Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1913-02-04

What non-partisan citizens assert is
the first sensible approach towards
solution of the present incongruous
taxation system in New Mexico, was
introduced in the legislative senate
this morning by State Senator w. b.
Walton in the shape of Senate BIZ NO
c2-An act to provide for state tax
commission.
This measure, briefly, provides that
a tax commission, to serve one year
without pay, shall be created as fo'-
lows:
Five members, two being citizens at
LARGE named by the governor one
member of the state board OF equa''-
zation to be named by the governor,
one member of the senate to be named
Nv the president Of the senate, ana
one member of the house to be named
by the speaker. These men shall be
ramed within one month from the
PASSAGE of the bill, which carries the
emergency act.
The measure provides that these
men shall hold hearings in each coun-
ty and shall have the power to COM
pei the attendance Of witnesses. An
appropriation of $4,000 is made for
expenses.
The measure is understood to have
the endorsement of the state bar as
sociation and to be In line with the
best ideas of students of the taxation
NS
according to Mr.. Walton, would be to
enable non-partisan body of men to !
collect all available data, compile
comprehensive report and submit 1t to
the governor for use by the next legis-
,ature in preparing suitable taxation
law.
The bill, in full is as follows:
Be 1t Enacted by the Legislature of
the State of New Mexico:
Section I. That temporary state
tax commission is hereby created
which shall be called the temporary
state tax commission of New Mexico.
The commission shall make thor
ough investigation of the present
methods of taxation and equalization,
in the state of New Mexico and of the
laws of other states, and make recon-
mendations to be submitted to the
next session of the legislature of such
legislation as it may deem desirable
ard necessary to correct defects now
existing in the present system in New
Mexico. 4
Sec. 2. The commission shall con.
sist of one member OF the present
state board of equalization, to be
designated by the governor; one mem. !
ber of the senate, to be appointed by
the lieutenant governor; one member
Of the house of representatives, to be
appointed by the speaker of the
house, and two citizens of the state
al large, to be appointed by the gov
.e1nor; and of the five members OF
this commission at least two shall be
sttorneys-at-law, in good standing and
Of recognized ability.
i Sec. 5. The state tax commission
shall have power to compel the at
f tendance of witnesses by subpoena
and shall hold at least one public
hearing at each county seat in the
state. 1t shall be the duty Of said
commission to examine and study the
laws Of other states to better enable
Ii to present appropriate legislation.
The members of.said commission shall
hold office for q period of one year
and shall make a. report of their ac-
tons and recommendations to the gov
e.nor at the close of the year. The
members of said commission shall be
appointed within one month from the
passage of this act and shall hold
tl'eir first meeting at Santa Fe. in the
state OF New Mexico, not later than
two months after the passage of this
act.
Sec. 4. In the event of vacancy on
said commission, by death, resignation
or otherwise. such vacancy shall be
hlled by appointment, to be made by
the governor, within 20 days after he
shall have been advised thereof. The
members of said commission shall
serve without pay.
0SS' ~ AASAS 40 ACiCDy :
ed the sum of five thousand ($5OOO)
collars out of the public funds of the
state, not otherwise appropriated, to
defray the expenses of travelling,
clerk hire, stenographer and other in.
cidental expenses.
Sec. 5. That it is necessary for the :
preservation of the public peace and {
safety of the inhabitants of the state l
OF New Mexico. that the provisions of
this act shall become effective at the /.
earliest possible moment, and there ,
fore an emergency is hereby declared /,
to exist. and this act shall take effect )
from and after Its passage. Is
State Senator A. J. Evans introduc- !
ca a bill this morning to prevent the Is
tntermarFfage of Negroes and Mon )