The Columbus courier. [volume] (Columbus, Luna County, N.M.) 1911-1920, 1917-01-12
Continued from Page y

provided with Suftlclent funds
and powers to enable Il 10 dis
cover this property and have il
placed upon the tax rolls.
The commission makes sever
al recommendations in its report,
for which | ask your serious con-
sideration. Among these Is a
request that they be given power
to investigate and make indivi-
dual raises and assessments. in
stead of being confined to hori-
zontal raises as now; and that
they also be vested with more
plenary powers over the local
taxing authorities. In these
recommendation | most heartily
concur. Horizontal raises in as
sessments frequently result in
great injustice. and are the
source of much dissatisfaction.
Furthermore. there are instances
in which the recommendations
of the Commission TO the local
authorities are disregarded, and
there is now no way of getting
them carried out.
Travelling Auditor
The Governor Is the chief
executive officer of the State. IL
is his duty to see that the laws
are faithfully executed. Among
these laws are those relating 10
the handling of State and County
finances. and yet the Governor
is deprived of the control of the
office of Travelling Auditor which
is the chief source of information
with reference to these funds.
Frequently the chief executive
needs more detailed information
with reference to financial mat
tiers of State and County than Is
furnished by a mere formal
audit. He now has no way of
securing It. except to ask some
other State official to secure II
for him. This is a lowering of
the dignity of the office Of Gov
ernor. and the State should have
too much pride TO allow Il.
| recommend that you place
the office Of Travelling Auditor
with the Governor, where il for
merly was. and where il natural
~ and by right belongs.
Private Car Companies
At the present time there are
many private car companies
business within the State.
None of these companies pay any
taxes, except the Pullman Car
| recommend that a
law be enacted taxing each one
of these companies. II is esti-
mated that the revenue derived
from this source alone would
amount to some 100000 per
year.
Insurance Commissioner
The taxpayers of the State
are now supporting a State Cor
poration Commission and an In
surance Commissioner. The
duties of these two departments
could easily be performed by the
Corporation Commission at no
additional expense. ! recon-
mend the adjustment of the
office of State Insurance Com
missioner and the placing of the
duties of his Office with the Cor
poration Commission. This
result in a saving 10 the
State of some 100000 or Sl0,-
10000 per year. f,
State Land Commissioner
TIE report of the State Land
Commissioner shows that he has
in his hands over 5000, 100000,
virtually the money of the State,
yet upon a mere technicality the {
State derives no income from il.
There can be no valid reason [
given why this money should not ,
be turned into the State treasury 1
ike other state funds and deposit !
led for the benefit Of the State.
II this cannot be done under the
as ii stands at present, then q
he law should be so changed as
10 require this. The State is !
in revenue annually from !
his source alone between. $780, +
and 100000. s
Section 51S3 Of our statues n
'eads -
Twenty per centum Of the in
,ome derived from any state 3
ands except lands granted by d
he Enabling Act for the pay {
nent Of bonds of Grant and r
Santa Fe counties, and the inter- I