New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1920-10-08
BURSUM PRESENTS JOURNAL
EDITOR IN FINE LIGHT
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treated the so-called bourgeoise in
Russia. The miner is the kind Of
man who is willing to hazard his
last dollar on the judgment of geo.
logical science. That kind of a per-
son is a game sport, and s neither
a sneak nor a scoundrel. This class
of our citizenship is entitled to a
fair, square deal, no more, no less.
"The present nine tax law was
copied principally from Utah, II
was passed, if ! remember correct
~, in 1915, and was approved by
a democratic governor. William 1.
Mcdonald, SO that the responsible
ity for its passage is div ded be-
tween the republican and demo-
cratic parties. ! do not say this
in derogation Of Governor Melon
aid because ! regard Governor Nc
Donald as having ven the SIT
an able administration. At the time
Of the passage Of this law the Chino.
company's tax. which seems 70. be
tie PRINCIPAL mining company VI n
Won are civ NO especial attention 70
was approx mately $60000 per an-
mum Today this same compaH.
under the min tax law, pays
excess Of S300000 annually. This INV
was not perfect. but IT was IN im
provemcnt OF the system in vogue
AZ that time, and not nearly 50 dc
fective a law as some demagogues
would have people believe. The Yalu-
alton upon which tn s tax is pr Z
---A-s--14 r--4.1r vns1fa~~r Iha
market value Of the stock in New
York representing the capital Of this
company approXimates Sz4tD0O so
that If one we're to take the market
value Of the stock the tax would
be pad upon a basis of about 20
per cent. No doubt the trHe theory
should be that all property holders
should pay on the bas s Of 100 pei
cent Of the value Of I'll cir holdings.
But the true theory Of equality
is by comparison. II all people pay
on a 20 PER cent valuation that would
make taxation equal. I find that the
Chino is not the only concern which
does not Ply taxes on 100 per cenl
OF IFS valuation. There are others.
For Instance the Albuquerque Morn
uc Journal was bought by you for
$4,000. 1t is to be presumed that
that is its value. Yet on the tax
roll il appears for the year 1920 as
being worth $4,000. Therefore the
rate of taxation upon which you
are taxed would be only about II
per cent Of the true value of your
property, while these copper barons
Of whom you complain so loudlv
are annarcntly taxed upon 20 per
cent Of the full value of their hold
inPs. Now you may say that You
were not the owner of the Journal
or the first day Of January and did
not make the return. However, you
have been Nthe owner for several
months, and the time has elapsed
when the equalization OF values was
had by the county commissioners
Of our county, and If you were se
Jealous about the return Of prop
CIV NJ rs fuil valve Won would have
had ample opportunity 70 have co..
.-,..d TINS valuation. y seems II
me that any person who poses as n
moral political dis%infectart should
commence disinfect nc his. Iown
house first.
As time goes on experience teach
as better and more efficient methods
o. government, What was thought
apo, may be Judged defections to-
day. + IS true in all lines OF thought
and action. The republican parity
has lost none of its progressive
50 rit, and before you had any con-
troll over the Journal the leg stature
authorized Governor Iarrazolo to
appoint a commission of five 10
thoroughly investigate all phases 81
tax laws OF the state, and report 10
the succeeding legislature through
the governor its find ngs and recon-
m%endations. The commiss on was
appointed; il has functioned; its
recommendation will bemade IN due
time. Every unbiased citizen will adj
m I that the personnel of this com
mission as 10 ability, character and
patriotism fully measures up TO the
needs of the time. The state repub-
lican convention took notice 81 this
action, approved of il. and pledged
lecislat We action based on the COM
missions findings which would p-o-
vide equality between all property
holders on taxation.
Do Won understand that the re
publican party in this state has nov
er failed to keep its pledge1 n
YOU do. what are Won quibblirr
about Why this disturbance or
m'nd, Whv these deraqogic ex-
plosions' Why these suspicious as
pensions; Why setting m all these
GHOSTS Why this lack OF faith in
the honesty OF a party 10 VIII ch
You pretend 10 lean toward. which
party has never been guilty OF fail
ing TO keen 9 platform pledge? Did
not the reprbl can state convention
adopt a platform substantially in
harmony with what you claimed as
vour platform at the head Of your
editorial columns' Have you de-
Perforated 'nto the support OF per
sons rather than measures and prin-l
ciples? Are the tactics of the dem
ocratic mud-buckct bridgade being
ccntag
] hope you will give this letter
the same prominence and publ city .
YOU gave your attacks on me
through the columns of your paper. !
Very truly yours.
.