The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1915-04-17

the property In each county by COM
potent men. practically becomes en-
fcntinl. That this. or any part OF u.
can be accomplished In tho time
available Is ~ course impossible. II
seems probable that a deficit for the
fourth fiscal year is to be expected.
Tho commission may be able 20
set action By the fifth fiscal year
although Il must meet the third Mon
day In November. 1915, to fix values
for that year. And with the money
available for It's expenses there ~
reason 10 fear that "a year OF opera
ton will not greatly advance It's fund
OF actual knowledge as to valuations
aud property escaping taxntion. The
commission Owe and above the sular-
les of>the five members. has $4,000
a year. for all its purposes. From
this u must pay the salary ~ the sec
Rotary. his assistants. office expense
ana printing. which a conservative
estimate places at $4,000 a year. The
travelling expense and per diem % tho
commissioners must be prtd from
Ithis FUND. which at tho moderate rate
of 50 per day for 90 days for five
memhcrs makes fg.250 more. leaving
To- tho commission the muuificont
sum Of $3.50 a yea for carrying ON
field work. requiring expert service,
In 20 counties. Thus the haudicaps
] upon the commission. ms We'll as the
magnitude Of Ia job, are evident. The
state Taxpayers league now being or
~fanizcd may prove Of some assistance
To- the commission later on, hut can
help Il not at all In meeting the inn
mediate needs Of n assessment 90
produce event FOR the fourth fiscal
year.
The first work of tho commission
next week WIN be Ia hear the repre-
acntntivcn OF the raiiroads upon the
$9,sGn. 000 increase which has been
made on their property. chiefly the
mileage IN New Mexico. Railroad
assessment total for 1914 was xST,-
32S.Si2. Az nxcd by the commission.
suhjcct To this hearing. for ial5. Il
~ f9G, $50. 1O5, an increase OF S9.592.-
3G3. The balance Of the total corpo-
rate property increase 81 st0.099.i 22
~ upon Pullman. express, telephone
ana telegraph lines. The only reduc-
tion on main line railroad mileage Is
on the New Mcxic0 Central. which N
cut from $1,000 10 a3.5O0 a mile. The
~ Paso aud southwestern and Rock
Island main lines arc raised from
$4,000 To $4,000 per mile. The
Colorado and southern ia raised from
{ea,S50 to t2s, 235. tho Denver and
Rio Grandc ~ advanced {G30 per
mile. The Santa Re. which. with III
great mileage, gets the heaviest
r%aises. 81 advanced on the Bclen cut
or from $4,000 To $4,000 per mile
on tho Pccua valley lines from Si9.-
$50 to tsi,2S5; on the coast lines,
from Stg.b00 10 s5i.fb0: and ON the
main line north Of Albuquerque from
f2i,gb0 to f3b,1t5 per mile. a totaI
OF sGtG.00n is the increase made on
Santa Fc terminals. Of which the tive
principal Items are from 5000. 600 a.
1000. 600 at Albuquerque. $4,000
incrcaHo at Ration and $i5O,000 at
Clovis.
Ii has been indicated that tho rail
roads Will make a united fighI
against The raise. The roads did mo-
contest the Increases OF last rear, buI
Il is said that the assessment per mile
on the Santa Fc's Pccos valley line IA
almost double that ON the same line
as II comes out OF and runs back
into Texas; that tho coast lines are
higher than tho sbme line, double.
tracked, IN Arizona; that the line
north Qf Albuquerque is considerably
higher than the same line In Colradt
anu that similar conditions are true
as regards the Rock Island where II
enters Kansas, and the III Paso 4
southwestern where It runs int,
Texas and from New Mexico into Ari,
IONA. II ia reported that tho rail
roads will undertake to show th'
commission that whereas Il In posi-
Bile To raise their property aud othel
property easily accessible. II viii no
be possible for the commission e
make similar raises ON other clnssc.
Of property for the present or the
coming year. and hat discrimination
results.
The commission, Il Is understood
Will definitely fll the Office OF sec
rotary by olectlng former State TRAY
cling Auditor Howell Ernest 90 tina
position, n also will appoint hi
assistants and whatever field fore
may be determined ON.