The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1919-08-21
TAX ASSOCIATION
NOT OPPOSED TO
ROAD PROGRAM


New Mexico Tax Payers association
b. In the city today for a conference
with the county ommiEsiuncre on thu
budget for she coming ycar He VIII
b. here several days.
The executive committee Of the
Taxpayer association held a meeting
In santa Re early this week at which
pending amendments to tbs consiitu-
ton were considered.
Tho Taxpayers association and us
directors are not IN any WY opposed
10 road construction or the states
road building program" Mr. Aspiund
said this morning, "hut we feel that
the amendment on bond ISSUES pro-
pcnrd would Introduce a most nncsuaf
provision intp u constitution. The
matter OF incurting indebtedness In
the view az the association. II n to
be decided by the people. We feel
that the federal aid appropriations
can be met and the road program
carried out without resorting TO
measures which would take this de-
clsion away from the people and place
a with the legislature
The association has larued a state
ment on the bond issue amendments
which Mr.. Asplund gave out this
morning II follows in part.
1t was the purpose OF those who
wrote the debt limit provisions OF our
constitution to follow the principles
which prevail In most Of the other
states and therefore no debts were
permitted to he Incurred by any
political unit except by n favorable
vote Of the people No county. city
or school district may issue bonds ex.
eept upon such q vote and, in the case
Of counties and cities. b voting ~
limited TO The electors who are also
that the proposed amendment Is con-
trary 20 h spirit Of b American
principles and out OF line with the
theory upon which our state govern
ment h based.
The meaning Of the proposed
amendment IN obscure. The most
careful reading and analysis fail to
disclose any real limit and the whole
effect Of the amendment would be 60
make void the entire constitutional
provision which II purporis to amend.
Under the amended seetion It would
be possible TO issue bonds up TO the
limit OF t3.75o,0oo or one per cent Of
the valuation based upon the assess
ment for 1918, by an affirmative vote
Of the people. An additional amount
I'm bonds. d~ebcntures n certificates
Of indebtedness can then be issued for
roads. BY the legislature without a
vote Of the people. We are. however,
unable to find In the proposed amend
ment n limit for such additional
indebtedness. According TO "A rca-
sonable Interpretation OF the language
as used. the legislature MAJ provide
for any number Of bond issues on
81. 900. 600 each payable from ad
vAl0rem taxes upon tangible prop
erty'' and n IL possible Tint dcbcn-
tturcs and certificates OF indebtedness
IN addition to such bond ISSUE and
payable In a similar name may be
issued. n should be kept IN mind
also hat the limit OF $4,000. 600 for
each bond issue payable from taxes
on tangible property may he exceeded
u. In the judgment OF the Legislature.
more funds are needed to meet fed
eral aid. This IL not nll-additlonni
debcntufes and certificates OF inr
~debtcdness may be authorized and is-
sued, TO be paid at such times as the
legislature shall determine out OF mo-
tor vehicle licenses. or other licenses.
or other licenses or revenues. In
other words, the legislature may ley
various forms u excise Or license
taxes or provide for other
and issue ~debentures and certificates
OF indebtedness payable out Of such
revenues TO an Understandable
amount This being our interprcta-
ton, there II. In our opinion no limit
TO the Indebtedness witch may be In
CURED by the Legislature II the pro-
posed amendment rs passed and the
qualified electors OF the state"
should carefully weigh the matter Of
placing In the hands OF the legislature
a power that might burden the state
with taxes for interest and principal
payments that would be appalling
THE argument is made hat the is
suRnce OF debentures and certificates
OF indebtedness payable out OF motor
vehicle licenses and other licenses and
revenues which might be devised
would lower the tax rate. This argu-
ment should be carefully examined.
fu.poaing from motor We
hicie licenses ior ten years are az
p~ropriBted fof present purposes
through the issuance OF dehentures Ia
be paid out Of these revenues as they
accrue. We believe that the state viii
be deprived FOR that period OF rev
enues that wOuld otherwise be used
for road construction and mainten
ance and that such revenues 80 APP
"propristed would have 10 be replaced
by some other forms Of taxation.
In answer TO the argument thai
the adoption OF hts amendment II re-.
quired 10 that provision may be made
for meeting dollar for dollar. the
ithffal allotment OF " AhHf NNh iut
road construction, attention Is caH.ed
10 the fact that the last Legislature
provided FOR compulsory tax levicn
uniform throughout the state. agEre-
cation four aud one-half mills, ~,
proceeds Of which are 10 be spent In
state roads for the declared purpos,
Of meeting the federal ullOtments. In
addition motor vehicle licenses. dc.
linQuent state taxes prior 10 1915 ana
other revenues are covered into the
state road fund. Furthermore. the
state ~ given ample time 10 meet the
federal aid aiiomtneia and. therefore
there IA no necessity for adopting tho
amendment Tor this reason.
This Taxpayers association Il in
favor OF The building OF roads under
state super Wis., on. but II holds that
there IN no aecgsaiiy In order TO carry
out the program even as piannea.
resort 10 the proposed measure
amending the constitution. The asso-
clauon has demonstrated that with
tho taxes, state and county. direct
and Indirect, 20 bo levied for the
benefit OF the state road fund. there
h. no necessity for the proposed
amendment. ~ has shown that With
the four and a half mill levy author
lied by the last legislature. which IL
itself an extraordinary high charge nj
this item. together with the motor
taxes, certain delinquent taxes and