New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1917-01-12
GOV. De BACA'S Mes
SAGE TO LEGISLATURE
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the description of the property
mast he published. The result is
that in many instances the cost OF
publication far exceeds the taxes
due. Either no description should
be required to be published, or nc
publication shns'd be required
where the t"&es are under a certain
amount.
Inheritance Tax.
also recommend the adoption OF
an inheritance tax. An inheritance
the torty-tight states. Such a law
wnu Il considerably augment cur
r~evcnues at the present time, and
would increase with the growth of
oLr population, and the develop
nrert Of the rich resources Of the
state, If such a law is enacted, it
should be so framed as to exempt
small estates, and should be so gra-
duated with reference to the estates
which come within its operations
THAI tie LARGE estates would pay a
greater proportion.
State Tax Commission.
The state tax commission has
been so limited in its powers and
funds appropriated for its pur-
poses, that it has not been able ade-
q%natcly to perform the duties i'm
posed upon il,
The commission deserves high
praise for the results accomplished
when thus hampcred. Much prop
erty heretofore untaxed, has been
placed upon the tax rolls. There is
much more property yet escaping
taxatior, and the commission
sohu'd be provided with sufficient
funds and powers to enable it to
discover this property and have it
placed upon the tax rolls.
The commission makes several re-
Communications in its report, for
which | ask your serious considera-
ton. Among these is a request that
they be gwen power to investigate
and make individual raises and as
.scsslncnts, instead of beng confined
horizontal raises as now: and
that also be vested with more pie
nary powers over the local taxing
authorities. In these recommends
niost heartily concur. Ho-
raises in assessments fire.
qrcntly result in great injustice,
and are the source of much dissa-
tisfaction. Furthermore, there are
Of the commission to the local
authorities are DISCARDED, and there
is now no VA Of getting them car
out
Travelling Auditor. {
The governor is the chief execu-
i've officer of the state. 1t is his ,
l,ty to see that the laws are faith :
.ul'y executed. Among these laws /
IRE those relating to the handling :
g sfste and county finances, and
.rt the povernor is deprived of the {
Of the office, of travelling {
.udit, :, which is the chief course /
# Information with reference to !
hes" funds. Frequently the chief !.
executive needs more detailed in .
ornlatjon with reference to finan- I
ia .n1'ttrs of state and county y
han l., t;rn.shed by a mere formal ,
udit lie low has no way of Sc r
.uring except TO ask some other J
tpte official to secure it for him. '
This is a lowering of the dignity ot "
he office of governor, and the state '
hou1d have too much pride to al ,
ow it, u
I recommend that you place the [
'ffice OF TRAVELLING auditor with the >
where it formerly was, .
nd where ii natuarraly and by right II
clongs. Il
Private Car Companies. r
At the present time there are Il
lany private car companies dong :.
r~rsincss within the state. None of u
hese companies pay any taos, except .,
he Pullman Car company. | re- =
.mmcnd that a law be enacted u
lxinC each one of these companies. II
is cstim7ted that the revenue de- IS
wed from this source alone would =,
mount to some $4,000 per year.
Insurance Commissioner. o.
The taxpayers OF the state are d
supporting a state corporation
pmw1Ssion and an insurance COM u
.i%,s:oncr. The duties OF these two h
,r.rtHnc1ts could easily be per- -
,rmcl Nv the corDoration commits n;
at no additional expense. | is
,,ommerd the aho'iShment of the c;
flee Of state insurance commits ~
oncr and the placing of the du- la
es of his office with the corpo- h;
commission. That would dc
suit III . saving to the state OF
10000 or $4,000 per year. CT
State Land Commissioner. IN
The report of the state land COM cf
lnds over 100000, virtually the
of the state, yet upon a
ere technicality the state derives
!, income from it. There can be no til
lid reason given why this money nj
ould not be turned into the state ci'
easury like other state funds and fiji
posted for the benefit of the m
ate. If this cannot be done I'M III
r the law as it stands at present, ia
the law should be so changed re-
to require this. The state is re
ing in revenue annually from We
Is source alone between $4,000 in
d $4,000. sh
Section 5183 of our statutes reads: ST.
Twenty per centum of the in sc
ne derived from any state lands an
ccpt lands granted by the En- va
,ire Act for the payment of .
rdy Of Grant and Santa Fe coun- Sc,
8. and the interest thereon, shall &C,
institute a fund to be known as va
, state lands maintenance funds sh'
The language Of this section is of
in, that this fund consists of ca
Dropriations from income only,
rot from the proceeds of the