Las Vegas optic. (East Las Vegas, N.M.) 1908-1921, 1913-02-19
TIME is GROWING SHORT
BUT THE soLoNs APPEAR TO BE
CONFIDENT OF FINISHING
WORK CUT OUT FOR THEM.
SALARY BILL IS IN DOUBT
ITS FATE IN UPPER HOUSE IS
PRoBLEMATlcAL; GOVERNOR
EXPECTED TO VETO 1T.

Santa Pc, N. NJ, Feb. Neither
house of the New Mexico legislature
was in session today and the day was
a quiet one about the capitol. Sew
eraI committees are hard at work on
pending legislation but for the mo-
ment, it seems that almost major
ity of the members of both hou es
are busy at the Scottish Rite cath
edral where the various lodges Of
that branch of the Masonic frater-
nifty in New Mexico are holding
their annual reunion end initiating
large classes Of novices.
The senate was in session yester-
day afternoon for only . few min
utes after which it adjourned to
meet Thursday afternoon at 2. A
number Of important measures were
introduced. among them one by Sena-
tor Champion which is designed to
make vast improvement in the tax
alton system OF New Mexico. BY the
terms of the proposed bill the state
board Of equalization is given almost
unlimited powers to the end that it
may ascertain the true value Of all
property coming under its jurisdic-
tioc for the purposes Of taxation.
The board is given power to sum
mon witnesses. administer oaths ana
to call for persons and papers.
When the true value OF the prop
erty in question is obtained the board
is authorized to place a valuation Of
one-third or 80 1-s per cent upon it
for the purpose Of taxation. SINH
lar powers are conferred upon boards
Of county commissioners with refer
ence to the fixing Of value upon prop
erty coming within their Jurisdiction.
Senator Crampton's bill is design
ed to relieve a dangerous situation
now confronting the state ana which
threatens it with the temporary loss
Of all taxation revenr from rail-
roads, express and sleeping car lines
and other corporations as well as
from the owners of range horses.
cattle and sheep.
This situation is caused by the fact
that the board Of equalization has so
construed the law as to require it 10
assess the classes of property com-
ing under its jurisdiction at its ao-
tual and true value. The public SER
vice corporations and other property
owners have threatened to take the.
matter itno court on the ground that
they are being Disseminated asai1sss.
because Of the fact that private prop
erty is not required 70 pay taxes on
its fun value.
The county salary pit. again failed
10 make its appearance in the sem
ate yesterday and it is now predict
ed that it will come up on Thursday
afternoon. Meanwhile many anxious
offlceholders are camping in Santa
Fe hoping for something to come up.
There seems to be an excellent
chance that the senate win pass the
bill substantially as It came from
the house but there is growing be-
lief that the bill viii be vetoed BY
Governor Mcdonald. IN this case the
possibility Of carrying it over the e.
ecutive disapproval is, to say the
least, remote. The governors ideas
Of salary bill are said to be en-
bodied IN the measure introduced
last week in the senate By Secretary
Mccoy. It is said that this bill calls
for an annual expenditure of some
$4,000 more than the bill introduced
in the house and senate by the Joint
finance committee. the iucrease pef
ing due to the moro libeFal ailewanee
for deputies "a ne socalied eoy
ernor's bin the saiAsls 81 the alfles