El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1915-04-17

X ANITA FE, y. N, April IA brief
talk with the secretary Of the new
- state tax commission furnishes be-
wildering evidence Of the magnitude
Of the task which co1fronts that body
in putting into operation the states
new system OF assessment OF propertv
upon the basis OF actual value, and
with maximum limit Of mills for
producing revenue necessary for state
purposes and TO meet provisions Of the
last general appropriation bill for the
fourth and fifth fiscal years.
This task the commission will take
up at Its meeting on Monday, when IL
begins its second session OF 10 days.
The first enabled It to get but a pre-
nminary and general view Of the field
before II. This second meeting is ex-
pected TO result in permanent organiza-
rlon and working basis. How effec-
tive this working basis can be made
the commission itself does not know.
Actual value OF all property in New
S272,000.0O0- One third OF this amount
was taxed for state purposes at 81
mills, the total levy for all purposes
being ZIG mills.
Question to BE Settled.
It has not yet been fully determined
what must be included in the mill
maximum levy for state purposes, fixed
under the new tax commission law;
whether the state highway tax, which
last year was / mill. must be included
IN the total OF mills, which this year
for the first time viii be levied on
actual value OF property, or whether
this and certain other general taxes
for specific purposes are in addition
10 the mill limit Until that ques-
ton has been definitely determined, the
commissioners and no one else can tell
accurately what property value must
be placed on the assessment rolls be-
fore the money necessary for the pro-
visions Of the appropriation act for
the 4th and 5th fiscal years can be
realized.
Tentative assessments.
Roughly the commission at its initial
meeting estimated that at least $780,
100000 OF value must De SHOWN 20 pro
duce the necessary revenue within the
maximum levy permitted A tentative
raise Of s10.OOO,OOO on corporate prop
erty has been ordered, subject 10 the
hearing which the commission VIII give
the railroads next week, on whose prop
erty S9.50O.O0O Of the increase has
been placed a rough estimate made
at the first meeting of the new board
indicated a possible increase in value
of other property in all counties OF
approximately S51,OOO,OOO. If this
should prove correct. and the $4,000. 600
raise on the railroads should stand,
the commission still would be some Z
$40, 900. 600 short OF the estimated $780,
0O0. 900 Of actual value necessary 10 !
produce the revenue called for in the
fourth fiscal year. An increase in valu- +
alton would be necessary, even should I
The old system Of one-third value as
sessment have been permitted to stand, I
because Of increased appropriations.
The Value Is There.
That the value exists in New Mexico i
Is not questioned. It is the ability OF !
the tax commission to get the value [
onto the assessment rolls and the STU I
alton as TO the fourth fiscal year IS an 4!
alarming one. The com mission cannot
tell what property is or is not upon the
county assessment rolls until the coun-
~ assessors send in the rolls Whlch :
the law saws they shall do on or before .
the third Monday in July. The expert {
once has been that majority Of the
assessors take the full limit allowed
by law After the rolls are received 50
davs are allowed for appeals The rolls
are then returned TO the countlesr ana
should be in the hands Of the county
treasurer not later than November l. ;
Thus the new state tax commission has /
only about 60 days TO place on the tax
rolls property which has escapeui 70
regulate valuations; in word, TO taG
the nr0pertv Of 26 counties, many OF
which are larger than many an eastern
To Survey Each County.
To do this effectively a survey OF the
property in each county by competshl
this. or any part Of IL, can De accom-
nIfshed in the time available IS o.
course frnpossfble. It seems probable
mat a deficit for the fourth fiscal year
IS to be expected =. ss--,+
The commission may be aDle 70 Sc
action" by the fifth fiscal year a.
though il must meet the third Monoay
in November, 1873 70 Tx Nalues ~ ~
that year. And with the money avail
q HE for its expenses there IS reason
10 fear that a year OF operation VIII
not greatly advance its fund OF actual
knowledge as TO valuations and prop
ertv escaping taxation The commits Z
sion over and above the salaries OF :
the five members. has $4,000 year,
for all its purposes From TINS II
must pay the salary OF the secretary
his assistants, office expense ana
printing, which a conservative esu-
nate places at $4,000 a year The
travelling expense and per diem OF the Z
must be paid from TINS
fund which at the moderate rate OF
s. per day for 80 days for i've mem
bers makes $3.50 more leaving 70
the commission the munificent sum
Of $3.50 q year for carrying on field
work, which requires expert service
In IS counties
The first work OF the commission
next week viii be to hear the repre-
sentatives Of the railroads upon the
s., 100000 Increase which has been
made on their property CHIEFLY the
IN New Mexico. Railroad as
sessmeut total for 1914 was SS7. 52S, 542-
As fixed by the commission. subject
to this hearing. for 1915. it is $685.
9c0, 7O5. an increase OF $3.50 363- The
balance OF the total corporate prop
srtv increase Of S10.099,122, is upon
Pullman. express, telephone and tele-
graph lines The only reduction on
main line railroad mileage is on the
New Mexico Central, which is cut from
$1,000 10 $500 a mile. The FL Paso &
and Rock Island main
ines are raised from $4,000 70 s59, 500
.er mile The Colorado & Southern
8 raised from S2S,S5O to S26,235;
he Denver & Rio Grande is sd
-ouced $500 per mile. The Santa Fe, /
which, with its great mileage, gets the
heaviest raises. is advanced on the !
5elen cutoff from $4,000 to S49,5OO
Der mile; on the PecOs valley lines
rom S19.35O to S21,2S5; on the coast
ines from S49.5OO TO $3.50; on the
main line north OF Albuquerque from I
rs 600 TO Sf9,5 SEQ per mile, and on the |
main line south Of Albuquerque from
1850 to S35,145 per mile. 4 total
q S616,000 is the increase made on
santa Fe terminals, Of which the two I
principal items are from 100000 to
100000 at Albuquerque, s66,000 in
rease at Ration and $4,000 at I