Tombstone epitaph., 1916-03-19
.REpORTN UNTRUE THAT
 OFFICER REFUSED TAX

Fh"rnix regarding the taxing O. an su;omnb'l. pelurs,ng to Cap,aia NrI son of Fort Ilu,"huca. vs, ru rely un- iumndcd is the sisr of 9 letter which Count, Assr>so. G 4 Hush,, ht- ~nrtsn ro rnr S,a.s rta Commission regarding trc stn,u, ol the ma,t.f. Following |, a copy ol the letter which K self explsn''ory
 Tombstone. A'iz"r a..
 Narcr rlth l"lG State TaN Conini-- --iou.
 laoenix. Arizona.
 C.. n'l-oru.
 have yuur i..,e. r March 7th. I9Iu enclosing a copy e; wta: ;he press ..rm> an Opinion C.. the Attorney General pointing our The law go'"rning 'he collection ot rsxe, ou personal property located "r nili'rrv reservation
 AS matter of fact ths Attorn-y General has entirely evadcd the question submitted by me and reuder- ed an opinion winch is absolutely use iv.> auG sros- injustice iu .hc pr,som or persons concerned
 II IS quire evident that NIT. Jones has taken snap judgment on this ques ton and did not take the trouble to even consult the Revenue laws of this state nor any authorities on the ques. ton al issue Hc s4ys T think that question may be entirely avoided. unless the Captain sees 1t 70 coufuc his auto trips wit hin ire limits of the resyrv ation. and advises me that it would he my duty to seize the machine wherever may find t upon the state highways of Cochi,e County.
 contend that the question cannot be avoided for fl the machine IS not snh.r't 10 as -essment and tlxe, on the :e>.I,-;iuu have no authority to seize il when il leaves the conGnr, of 'he reservation. Paragraph '>-2. Revised Statutes of Arizona. 1915, CivI Code. pag- l55}. reads as follows
 ''The County Assessor m each oi ,ho several counties m this state when he assesses rhe property of any person firm. association. company or corp-r7- ton. liable 10 taxation. not ownin- real state within the county Of sufficient. value ia the Assessors judgment. to pay taxes on both the real and person. al property of such person. frIH. asSo- ciaion. company, or corporation shah proceed immediately To collect the tax eS on the personal property S" assessed provided. that personal property iu transit or temporarily in q county shall not he assessed therein. but where thr owner is doInic'lea. -"
 From the above it seems very plain to me that it k qul:c necessary for the Attorney General to state at this time whc thcr "r not wouIf have authority 10 seize property upon Fort Huachuca Military reservation for taxes, for ceT- tainly 4 canno. seize it upon the res ervatiou I have no authority 10 seize II when II leaves the reservation any more than would have authority Co seize tine mscrins of tourist passing through my county. and I do net pro pose to make any seizures ol machines coming of tine reservation upon any such an opinion ..s have received. fo- 10 do so nigh, only subject myself and my boEdsman Go d suit for damages
 I do nu- know who Is responsible for the publicity tLis matter has received in :br press Of rhe state. hui do most earnestly protest against the gross mrs- statement of facts contained in the va- rious papers All the statements have 'een have done Captain Nelson grave niusticc know Captain Nelson per 'onally and by reputation and he is a gentleman of the highest type He was neither inceused at receiving a demand or taxes on his machine nor did ne tate that never in a million years would he pay she taxes on his automo- ,ile" as was quoted n rhe press reports
 He IS now and always has been ready nd wiling to pay the tax should he nd that the law requires him to do SO lis letter tc me was simply reques, { sr the law on the subject and a state lent that he was going to stick lip for q Io