Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1920-07-20
THE TAXPAYERS ASSOCIATION AND THE
REVENUE COMMISSION.

Elsewhere upon this page carry in full reply
from E-Gov H. ]. Hagerman to inquiry to
whether not the big railroad and mining interests
members of the Taxpayers Association. He
states that they members and that they pay into
that association the basis of fourths of
per cent of the total paid by each in the
OF especial significance, perhaps, in view of what
about to say, Is the statement of the ex-
governor that the FL Paso and southwestern Rail
road company and the Phelps Dodge company have
heretofore been members of the association, but
joining.
We pass over, tending to distract attention
from the important point, the effort of the exgov-
ernor to break into our Newcomer Club We also
pass over his inference that we deliberately failed
to call upon the Taxpayers Association in Santa Fee
with the statement that we went to Santa Fe once
for the chief purpose of making such call, but
found the office closed
We not familiar with a great many things
in New Mexico, but already had the information
that these big interests belonged to the Taxpayers
Association. We merely seeking to have Mr.
Hagerman publicly admit it,
We are not now interested in the 50 900 road
bond issue and frankly admit that we purposely
sounded wrong note corporation hostility to
road building in order to get at important
matter. We confess that railroads generally
gard good roads feeders and disposed to favor
them But wanted Mr.. Hagernan to come to
their defense.
Here lay our purpose. The special session of the
legislature authorized a revenue commission of five
10 plan tax law TO govern taxation of corpora
tons. Mr.. Hagerman, who is president of the Tax
payers Association. is chairman of that commission.
Mr.. Asplund, who is a saaried director of the Tax
payers Association, is the secretary, without pay,
of the Revenue Commission. The legislature made
niggardy appropriation of $4,000 to defray the
expenses Of this commission. The amount is totally
inadequate and the Taxpayers Association is gem
orally reported to be paying the remainder of the
expense of preparing the law.
In effect this amounts to the big interests pay
ing the expenses of writing their tax law by
their employees Does this account for the re-
cent acquisition of the PhelpsDodge company as al
member OF the association?
To minds this is indicate if not grossly i'm
proper. 1t will inevitably arouse public suspicion
of the disnterested character of tax law born OIL
such wedlock.
We wish to make two observations: ~ First Gov
ernor Larrazoo should be very careful of whom he
caused by the death of Mr. Sheridan. Secondly the
Revenue Commission should make a public report
by October, to give the people chance to 4
look over its law, top, bottom and sides. |
Any proposed law which is withheld until the leg
islature is in session will be regarded with suspi-
cion.
In fairness to the Santa Fe railroad we feel we
should say informed that it refused to allow
any of its money to be used for such purpose on \
the ground of improperly. .r ... /
In saying these things We charge no member of 4
the Revenue Commission with any intention to do Il
the public wrong. We only infer that the rela- 4
tions existing make it difficult for them to deal i'm
partially with their problem