The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1915-12-30

HNf 10" ~ y H0@t'o ~" "
eanlsed last September there
wers those who looked upon the
moveme IL not with dlsiasor, st
least with Indifference. and who cx-
pressed the belief tina il would go
way u many voluntary public
movements which have Tor sheir oh
iects the bettermcnt Of the public
service. such an attitude was not
entirely unreasonable. for many
worthy movements. begun with hon-
est enthusiasm by New Mexico clti-
zens have die after The nrst flush 81
enthusiasm has faded.
Fortunately for this particular or
sanisatssn Il was launched ey bust
ness men and not BY politicians, Its
plan and organization were kept free
from political Influence and direction.
in spite OF several determined efforts
TO inject politics into The association.
and Il was placed upon a sound basis
of practical business.
Having financed the work Of the
association. through the voluntary
memberships Of taxpayers large and
small and from every county n dis
iricf In the state. the manasng hoerd
ngain was fortunate in being able TO
secure fcr the executive position OF
director a student Of taxation matters
and az expert n tax administration.
who fas sbundsnt theory. sound
knowledge and a backing Of practical
common sense. such a man Is the
only n who could have made the
worn Of the association succcssful and
The organization was peculiarly for
tunafe In that the man for the Job was
available.
The director OF the tax association
Mr.. James. tool charge OF the work
IN the middle Of October. County tax
ievlcs sander the new tax laws were
just being prepared. The county com.
m~isrioners of nearly every county
were AZ sea as to Interpretation OF tho
laws. What amounted to taxation
chaos existed throughout the state
The situation was more than serious.
II was dangerous
Through M active cooperation Of
Governor Mcdonald and the state tax
commission Mr.. Jsmes was able TO
have before him every county tax
levy. Moreover. the need for the as
sociation was shown In the willing
ness and even cagerness with which.
a majority OF the county taxing ON.
ciais accepted the advice and rusges-
lions o. the expert
The result az the submission Of.
the levses. and the following OF the ex-
pert advice given. has been regular
legal, uniform levies throughout the
state; whereas but for the existence
Of the Taxpayers association there
would have been irresrlsrity. Illegal
ity and long and costly tax litigation
In every county In the state The uui-
formity IN tho ieytes and in interpre-
iation Of the new tax laws = the as
sociation's hrsi great service 90 New.
Mexico. That alone would Justify rs.
existence and it's expense when
there "a added 40 this thc fact that.
suggestions made by the associations
expert. followed by county taxing
officials, have saved the taxpayers of.
this state more than x3O0 600 in taxes
which otherwlse would have been lew
led aud collected. n Is easy 20 see that
the Taxpayer Association 81 NeW
Mexico. within four months Of 10 or
sanitation. has made good with al
force N sweepins effect almost un-
~precedented in the records Of similar
organizations
The president ~ the association. "a
J. Hagerman. Of Roswell the mem
beers Of he executive board ana IL
officers are swing freely 81 their time
and effort and ability 10 he work
without ans compensation. Tn. woikl
Of the association has just begun. Itl
has produced remarkable Results th.sl
far, Properly supported by taypay,
generally, and with IT, work nrm-
ly backed up Il viii move on 20 notl
oniy savings but real intelligent re-
In the revenue system of this
state which as they are brought a%eoutl
viii automatically correct some OF uiel
most neiious evils ssainst which Newl
nov contends.
II Is fair now 10 assert that the
raxDaysrs' association has JUSTIFIED its
,xifienoe. Il b. fair nov 10 ask any
axpayer who really wishes ior BETTER
axation conditions aud greater EN-
lcncy IN public service. who has not