El Nuevo mexicano., 1919-12-11
AR|z0NA'S LEAD IN
Getting PROPERTY
ON TAX ROLLS FOUND
DUE TO TEAMWORK
j. E. SAINT FINDS THAT SISTER
STATE rs FAVORED BY NOT RE.
STITCHING TENURE OF Asses
aoRs AND GIVING THEM *
pENsE AccQuNTs.

JAW 49, u" y
smaller area than New Mexico and
sparser population, has a far higher
tax roll aroused laudable curiosity
on the part of J. 70. Saint, chairman
of the state tax commission. He de-
oided TO find out the reason for the
sister states bigger tax roll 50 he
and John Joerns, secretary Of the
commission, went to Phoenix. They
found out, Mr.. Saint announced to-
day following his return
True Arizona has far richer mines
than New Mexico. but, deduoting the
mines valuation from the Arizona tax
roll and including the New Mexico
mines valuation in the New Mexico
tax roll still gave Arizona a com
mandlng lead Of from 125 to $50
million dollars. The Arizona mines
If included, would raise Arizona's dis
lance out in front bctwecn 400 and
500 millions.
Fhe thing that worried Mr.. Saint
most was that Arinoza's lead, after
the mines valuation had been exclul-
ed. The difference appeared to him
to be awful" and it was to find out
how Arizona got the lead, leaving
the mines OF Of consideration, that
too him and Mr.. Joerns to Phoenix.
New Mexico has is millions more In
livestock that Arizona and that was
another thing that stirred Mr.. Saints
curiosity.
1t was found that Arizona's bigger
tax rolls were due primarily to the
county assessors of the state, work
ing under favorable laws, and team
work between the assessors and the
state tax commission--the result OF
seven or eight years OF cooperation.
The Arizona assessors are not re-
stricted as to their tenure OF office.
The state has no law that bars them
from reelection after they have held
period, and Mr.. Saint found the re-
suit to be that the best assessors had
practically lifetime jobs. They are
held in office when they are found
to be compettnt, whether they are
democrats or republicans, and In
many cases they are given no opposE
tion for reelection.
EXPENSE ACCOUNTS
The Arizona assessors also are
favored by having expense accounts.
Their expenses are paid for going
to ali parts OF their counties and as
lands on the ground. New
Mexico assessors have no expense ac-
counts and the result Is that they
virtually assess outlaytng property
their precincts in which the land
Is located, but the difference between
that and staying In their offices and
assessing 1t is practically nil. They
10 not visit the property assessed.
They can't afford to and neither can
hey afford to hire deputies to do
he work for them.
OF course, Arizona mas q big ad.
pantage in agricultural lands The
agricultural lands for exceed
New Mexico's In area and value. For
Instance, Mr., Saint found, that cot
on lands in the Salt River valley
renting for $50 a month an
lcre cash in advance.
Governor Campbell of Arizona was
characterized by Mr.. Saint as father
the sIccessmul Arizona taxation
which he praised as getting
the property on the tax rolls" He
assessor Of .NavapaI county for
years, and later a member OF the
a. 1
state tax commission. He also aided
ii getting favorable legislation on
AVIATION from the Arizona Legislature.
TEAMWORK EMPHASIZED
The teamwork between the asses
sors and the Arizona tax commission
Was stressed by Mr.. Saint as one 81
lie factors In Ariznna's success in
full valuation. as nearly as
possible, on the statH's tax rolls and
The conference called for December
X, is and ID BY the New Mexico
stale tax commission, he said, would
be used toward bringing about the
kind Of teamwork in this state.
Similar conferences are held IN
ARIZONA every year.
Mr.. Saint and other members Of
the state tax commission plan to
at The conference, which coun-
IN assessors and county hoard mem
bers have been asked 70 attend, 4
campaign Of teamwork which, he
IS confident. will be successful inl
bringing New Mexico's tax rolls to
the point where they VIII compare
favorably with Arizona,s, He declar
ed he felt sure the plan would win