The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1915-03-04
R~EruBLIoAN PROMISES,

NNUANEM ~ AnE NNNf|N"AN 49,"
1 elected upon a partx platform
which pledged them and their party
10 the enactment Of taxation and
revenue laws which would bring
about a resarn Of a " property az
actual value, a limitation Of taxation
10 one Pc cent, over al, and an ABB
solute equalization q the tax burden
beiaeen the rich and the poor. the
powerful and che helpless. These
were not the words; but this raj the
meanihS.
Il il noes apparent that no such
legislation Is 20 be enacted: for the
taxation and revenue measures upon
which the men who rule The legisla-
ture appear 20 ave agreed. while
making a pretense az obtaining the
ENDS outlined n the Republican
pledge. in reality do not come any
where near those ends. II Is, In ef-
feet. a re.enactmcnt Of the old terri
toriaI board Of equalization, with
some additional apparent powers.
which when sIfted become quite idle
proslnlons Of law. when applied 20
tire grave situation existing In this
state.
one Of the most powerful Republi-
can leaders IN a statement before the
house taxation committee this week
contributed the interesting informa-
sion that while he. personally. Ia
vored a strong central taxing author
ity which would reach these ends. he
feared IL was now too late in the ses-
sion TO obtain the legislation desired.
DO you see the situation now. Mr..
small Taxpayer
n seems a conservative statement
10 say that there are four men in the
lobby az santa re. Republican lead
err all Of them; three of them con-
nected with powerful corporations.
who have and have had from the
opening OF This session the power 20
pass any legislation which they de-
sired 20 pass. Had these men wished
to have pissed a strong and effective
taxation and revenue law they could
have passed Il. by their control oyer
the Republican two-thirds majority,
with very Iittle effort; less EFFORT than
they have often put forth In the past
for the passage Of some little meas
ure Of private interest and advan'
tage.
just how powerful these four mer
really are. Is shown In their abiIit,
Co keep even discussion Of taxation
and revenue legislation u OF IN
actual sessions Of either house. an'
out Of atzcussion In committee rooms
Untls tae last two weeks OF the ses
sion. when with all the trades an'
complications of a whole session be
hind, and with the appropriation
measures ahead. they are absolutel'
safe against possibility Of inaurree
ton.
Now. whe their Interests" arr
rafeguarded. n when the iegisla
ton they have promised the people
and which the state 30 gravely need
IL properly "buttonsd up they bold.
y announce themselves for this taxa
tior, and revenue legislation. but poin
out to ,he intelligent %populace tina
M muilsh. irresponsible, unreliable
Republican members Of the h0asi
and senate. always ready 10 violate
their campaign pledges 20 the people
refuse 70 pass the taxation aud rev
enue legislation which the b%enevolon
leaders desire and which the need.
Of the state demsnd.
Having protected themselves ans
established the certain o-ontinuatiol
81 The old system OF rtax dodEinl
made easy these clever gentlemen
promptly unload the blame upon th'
individual Republican members VIII
they have used. and leave It 10 thesn
individuals 20 go home and explaii
90 their constituents as best theS
can.
II Is d swell system. - is not new
n has been worked by these sam
men before and just AZ openly AM
brazonly Al this stage Of the gam
these gentlemen smile broadly ant
assert conndenuaily what are yol
going to do about M"
The answer is apparent Not onii
the people of his state nave beet
ncked and siung. but he individual
members OF the Republican major
ityi some 81 them az least men Wit
honestly wished 10 carry out thei
pledges 10 the people. aave beel
lricked. stung and left TO like Il am
90 make out with their people a
home the best they car.
We have been asked BY cerlail
readers why m Herald dweiis .
p~eraistentiy on the Republican taxa