Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-03-28

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| ing laws similar to those in force in
Arizona-were introduced.
Many of these proposed measures
| were poorly worded and inconsistent
in their own language. 1t was evident
that the subject matter was poorly
understood by the men who drew the
bills.
The Mine Conference.
Governor Larrazolo very properly
came to the conclusion that the whole
matter ought to be better understood
before there was any action at ALL
Confident that the business interests
that had so periodically helped the
nation win the war would be equally
patriotic in paying just taxes to the
state, the governor called a confer
ence of the mining men themselves
for the purpose of getting their views
| as well as the views of the members
of the Legislature who wanted changes
in the laws governing mining taxes.
| When the representatives of the
mining interests went to Santa Fe,
the meeting held was public one,
presided over by the governor him
self The utmost good feeling pre-
vailed and the problems were dis
cussed with entire candor The pro-
visions of the present law were dis
oil nf INn nNin ono
bills that had been introduced.
The mining men adopted a resolu-.
ton unanimously in which they said
that in their opinion the present law
results in the counties and the state
receiving a fair and just tax, but they
also said they were willing to acquiesce
in any change which would not place
unjust and unfair burdens upon them.
As a result of the discussions and
of the facts presented, the governor
came to the conclusion that COM
mission of experts should be appoint
ed to study the subject and report to
the next legislature. This policy was
adopted largely through the facts and
figures presented by J. f. Saint,
chairman of the state tax commission.
1t was brought out at the confer
ence that the production tax, which
the mines have been paying, would be
greatly reduced in the years 1919 and
1920, because OF the enormous shrink
age in the mining industry, as com
pared with the war years. and that
this would come at a time when the
shrinkage in cattle and other values
the state.
What Bursum Did.
After the meeting, and after many
of the representatives of the mining
interests had gone home, II. o. Bur
sum, who had taken no part in the
conference, put himself in communi- |
cation with the mining men and ex-
planned to them over the telephone
that public emergency existed in the
matter of taxation, They authorized
him to agree for them to pay pro-
duction tax, for the years 1919 and
1920, equal to the average production
tax of the three past years, which
were the years of the heaviest output.
He laid this proposition before the
legislative committee which was con-
sidering Mr.. Armijo's bill. that was
confined to minor amendment of
the present act. The result was that
Mr.. Armijo's provision was stricken
out entirely. The committee adopted
Mr.. Bursum's proposition and report
ed it back as a committee substitute.
This statement of the facts is not
presented for the purpose of subtract
ing anything from the record of Mr..
Armijo as a legislator, hut for the sole
purpose of doing justice to the mining
interests and to MIR. Bursum, who
brought about the agreement
The mining men did not recognize
the justice of the matter, SO ,rar as
they are concerned, but they knew
that the state must have more taxes,
and they agreed, in the emergency, to
be the goat, just as the railroads had
agreed to pay on their old valuations,
regardless of the fact that they could,
in view OF the federal valuation, have
defeated assessment at the old figures
Let us give honor where honor is
due