Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1920-12-08
LET US HAVE PEACE.

1t is 10 be hoped that the mine owners of New
Mexico will see the wisdom of acquiescng in the
report of the Special Revenue Commission concern
ing the ad valorem taxation of their mines with
expert assessment.
Certainly no injustice come to them from
such a program. Ii they do not want the best
of it, they should have no objection to being taxed
on the same basis everybody else. If they feel
that others are escaping with under evauation they
should join hands with those who wish for justice
and should aid in bringing about a public senti-
ment which will compel everyone to consent to
an equitable distribution Of the tax burden by es-
tabishng a system of professional assessments. To
reason that they justified in seeking under
assessment because some others do so is to argue
that 1.-TWO wrongs make a right"
All honest men want to pay their exact pro-
portion toward the expenses of government Eff
forts to escape taxation are usually predicated on
the theory that others not paying their just
share and that evasion is merely self-defense
against getting the worst of it."
No one should be asked to bear than his
just burden. But the remedy lies in aiding in the
establishment of a system which will compel equity
instead of adding to the break down of justice by
also becoming "taX-dodger"
Every man should be willing to accept full
evauation on what he has Public sentiment should
then require exposure to public ignominy OF tax
evaders as that visited upon draft evaders
only so can state of public opinion be created
which will demand square deal.
Such a law for mine assessment as is contem-
plated should be surrounded by all necessary pro-
lection against injustces, such, for instance, the
right of appeal to the supreme court. With such
protection the big interests really have the better
of the little fellow for the amounts involved are
large enough so that the cost of their appeal is
inconsequential while the cost of appeal to the
small is prohibitive. That is the price most
Of pay for being poor,
If the mine owners will approach this prob
lem with sympathetic Willingness to do right they
will find plenty of cooperation in seeing that
justice is done them. Their unwilngness in the
past has brought all their troubles.
The attacks of the Journal on these interests
in recent months has been based upon their AFRO
giant assumption of the taxation functions of the
state and their determination to fix their taxes to
suit themselves Neither capital nor labor can
presume to be bigger than the state without nvit-
ing a fight from those who believe that the
thority of the state is supreme and that the
rights of all Of the people paramount to the
wishes of any few.
1t is highly desirable that class issues be avoided
and that part Of people be arrayed against
any other part We wish 1.-THE lion and the lamb
to lie down together" But we are unwilling that
when they do so the lamb should be in the stom-
ach of the lion. They must lie down equal
terms Inc journal denies That 1t is an inciter OF
prejudces when it combas any other basis of
agreement. Permanent peace must be based upon
justice. We propose to have that kind of peace
even If We have to fight for it.
If further public of the mine owners is
fomented by the Journal it will be the fault of these
gentlemen and not of the Journal The Revenue
Commission, created at the mine-owners' request.
has pointed the way to a solution The people ac-
cept their suggestions. Win the mining men do
likewise?
theory of the generalization" of mines in taxation
and adopts the equity theory. If the penalization
theory ever prevails in New Mexico it will be the
penalty of an arrogant defiance of public sentiment.
We believe the who direct these great in
terests see the wisdom of dealing frankly and
equitably with the people. We sincerely hope So