Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1920-08-08
ON COAL NINE TAXATION.

The suit of a Santa Fe railroad subsidiary to have
the state corporation commission reduce its taxes
upon some 1000 acres of coal lands in Colfax
county from $1O9 per acre, where it placed by
the assessor, to the 50 Or 50 per acre paid by the
Springer interests" on several hundred thousand
acres will suggest to many minds the old proverb
that when thieves fall out, honest men get their
dues"
This observation viii hardly be just The Santa
Fe seems disposed TO pay its just share of taxes, so
far as we can learn but objects to being ruined by
determinations. Then, too, large proportion of
those of us who criticize placing almost GRIM
inalIy low valuations upon own property. This
is done very largely to prevent carrying an UNJUST
proportion of the burden sentiment must be
created to bring all assessments up to where they
should be and then lower rate Of taxation
instead of making criminals of ourselves by beat
ing assessments down.
However, the subject of this discussion is the low
valuation of the Springer interests" and the meth
DDS used to bring them about.
The most ubiquitous person around the sessions
Of the legislature and the state house is Mr. Charles
Springer.
If any legislator cannot draw the bill he wishes
to introduce the accommodating Mr.. Springer, who
is most excellent and experienced bill-drawer Is
always present to whip it in shape for the grateful
legislator. The only compensation desired is the
vote of friend-legslator for some small and "unm-
portant" clauses which Mr. Springer wishes inserted
in pending bill
A fair example of such "unmportant" clauses is
this, in Chapter So, Section a. Of the Laws of
1915: and the amount of said valuation" Ga small
tonnage tax on coal produced) shall be taken and
considered .. in lien of the mineral values of
any and all other contiguous lands held or owned
in the same right by the person corporation so
taxed for the future extension of such mining OPP
eratons."
Simple isn't It? But by it Mr.. sprngers COM
he
some two or three hundred thousand acres of land
1t holds in monopoly, contiguous to the mines from
which it is producing coal
The Santa Fe company virtually admits, in its
bill that the coal lands should be assessed at 500
per acre We venture the assertion that 5000 per
acre would be low.
By the simple ruse of the above clause the
'sprnger interests" are escaping the payment, we
believe of better than 900 per year and have
so escaped for years.
But that is not all. The state tax commission
and the attorney generals office need to explain.
On August %, 1917, Harry L. Patton, attorney gen.
era in opinion 2O50, held the above law unconsti-
tutional, thereby throwing the tax back to an ad
vaorem basis. This opinion was ignored and is still
ignored by the tax commission and the present
attorney general. Had it been followed, several
million dollars would repose in the public
golfers which snugly tucked away with the
corporation
We would be glad to publish anything these
public officials TO say in defense of their action
Governor Larrazolo has announced his allegiance
TO the principle of just mine taxation AS an earn
good faith. he should at once forcesan nves-
tigation of this situation and compel proper action.
only for the present year but by suit to recover
for past years
Somebody pays the taxes. If the big holders
do not, you pay them for them, Will the people
stand it?
Mr. Springer did excellent work the council
of defense and the highway commission. We
give him due credit, But If, by display Of public
spirit we could get close enough to the powers that
be- to save $1,000 600 or so year. we would bubble
over with public spirit morning, noon and night