The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1915-02-09
Managing Director Of Big Col
fax County Coal Pfoprties
Says Mining Interests
Should be Given Square Deal
CORPORATIONS SHOULD
PAY FOR PRIVILEGES
Production Tax on Mines, He
Thinks, Most Likely TO Serve
Existing Conditions and
Promote Development.
lstnts CapiiEl Burcah
fof Evening Herald.
l1l dc Nnrnna llnlnl

lstnte CapifEi nuFcan
fof Evening Herald.
isi De Vargas floiri.
Santa Fe. \. NJ, Fob. a.--chariea
Springer of Ration. treasurel and
chairman Of the board Of directors
of the -. Louis Rocky Mountain and
| Pacific Coal company. REGARDED here
as the representative Of New Mexico
coat mining interests and whose
Views both as the representative 81
large property Interests and ~ an In
fiuential Republican leader undoubt-
edly will have IN important bearfpg
upon the shaping of the pending tnx
alton and revenue legislation. gave
an Interview to the Herald today ii
which he stated briefly his attitude
upon the general taxation situation
and toward the legislation being con
Hidered, and especially upon the tax
alton OF coal and other mining prop
critics.
"The enactment Of proper laws for
the assessment and collection Of
taxes appears 10 be the mos; import
ant matter before the legislature,
said Mr. Springer
81 do not think the people are par
ticulariy Interested IN knowing my
views on She subject. bnt slRce you
have asked mo for them I will auy
thai I believe thcTc should BE- laws
lcnacted and enforced which viii shift
the burdens of texhiion 70 tar az u
n possible 20 do so by loElslnficn
from the shoulders OF the farmer
ranchHsn and owners of small pr0lf
critics and homes 20 those who ~,
better able 70 bear them.
II believe In a state license tax a.
franchise tax upon all corporations
Corporations. which are BY law al-
lowed privileges and lmfnunlties noI
enjoyed by individual citizens. ufid
particularly express companies. tcic-
lgraph and sleeping car companies
and other foreign corporations which
; have little properly sn the state. but
which derive large revenue from
business done here. should in som"
/ way be made to pay proper tax g.
the state fOr such privileges.
The state needs AN efficient tax
, c0nlmisaiOn or some good system for
assessment and collection OF taxer
which Will compel every taxpayer a.
return and pay tases upon every dol
4 lars worth OF property owned In tht
D state. II the levies made by "a,
q state and by the counties and munie
q ipalties could be examined and sub
! iectcd TO the approval u a good taa
cOmmission. Il might prevent the
ltrouble We have had from unlawful
= and erroneous leyies. and might re-
a suit in holding levies down 90 they
G would bo just sufficient for an propef
4 purposes aud not create a large sur
u plus in any fund. such surplus fund.
z generally tend TO extravaneanc LEA 40
proprintions and expenditures.
= "lf all properties and franchise
\ shall be fully and properly assessef
and taxes promptly collected thcr
will be plenty % revenue for an ie
n climate purposes and the tax leslsl
will be much lower than at present
What do think about taxes upoi
, coal companies ana mines?
Well ! am interested IN some Coa
a mines and also IN some metal min
prospects aud thiak coal companio'
:, aud mining companies aud propcrtic,
:, should be taxed the same AZ others
! that such taxes should be levied viii
u view 10 making every one pay hr
. fair proportion and not 60 favor o
punish anyone nor 30 as to discour
ase enterprise.
X ~ is very difncuit % determia
4 VIZ hNAA' ~ lNAtANNn NfAWNftANNNHa 80
~ owners themselves never know wis
'e their property Is worth until they ~
the minerals out and sell them. Thl
applics 20 the coal properties as W.
ms To motal mines Much of tbs hn'
cinssed as coal land by the geologic
survey aud the map makers nrf
out, after costly investigation by dti
mond drili aud tunnel work, ~
barren ground, or 10 contain COIL p
m much disturbed by dikes, rolls az
faults that IL cannot be- profitahl
mined Again, minerals IN land nln
be practically worthless heeausn ii
a" property II too tar from railroads ar
L there II no way 90 set the produ.
a. To market such circumstance a'
generally considered by the taxh
officials and boards OF equaiisai'a
. la hSing valuations OF coal lands ai
mines for taxation. There are %
= stances however. IN New McNlc
where supposed coat land has b..
. taxed 50 high that the owners ron
not pay ANA the unpaid taxes NJ
= amount 10 more Than the property
. worth. No one will buy the TAX 90
iincHtcs gnd a. result the state 5,
= no tax from those lands.
In other eases the land may pro
more valuable az development ~
= ceeds and be found 20 contain mo