The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1916-04-20

purpose Tor which the association W.
formed hy a meeting Of New Mexico
business interests 1T Santa Fc last
september The association thr"ugi
It's director has begun n survey of H.,
financial system OF New Mexico vhicr
is to extend from state down to coun'
". municipal and precinct and schoo
district financial methods. and winch
when completed win place on recort
for the information of the people wh,
pay the bills the complete facts aboL.
the system. Thcn and not until theI
Will We know whether there is n
thing wrong with out system. and !
there are wrongs what they are.
We mas know. when This survey Il
done. not only what II any wrongs
exist, but how to remedy them; bu'
remedies are later consider atoms vat
this association. winch has made cleal
its purpose to get facts FIRST, b"iort
reaching any conclusions on prupusinl
amy remedies
This Is q work that New Mexico
has needed above all other puhli'
service. For years II has been a Gus
tom Ia criticizc public ofncials an'
M system of the public service blithc
" ana with vigor. but generally en-
TREY without any reference tn con
crete facts. one set Of politician
has vocitcrously roasted the other
one party has lamhasted IT, opponrn
leaders aud has seen its leaders lashe'
in turn. such facts as the Icoplc nav
had concerning taxation. assessments
public finance and administration gen
during the hea of political campaigns
when few men can speak calmly al,
when the calm and Just man general
cannot obtain u hearing. even II h
cares to speak.
Tn. result has been that the peopl'
the taxpayers who pay the bills. haV
been pulled hithcr and yon. and haN
come out of each succeeding period
ovcrplentiful transformation hruis"
but more ignorant than ever Ut an
single fact save the figures on the
tax receipts. There 10 bee a cr'
ing need for facts. for some sour
OF responsible. disintcrcsted Inform
ton tina can be absolutely dependc
upon.
Il Is becoming clear hat the Ta'
payers association rs to ne that SOUR
and agency.
The April Tan Review Is the thif
number of that publication. In III
first number the association was abb
To show that H. crorts. through II
director. had saved the taxpayers 1
some sixteen counties u total of oN'
$500. 900 in illegal. unwise or unncce
sary tax levies eliminated. and thu
the same agency had saved the who'
: state from utter confusion IN the h'
> ginning Of operation Of a new and ur
tri.d So, oi tax laws. In the secor
number was presented a review :
school finances, a statement presen
ing facts wnolly new even to scho'
i. officials and students OF our system
4, the first statement of many of u
. facts presented.
, In the current number of the magJ
/. zine begins the survey of the state
=. financial system. II begins with u
F, receipts al the state auditor, as n
1 fountain head ~ information ABBOT
state finance There Is no criticism Z
, effort at criticism. direct or implic
, II ~ simply an understandable PRE-
= thing that the people have never Ia
before. because the incentive 10 a.
i. facts from the average tnbulated %
ncial report Is lacking In the avcrl-
, citizen. even IL he has the ability
/, dig them out. which generally
, lacks.
Taxpayers who are not iollowii
% the facts tina, are being presented =
thc Taxpayers association are missir
Information uf direct personal Nalu
: u them. The magazine rs not n
tional reading But It is IN siinpl
Understandable. United states langnnr
that every MAJ can understand uu
p that understanding is bound to intel
} est and instruct and help now and
I future consideration ct public prot
lens.