New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1920-11-26
SPECIAL REVENUE
COMMISSION FILES
EXTENDED REPORT
WOULD MAKE NEARLY ALL
STATE AND COUNTY OF
FICERs APPOINTIvE, CON-
SOLIDATE EDUCATIONAL
INSTITUTIONS. AND SHIFT
DUTIES FROM ONE OFF
CIAL TO ANOTHER

Changes SO sweeping and radical
as almost to revolutionize the pres
ent taxation system and the state
ar' county governments are recon-
nicnded bv the special revenue cow
m ~sion in 'i- rr0Or' f'ci on Wed
Weeds, Uth aeiinp Governor Pan
kew
The commission was authorized by
the special session Of the legislature,
last February, TO make an exhaustive
study Of the whole plan of taxation
and government, and TO report To
tho governor not later than January
|. The commission appointed by
Governor Larrazolo was composed
OF Former Governor II. J. Hager-
man, of Roswell, chairman; Albert
G. Simms and w. w. r .don, OF Al
buquerque; John Joerns, OF Ration
ard ". g.. Haydon' Of Las Vegas.
The report proper consists of 10
chapters, comprising 236 typewriter
pa ges, and is signed by all five mem
bcrs, although Messrs. Joerns and
Haydon concur with certain reser-
vations on some features. These re-
servations may be disclosed through
a subsequent report by the two mem
DtTs- mere w II DC SuDliiihSu diSc
a series OF appendices. carrying re-
ports, tables, authorities etc.
Beginning with the question OF
taxes. the commission recommends
that the legislature enact a new re-
venue and taxation code. Rec ting
that from 1915 TO 1919 the taxes
levied jumped from A,29o.98 to
81, 10000, the report finds that "Ex-
trayagance. waste and inefticiency
in government is due in very great
measure TO ignorance and cupidity
and. in lesser degree, to the ex gen
cies OF politics We do not believe
that New Mexico $, on the whole.
worse off in these respects than some
other states"
The trouble with taxation is found
to be, not so much the fault OF the
system as the inadequacy OF admin
stration. Declaring that the state
tax commission has justified its es-
istence, the report recommends that
its resources and powers be strength
cned materially. by making it con-
sist of three full time members.
We recommend that the entire
assessment procedure be central zed
and professionalism. We have
found no other solution which we
can commend in confidence" the re
port SAYS Under this plan the state
would he divided into five assess
mcnt districts, each charge of
district supervisor with local as
SCISSOR and deputy in each county
hil these d.. rict and county tax o..
filers are 10 be appointed, after an
cA"UilN., ,.eh TO prove "le NO'"p,
cnce' 4his pan Nouiu 70 illSI w. ease tl'e
as>ess1ie"l to't py "yV'o
!t j. ''''",'N 'H"l ''e
cll'1ieh'S W"'iu ''' "'o'e wa" Wv
SCI h'> cost
NolI'N.Iohal amendments ana ieg
si'liNe ehaolhieh's are recommena
er SO as 10 ADOPT ihe SNORT pa'iot
10 make ouy the governor neulen-
AM governor ana auaiior eleeiiFe'
ali uther oiuccs noi aDoiished belnP
lNtd p} ne governor by appoint
utht, N'.. me con thi OF ihe sen
ate CH'er iHe'e ieeoHiiHe "l' '''oHN'
iht auiIlN'' v. % i' "es'I .cd rs som
plI.Iei Mo..a nave lie changed
ana W'N-. 'c aii io.hlta uy me gov
ernor. lhe travelling AUDITOR. no"
appointed by the auditor. would De
come auditor and would be elected
and would be ahoWed an adequate
corps ot 'stsnis he ONCE OF
commissioner oi public la9ds would
D.. ahoiIs.rl' me adHi" statloh OF
th, public land, being under a ken
by the board Of regents oi eduea
ttnal ins, buttons. ms Doara "ou,i
consist OF i've members ana would
direct TIE WORK OF an educauoha'
Institutions. ne state corporation
ccmmiss on would be abolished part
OF the work beng assigned TO INC
Office OF secretary OF state the bai-
lrce remaining under the direction
% a commissioner OF public ut IL
ties. The Office OF insurance com
missioner would be abolished, the
work being divided between the bank
examiner and the state tax comm 3
SION. The Office OF legal ADVISOR 20
the governor would be abolished. Inc
handing OF the au'ornopils hoehsr
tax would be taken from the seere-
tary OF state and put under the
state highway commission.
The commission protests aga nst
proposed increase IN the member
ship OF the supreme court from three
to five justices, which would meas
an added expense OF SlSUU year.