Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1915-03-29
Newly Created Taxing Body Is.
Having All Sorts of Trouble
in Getting Property on the.
Rolls,
PROVISIONS OF LAW
ARE AGAIN SET FORTH
Ample Power Given by Statute
for Assessment and CoIIec-
ton of Revenues From All.
Sources,


SPECIAL ooRREsPonpEncE TO MORNING JOURNAL
Santa Fe, March 2S.-Is New Mex
ico mistaken about the wealth it be-
lieves is to be found within the state?
Judging from preliminary reports re-
oeiyed from assessors throughout the
state, this almost appears to be the
case, for they protest, without excep-
ton, that they are unable TO find the
extra property which the tax commits
which should be on the tax rolls.
"Show us" they declare in one voice,
"and we will put it on the assessment
rolls 1t is true that here and there
piece Of real estate or a maverick or
ram have escaped assessment, but in
most cases they would have been
eliminated by the 5000 exemption law
anyway, and the aggregate does not
reach a million, much less the S125,-
100000 that the tax commission wants
us to find. The property that does es-
cape taxation consists of stocks and
bonds, of cash and mortgages. Of
notes ana bank deposits and that we
cannot get at or trace to the owner
There is therefore renewed interest
in the Bursum tax law and its appli-
cation. The limitations it places on
the tax rate make necessary an in
creased assessment or there will be fl
nancial trouble not only for the state
but for the counties, municipalities,
schools.
Doubt as TO Pcrca.
It is not yet known who will sue
coed Jose l.. Perea as member of the
tax commission created by the Bur-
sum law In fact. he has not yet re-
signed, at least, his resignation is not
yet officially announced The tax
commission therefore still exists Of
John w. Poe, of Roswell, president,
a banker and man of great wealth;
George l.. Ulrich, of Carrizozo, also a
banker and man of wealth; Felix Gar
cia, of Lumberton, Rio Arriba county
q wealthy stockman-all democrats
Jose L. Perea, of Socorro, deputy
county official and Herbert w. Clark
of Las Vegas, an attorney who per
haps, more than any Of the otheI
members, has made study OF taxa
ton and taxation methods. The TWO
latter are republicans. These appoint
ments were confirmed by the senate
despite the provision of the Bursun
tax law that the appointees shall eacr
be "a representative of some of tht
principal industries" The commits
sioners shall hold office for two years
and each one receives a salary OF W
per day for each day engaged IN tr'
performance of official duty, as wei
as reasonable travelling and hotel en-
penses. providing that no session shal
exceed ten days and no COMMISSIONS
shall in the aggregate receive com
pensaton for more than ninety day.
annually. The sum of $4,5OO IS aP
propriate1 for pay and expenses o
commissioners and $l2,OOO anhudiil
for clerical help and other expenses
Former Travelling Auditor Hover
Earnest has been appointed enc
clerk and is assisted by his torule
assistant Walter L. Kegel with MIS-
Ormsbee as stenographer, their SAL
aries still to be fixed by the commls
zion.
Officers are being fitted up ior t,''
commission on the third floor o. V'i'
capitol building and there the com
missioners are to hold regular meet
ings on the third Mondays OF Fehru
airy, July, September and NoNei'lD1
of each year Special meetihss I,i"
be called at other places ana o'"e
dates.
Hearings on Valuations
The commission at its first meetIll
determined the actual valuation -
property belonging to railroads 'e,e
graph, telephone, express, sieeP'i
car and transmission companies an
has set April 20 as the date Ior iie'r
ing protests against such valuation
the future, the law provides, 'iIo9
values shall be determined at the reg
ular meeting in November. me Ndiu
alton placed on the railroads loi
year is $96,920.705, an increase % 70
500, 1863 over last year: on telesI@p
lines, $517,G05, an increase OF Va ~, ~
ever last year: telephone $h"o i'''
HI increase OF "a " w - 40
express, $S1,19O, an increase Of tS'
Ole over last year; Pullman ~ -
290, an increase of S204,42b over ' "a,
year. Decreases were decreed III ~
assessment of the New MeNieo W.,
trail of $4O4,950; the Cimarron or'I ~,
Df the Santa Re, $4,000, and tne ~
Grande & Pagosa Springs ra, ,l o co
$500. 1t is also the duty o. 'liv ~
commission to determine ana 49,
y the assessors of the several Gu,
rs the actual value Of cattle no' ''
Weep, goats and other liVesl"cN
Mine regular appeal day shaIi ~
regular meeting in July no Io'
hnty shall be required for app
% Nm the action of the county o"''' y
~ 1t the reason for such appear az
~ description and assessed Value
e property affected thereby mus
- ainly stated on the face oil .''e at,
val. This must be sworn to IN VII