Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1915-01-15
TAX Commission
BILL INTRODUCED.
IN STATE SENATE
Pankey Starts Measure on Its
Legislative Journey Appro-
priation Of $4,000 Is
Provided for.

ESPECIAL DisPAieH TO MORNING IouEsALl
santa Fe Jan. i4.--'The sum OF
$4,000 is appropriated in Senate Bin
NO |, introduced today 10y Sen. b. =.
Paakey, for the annual expenses OF
the proposed tax commission. Each
of the three commissioners Is to re-
ceive 50 600 a year, the chief clerk not
to exceed Sl.SO0 the assistant clerk
not more than $1,000. the latter to be
! a stenographer. The salary of experts,
| examiners and assistants is to be fixed
by the commission. As a tax commits
sion is certain to be created there Is
already a scramble for the jobs, but
the places are likely to go to persons
who are not applicants and to whom
a salary of $4,000 a year does not LOOK
big enough to be an attraction and
who therefore will have to be drafted
into harness. Among those Of that
class, already mentioned. are Arthur
Seligman. on the part of the demo-
Gratis, who has made life study Of
taxation measures, and former Secre-
tary of State Nathan Jaffa and ex-
State Chairman Herbert S. Clark, well
posted on taxation, on part of the re-
publicans, and +. c. Wilson, who has
also studied the subject exhaustiyely,
on part of the progressives.
The commission is to be appointed
by the governor within ten days after
the act becomes law, to serve, as has
been stated, six years, lots to be drawn
! by the first commission as to who
shall serve two four and six years re-
spectively, as one commissioner is TO
be appointed each two years. The
| board is to be bipartisan and non
political. - as the commissioners are
forbidden to serve on or under any
committee of any political party Each
commissioner is to give $4,000 bond.
The commissioner drawing the short
term is to be chairman. Hearings may
be had before one commissioner.
Appointment Of the commission is to
be by the governor with consent of
the senate, the governor to fill va
cancies, to serve until the second
Tuesday of January in the biennial
session of the legislature. when if APP
pointee is not confirmed, the office
shall become vacant, the vacancy to
be filled with the consent of the sem
ate on or before the first Tuesday in
February.
Headquarters at Santa E'e.
The commission may sit at any
place in the state but must make its
headquarters at Santa Fe. All hear
ings shall be public and so shall be
the records.
Actual and necessary expenses are
to be allowed commissioners and en-
ployes. The right to inspect any
books, records, accounts and memo
randa of any company, bank, firm,
corporation, person, association, CO.
partnership or public utility firm is
given the commission and its en-
ployes. Any one may also be sum-
moned to testify under oath, the PEN
atty for each day of noncompliance
being from $50 to $500. Agents des-
ignated to take testimony shall not
divulge their information to any oth"r
person except the commission or to
the courts the penalty being sac 10
500 and disqualification for further
appointment under the commission.
Most important, the commission is
to have control and supervision over
the local assessment and taxing au-
thorities. Assessors, county commits
sioners and county equalization boards
may be removed from office If they
fail to assess all property at actual
cash value. The commission is -
prepare all needed blanks and pre-
scribe all forms and procedure. The
commission may reappraise and re-
assess property and may raise or
lower any real or personal property
returns. The commission may sum
mon any assessor before 1t and is to
call a convention of assessors annually
for purposes of consultation and IN
struction.
The commission is to investigate The
tax systems of other states ana ma
tions and to consult with the gov
ernor on tax matters. 1t shall fix tue
valuation of corporate and public util-
ity properties and act as a state
board of equalization. Penalties are
prescribed for taxpayers failing TO
make returns, refusing to give intor-
nation for neglect of duty by reVe-
nue. officials Banks and bank otil-
Gals are exempted from testifying as
to the records Of the bank and cannot
be compelled to produce such records.