The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1915-02-13

~ h record Of the legialatiss
session. has pointed 20 the practical
wasting Of flyc whole weeks o. sae
session ~ tho Kepublcan majority
in a prosram Of political h~erseplay;
IN . same 81 peanut rolling In which
she SALARIES Of a few Influential sher-
lno and t~reasarers and clerks have
been the peanuts and which game
has utterly ahreroed he whole time
and attention ~ he Republicans
We have roihsea u that the vital
legislation OF thIs session. taxation
and revenue. has been showed back
% the closing days when All manner
Of cosnpllcations threaten Il.
From n strictly partisan standpoint
no Democrat can object 20 the Re
publican legislative majorlty's course
In making an ass Of itself. That the
said majority has succeeded in doing
just that during the past few weeks
several Of lie most influential mem
bers now freely admit. while nearly
M q them realize II.
Bur this question Of a taxation sys-
TEN n biggor nan any partisan ad-
vantage ana until Il Ia disposed Of
every biz u partisan feeling should
be put aside; the members Of the
legislature should forget they are
Democrats or Republicans in dealing
with this subject and remember only
hat they are Representatives Of the
citizens u New Mexico. II the =
ton question is approached in this
attitude there stnl 10 ample time 20
produce a sysitm as fair and IA eff
Client as any nVw In use In he union.
Charles a Spices and Charles
Springer are generally considered the
two most influential men IN santa Fe
70 far as the Legislative majority IN
concerned. Afr. Spices hn declared
himself in favor OF constructive legis-
latlon and G fair taxation system. IN
an Interview in M Herald. only
this week Mr.. Springer expresses de-
slres a. regards the taxation system
which coincide exactly with the
wishes OF the people-an equitable
distribution Of the burden and an ef-
ficicnt administrative system.
The Herald IL convinced that Mr..
Clark IN the senate and Judge Mann
In the house has presented a set Of
bills constituting a taxation system
which they believe fair and best suit
cd To the needs OF this state.
Undoubtedly this system is not per-
feet. Undoubtedly Il has defects. All
taxation systems have. But It's main
framework seems sound. II provides
n strong central body which ls es-
~sential. with arbitrary powers which
are necessary. II IL constructed from
some OF the best sections OF the best
OF the state taxation systems. Mr.
Clark 10 the chairman OF the senate
finance committee and one Of Ia
most influential members. Judge
Mann Is the majority floor leader Of
the house. rhey are in a position "a
give this legislation the impetus II
needs. In fact Il can be stopped only
by positive and very powerful OBJ.
struction from outside the legislative
membership.
Il Is 70 be hoped that obstruction
will not appear. II Il does the fixine
Of responsibility for II should be q
comparatively simple matter; and th'
people are so vitality interested in thii
legislation that they win insist upor
responsibility being definitely fixed
where Il belongs.
what the situation at Santa ~
needs. as regards the taxation legis'
Iation. lie first an utter elimination ol
partisan political advantage; and
second an elimination OF personal in.
terests: an attitude on the part Of th'
members OF the assembly which VII
shed this kind OF influence as a duck
back sheds water. with this kins
OF an attitude there Ia still plenty O.
time 10 enact a sound, healthy taxa
ton and revenue system. M undeI
which this state a grow and pros
per The enactment OF such a system
would prove Of value 70 th'
Republican party; Just as failure q
enact such a system win deliver u
that party the hnal kick.
The welfare 81 New Mexico Is a fal
more important thing 10 atl OF "a
thai any partisan advantage. Tn
Herald, along with the rest Of th'
everyday people o. this state. hopes
that the majority will check th'
hnrsepiay ana wire puilins n pea.
NM rollins. while there IL vet iim'
20 do the right thlng.