Arizona republican., 1916-08-22
Where the People
 May Have Hearing
APPROPOS THE COUNTY TAX
 CONTROVERSY

VI. WIdt duluOIiiN ana snow or ifulfl Can cunning sin cover itself withali
 Shakespeare.
 oil has been poured upon the troubled waters and the situation arising out of the 20 per cent cut in the valuation of irrigated land and town and city lots has been settled not with entire satisfaetoon I take it, to either the board of supervisors or the county assessor. Probably if either office can claim ''vndication" it is that of the assessor.
 By reason of it's exploitation in the local newspapers I have followed the situation for the better part of three weeks with at once d sense of inter est and disappointment-inter in the observation of the soundness of the philosophy Of the late r. T. Bar mum and disappointment, in the knowledge that a journal with the i standing of the Arizona Republican | should either Intentionally or unwit- | tingly lend it's columns to the propa- gation Of political propaganda al the | i expense of the truth.
 | While it might well be ooseryed | 1 that the Arizona Gazette has like | wise been an arch malefactor in this respect, still il may be urged [ with truth that condemnation at the hands of that paper has come to be recognized by the general public as the strongest sort of commendation. 4 noted English writer has de- ! lined politician as "one who would clrcumvent God" Though hereto fore reluctant to coneede as much 1 now confess to a radical change of view. When any public official has the temerity to go before his con- sutuen.S and seek to convince them ny express assertion or innuendo that 4 simple cut in the valuation Of any class of property will afford them relief from their burdens of i taxation. or in other words the sefp cnt may be killed by the cutting off it's tail then I believe that l am justified iI characterizing the state ment of that author as nltra-con- servatiVe.
 Though laying no claim to superior perspicacity l am interested that the people of this county be enabled 10 recognize the fallacy of the position of MT Luke and his colleagues, and thus, reading between the lines. dis cern something more sinister than the welfare of constituency.
 In lts last analysis the true sitUa- tion IS this. the expense of govern ment must be met nl its prescribed revenues: the aggregate expense of any and all political subdivisions Is represented in it's budget, the prin- ciplc soarce of revenue of any state CT political sub division is that rais- cd hy taxation; since the budget must be provided for il can make no difference what the property val uation Is. foI if the valuation Is nigh the rate will be low, and vice versa. # the valuation Is low the rate will be corresponding high 1t follows iherefrom, that If Mir. Luke and his colleagues were sincere m their desire to aid the Maricopa county taxpasers their first task would he tu reduce the county eN- penses.
 In this connection would suggest that such a movement might well be initiated with the curtailment of gasoline consumption and other eN- Iense incident 10 the use Of auto mobiles: the letting of contracts for public works to the lowest bidder. rather than Navoring friends with such work. and he topping off of a few of the supernumeraries now put ling in theiI time in and about the court house.
 Having dealt with the subject in q general way we will now consider it in Us more particular aspect IL has becn observed that th. proposed cut xould affect only irrigated lands and city and town lots. For the purpose of taxation. property in this county E divided into two general classes . first. the land sub h-diyioed into ir- rigatiOn. non-irrigated and city anu town lots the second the improve nentr on the land together with all other species Of personal property. with this n mind. and with The same county budget to shoot at. it will readily be seen that If the revenue is decreased on irrigated lands and ritv and town lots. the burden will necessarily fall on the remaining apccIes. namely. on-irrieated and im- .prol ed lands and personal property and merchandise. In fine. The board of supervisors would place g prem ,,n ou speculation ard land grabbin; and discourage legitimate aud high v necessary city and county im- movements If this reflects the continent of this community l mus' confess that have not as vet caught the spirit.
 1t is trne that such a reduction would somewhat lessen the county contribution 10 the state. and bN SC doing hoist a part Of its just share of the burden upon the remaining counties. but, as with the county, the atate rate would necessarily be some lwhat enhanced, which would agalr increase the burden of the holder ol improved property and merchandise within this county.
 Whatever of significance that may be attached to the fact that tax val nations have remained substantially the same during the last three years aud that this year. incidentally. tw' of the members of the present boar' If supervisors are candidates for re lection. 1 will not discuss. deeminl it collateral to the issue.
 Concluding l wish to state that hold no political office nor have political ambitions. l bear no malice towards any member of the board o sirervisora, nor yet the assessor md my remarks herein have beer prompted solely in the interest O lair play tInquestionably Maricops county ias an ailment that requires a remedy and to the best of ml ability l have attempted to demon strate the speciousness of the eNpedi ent offered by the board of super Ni5ors, and to advance that whicl .n my opinion, offers the only relic in the present difficulty.
 Signed
 4 TAXPAYER
 ---o-- -------