention to Own Alleged
Delinquency.
CALORIC LETTER rs
SENT TO MCDONALD

That Governor Mcdonald, whose
travelling auditor recently cast some
rather severe aspcfsions on the tax
alton administration of san Miguel
county, might probably first take
the beam ont OF his own eye. Is sug-
westod BY Charles W c. ward. dis
trict attorney for San Miguel county
who also acts IN that capacity for
the county VI Guadalupe where the
governor owns considerable property
The collection ~ tnxcs on this prop
erty has aided considerably to em-
harrass the situation and has been
productive az some expense according
10 Mr ward who believes that the
governor should first set on example
himself The district attorney also
addresses q lengthy letter to the trav-
cling auditor. To tho effect that that
worthy ignored voluminous informa-
tion furnished by the district attorney
himself on the tax situation III order
to cnso some mort 81 the aforesaid
asparagus upon the county OF SIM
Miguel
MIR wards lctior 10 the governor
follows:
Mr.. Wurua lcttcf iolluNa,
Las vcsna. y. NJ Nov. a., 1913.
Hon william G. Mcdonald. Governor
81 New Mexico. santa Pc, N NJ.
Dear Sir. received copy Of the
report OF Howell Earnest regarding
his activities In Sun Miguel count.
u was addressed 10 YOU and as II was
unuccompaniod by any letter : nm
not certain whether Il came from You
or from the auditor. ann according
~ sending you "a copy of my open let
ter ~ Mr.. Earnest. A. the mislead-
ing and Injurious statement U.s. made
with no qualification that san Miguel
county delinquent taxes amount dur
ing the period covered 10 three hum
drcd and nfty-nine thousand. six hum
"a scyenty-four ana 3i-to0 G35g,-
G7A.3n dollars. and as various news
papers quote you rs furnishing them
with the information. / think it only
fair 90 tho citizens Of this county and
90 the taxpayers Of tho state ms well,
that an correspondence ON the gub-
ioct be given to the press. This coun-
IS assuredly wants an the light pos
siblo thrown upon tho tax situation
We must have a more effective tax
system or we cannot collect ali the
taxes. do not believe there Is any
law that requires me 90 go To- the
enormous trouble. expenditure Of time
and outlay that I have assumed ir
order 10 enforce the lien OF the state
By individual tax suits after the coun-
~ officers have dome their fun duty
I'm following the law.
Hut by such means only ! collected
more than $4,000 In delinquent taxes
IN Mora county. many thousands 10
San Miguel county ana I am MOI
much more than half through mere
after years of work. u MAJ impress
YOU somewhat with the difficulty o
the work when ! tell you that your
own somewhat extensive property i
Guadalupe county WAS duly offered
for sale for delinquency I'M the 1911
general suit. thpt mo- bidders appear
ed that the Judgment expired nno
that have bccn compelled 10 hrinr
individual suits against you and many
others down there. IL o. "a rather
striking example OF the iuadequacy OF
our TAX laws that YOU have not, as ial
as have been able 90 find, made ans
return MfitAEhthfl OF f'Ni Nt'i'' ~
iu Guadalupe county for 1912. ! nave
informed the treasurer chat it is hl'
duty 90 make collector assessment
against you and against others VIA,
have failed in like mauner. one o'
tho chief difficulties wo have io meet
s tho contention Of Oh. small tax
mayer that the rich, the powerful tn'
owners of land grants and ia some in'
stances. prominent officials nre motor
lousy lax in paying taxes
You will. boa my respectful opinion
Dee comforting more rCul service up"i
/ tho taxpayers of New Mexico by set
ting them prompt aud shining esq
ample in' the matter ol returning youl
property and paying taxes thereon
thnn hy considering tho cTruncou
and misleading Information concern
/ Ing thc tax conditions 90. this county
/ furnished YOU by the trl,olins oudii"
tho moro especially as every alrI
/ that can nc taken uudDr the nW hn'
/ been taken gnd Wiil hc ukcn 10 col
/ Icct all the taxes actually due.
1 have tho honor tu hD,
Yours most respectfully
r.. W O.. WARD