The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1914-08-01
The Tax Dodger and
New Mexico's Revenues


Editor Evening Herald.
City.
Dear Sir. IL was with considerable
iateresi ihat Tifead your editorial on
the county tax rolls In THURSDAY
evenings Herald. and am glad you
are taking q stand against the propos-
ed amendment OF the constitution. 1
heartily agree with YOU In your com
mendation of the efficiency of the
state board 81 equalization ana IL APP
pears to me that there Is no way In
which you could serve h people OF
this state better han by an active
campaign against that amendment.
This amendment was proposed By
professional lobbyists representing
special interests desiring TO escape
taxation and was passed b. the legis-
lature at their request. Constitution
al amend ments do not require the APP
provai Of the governor In order 10 he
submitted and that, ] believe. Is the
only reasoa why II is being submitted,
because ! am confident that u gov
ernor would never have approved the
submission of this amendment. There
II no man In this state today who has
made as careful n study OF the tax
situation ~ Governor Mcdonald and,
undoubtedly. he knows fun well that
the main idea in amending that ar
ticle of the constitution Is 10 enable
certain Interests "a escape taxation.
Am glad that you stand up for as
SCISSORS. d ~ easy enough for people
10 blame the assessors because the
assessments are too small.
II Is natural for people to blame
someone else Tor things hat go wrons.
Il i just az much the sworn Outs
Of a taxpayer 10 make an honest re-
turn Of his property for taxation as
Il is for the assessor to take that re-
turn.
And the taxpayer is In a better po-
sition 10 xuow the truth about his
holdings and property generally than
the assessor Is.
n the people Of this state would be
honest In returning their property for
taxation, there would be no cause To
complain OF the aasessor. Z
The trouble Is that We an believe
In an honest return for taxation Of
all property-the other fellows prop
erty. ! do not consider u tax law
as perfect. but u our revenues are IN
adequate 10 meet the expenses Of u
government. IL Is the fault Of the lax
dodgers and not Of the tax law. II
property were honestly returned I'M
der the present tax law, We could re-
duce The tax rate very materially and
the revenues OF The state would be
adequate.
II We are 10 correct this tax mat
ter. let Us correct II where u needs
correction.
Don't. Mr., Taxpayer, Try TO blame
your officials FOR this. You give an
honest return Of your tax and then
see that the money Is properly ex-
pended and you viii md that you
won't have 10 Kick 90 much about the
assessors or about our tax law.
You Just send men 90 the leeisla-
ture who are opposed 10 paying four
thousand dollars a year 90 an officer
who subjects the Office 20 aomeone
for a thousand or twelve hundred and
pockets the balance. You see 20 u
that you do not elect men so repre-
sent YOU who pas out all your money
u~seleasly and who are not In favor OF
paying a public onleer for actual ser
vices. but consider that public on
Gers must he subsidized In payment
for political activity.
Plainly speaking. don't vote for .
man who thinks All osacer who cant
earn over Two shonaand dollars a year