The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1920-10-19
GETTING AT MINE TAX FACTS

THE PEOPLE Of New Mexico understand in p general way that Mr..
Hanna is employing his favoritc issue o. attack upon the mine tax
= Law, on mining companies and on the individuals who have devel-
oped large mining properties in this state, as a means to aid his cleo
ton, and not in an effort to better conditions for the state as a whole.
The carly and complete disclosure of Chairman Seligman's campaign
strategy led the people to examine closely Nh. Hannas campaign
statements about mining companies and mine taxes, not only i a sin
gle speech, but IN all his speeches. They have witnessed his grad
ual increase in the total the mining companies ought to pay until they
have realized that like Candidate Cox and his slush fund charge,
Hanna can raise the mining companies tax ratio at will and add a
Mr.. Sehgman hoped that his cleverly designed campaign of at.
tack on the mining industry would serve to cover up the lack of en-.
lack Of sentiment for Cox throughout the state. More carefully man.
aged By Hanna on the platform and by Seligmhns press bureau and
his two daily newspaper organs, the Albuquerque journal and the
Santa Fe New Mexican, it might have worked ont as he planned. But
Hanna rampant violence and personal abuse ON the platform and the
Sehgman's press bureaus variable, contradictory and conflicting
statements served to reveal the whole program as a bit of political
triekery. One Of the reasons for the striking slump in Hannas cam,
paign is public disapproval Of his distortion of an important economic
problem to serve personal political ends. The seligman issue has
One result, however, has been to confuse the public mind as to
just what the states mine tax law really is No effort has been made
70 show what it is how it works and what it does. Nothing Hanna
has said ON the platform indicates that he knows.
II is importe' in such a situation, to find a citizen who has not
only made an impartial study Of the New Mexico mine tax laws. but
who is able to tell what they are, what they are worth to the state.
the Santa Fe railroad, is one man who has achieved this. Afew days
ago he read a paper at a public meeting in Al6nguergue in which he he
in another column today. The voter who wishes to know just what
the New Mexico mine tax law is, and how it works and what it does,
1t may be said that MI. Downer is in po way a champion of the
present mine tax law. Although. he makes no reference to the mat
ter inehis paper it $ a fact that he has recently had occasion, in his
capacity as an attorney for the Santa Fc railroad, to attack certain
provisions of the mine tax law in connection with assessments OF land
in Cclfax county In this litigation he proceeded particularly against
the contiguous territory provision OF the law, which IS actually the
most serious defect of the present law and which has been almost
wholly ignored by Hanna, Seligman and their assistants in the assault
on The mining industry. Mr.. Downers argument in the case men.
toned was fully reviewed in The Herald at the time the action was
instituted. His discussion of the law as a whole, therefore, will be
accepted as that of a man who is not prejudiced in its favor.
Il is important that the people Of New Mexico be fully informed
as to taxation legislation and that they be imparualy and fairly in
formed. Had Mr.. Hanna's campaign been successful it would have
been so wholly upon an unfair prejudice which, had it been reflected
property interests Of every kind. Fortunately the insincerity of the
lianns campaign, and its wholly selfish political purpose have been
very fully revealed. The Hanna campaign, in so far as Il is based on
Mr.. Seligmans plan to soak the mining industry, F" has collapsed.
tits none the less important tina. the people know the truth about
the somewhat complicated problem of mine output and mineral land
taxation. Papers like that referred to here ere of great value. This
one will bs found well worth thoughtful, careful reading. .,.