The copper era and Morenci leader., 1914-09-04
A NOTED AUTHORITY
GIVES HIS OPINION
ON NEW LAWS
Professor of Political Economy in
Cornell University Writes to Ari-
zona Taxpayers Association About
Initiated Laws in this State.

Professor Alvin Saunders Johnson,
of the department of political economy
of Cornell university, has been asked
by the Arizona Taxpayers association
to give his opinion of several laws
to be submitted to the people at the
coming election. Professor Johnson
is one of the best known and most
widely quoted economists in the coun-
try. He wrote the treatise on eco
nonics in the New international En-
cyclopedia and is the author of many
books on economics and political
science.
Discussing the proposed taxation
law to be submitted to the people of
Arizona, Professor Johnson says:
From the text of the act, I should
judge that the sole reliance for valu-
alton Is to be placed upon self as
sessment, under the possible penalty
of appropriation by the state at the
valuation given. If this is true, the
plan will almost certainly prove un-
workable; it will further give rise to
the most serious form Of inequality
in taxation. The small property hold
er, with his entire investment in one
parcel of property, which may easily
be taken by the state, will be inclined
to assess such property at it's full
value, while large property holders
over a large amount of property at
any time, will fix low assessment,
trusting to compensation through low
taxes, for risk of state assumption of
some part of their holdings.
/ "The plan is further certain to
give rise to blackmail. Large corpor-
ations unpopular with the people, will
either have to fix valuations higher
than generally prevail, or make pri-
yate arrangements with the politicians
'1 suppose that you are aware of
the fact that in the eighteenth and
early centuries, many European coun-
tries employed this plan, in modified
form, in the administration of GUS
toms duties. The state held itself
free to take any goods at their de-
lclared value The abuses arising un-
| der the plan-corruption of officials
and loss of revenues-were so great
that it has been everywhere abolish
ed The only road to just and equal
taxation lies in the direction of the
organization of a body of expert ap-
praisers, protected by civil service
rules from local and personal influ-
ence With such a system, there
could be no harm in an auxiliary pro-
vision empowering the state to take
such property as it might require at
the valuations fixed for taxation pur-
poses.
/ Discussing the eighty per cent law,
professor Johnson SAYS:
! Under the provisions of this act it
would be unsafe for any employer to
hire non-citizens even up to the
twenty per cent limit, since at any
time the retirement of citizens might
place him technically in contravention
of the law. In effect, the law would
very seriously curtail chances of en-
state in the particular fields where
they are most useful for development
purposes rough work on railways, ir-
rigation works, about mines, etc. The
field that would be open to them would
Tbe the small enterprises employing
less than five workers.
] "Such interference with the free
movement of labor could hardly fail
to have an unfavorable effect upon the
economic development of the state. If
the social problem of foreign working
is serious; locally, the economic cost
may be worth assuming"
! Referring to the anti-blacklisting
law, Professor Johnson says:
with the purpose of the act,
am, of course, heartily in sympathy.
The method proposed seems to me
inexpedient.
1T Is important for the worker and
! for society that a record for honesty
and efficiency should count in secur-
ing employment. The act prohibits
the employment of a good record for
this purpose. 1t is, moreover, doubt
full whether it would attain its end in
discouraging blacklisting. Employers
would have no considerable difficulty
in spite of the provision of. this act,
in Identifying men who had been
prominent in labor troubles.
'1f were to propose measure for
limiting evils of blacklisting, I should
records, which are necessary for any
the assumption by the state of the
vestigating the fairness of reports
made by employers, etc. With this
work taken over by the state, an
iempIoyer could assure himself OF
the reliability of workman without
knowing the name of single previous
employer. Private records, communi-
Gated from employer to employer,
would then exist only for purposes
of blacklisting, and could be properly
prohibited by law"
Professor Johnsons observations
and recommendations are worthy OF
the careful study and thought of the
intelligent citizenship of this state.
He has made special study of laws
designed to benefit the working men
and is in a position to give impartial
advice on the effect of proposed meas
ures which have that object in view.
PuIIio oninion "a to tha slit skirt Is