The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1914-08-07
Favors State Taxing Board


Editor Herald;
In your editorial OF this day duly
S0th) you state that an amendment
!" the constitution OF New Mexico
VIII go before the people IN Novem-
Der which, should u be adopted
would abolish the state board Of
equalization, OF course who ever has
contfived the abolition Of this branch
OF our state government must have in
View something better 10 %supplant u.
What can IL be? Undoubtedly our
system OF assessing needs correction.
Further on you lay the fault to
what you term The Republican Ma
chine and claim that good Repuoli-
cans have been sent To the legislature
In the past-men who have striyen
honestly for taxation rcform-but
have been hopelessly powerless
a~gainst the Republican Machine In
conclusion o advance as a remedy
tho election Of a solid Democratic
house; composed Of free. untrnmelled
men who can go about The business
OF remaking our taxation system: M
deferred by q single obligation" string
or boss.
Mr., Editor, I am and always have
been a stanch Republican. and al
though ! viii not promise to vote a
Democratic ticket | viii state that "
YOUR statement n correct and We "A
not obtain taxation ana assessment
reform because of what you claim the
pitiful slavery Of Republican mem
bers Of the legislature To boss rule, /
will hail with delight n sweeping
TpSmqeLatic victory at the polls. But
that what you term "E~ossnHtor DIFF
not so much 10 do with this faulty
N system ~ assessing property az t. ap-
pears. There seems to be something
wrong with the method OF assessine.
? The fact OF the matter Is that the
public function Of assessing property
IL n complicated business proposition.
that should be handled by experts, OF
In other words men capable for the
900 and to DO this It can only be done
properly by the state. | do not mean
% by this that the county assessor OF
4, county boards of equalization should
Dc done away with: they could act
In a subordinate capacity 10 a stat,
. assessing commission. u should ID
4 the function OF the state assessing
commission 10 ascertain the value
. and acreage Of an lands In Cverj
! county in the state OF all descrip'
tions. and apportion same or rathe'
. list same "a the counties when sit.
uated for assessment, tho sta'c nn'
counties 10 levy the tax for state ant
: county taxes on exactly the same as.
. sessment. No county assessor ol
{ county board Of equalization 20 have
o the right to alter the same without
the consent Of the state body or boar'
. II state assessors. assessing commits
sion.D
I All railroads. telesraphs, telephones
a water works and al corporations a
every description should be assessed
by the state body. and apportion &
each county rs share OF the taNaol
value for county revenue.
K The county assessors should be al
a lctted the task ot assessing al per
sonal property In his county, 40 wei
as town lots and improvements II
towns and cities. end this assessmen
n " be- applied for the expenses Of IN
cities and counties whore said assess
ment is made.
Now Mr.. Editor II we would havI
," his system OF assessing. 8. e., Ga stail
assessing board It would u%ndoubted
x Is send out 20 ZACH county emplnye
who would know how 10 assess land
and al kinds OF big business. n II
that case there would not De "a repiii
ton 81 the assessment OF Luna count
where the farcinl and outrageous re
turns for an agricultural land as as
sessed were given "a only 2,29T acres
!" OF 81 put in one patch would max
ls less than two miles square when o.
4. isl8 the same assessor returned 20.
O2g acres Of agricultural lands. Abou
the same style of assessing was don
In Chayes county.
IL In admitting this article ! do 4
IA with the expectation that others vi
n give their views on this momeHtou
matter that h. surely %retafding IA
. growth Of our state.
NJ II my views are considered favor
id able or partially 40 : further sugge'
is for h carrying out OF taxation -
form. the formation 81 assessing an
taxation leagues which, Of oouts'
should nave 10 select or propose IN
e. proper members Of the legislator
a. that not only would be ~ Ia iegi,
late for taxation reform, but also Ia
running the state government ecor
az omlcally and shortening tht session
e. Of the legislature.
Let us try and get down 10 business
Yours truly,
ny n. GLEASON.
anu.a.war.a Ans 49, fNfa