Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1920-11-26

After pointing out that furtner
increases in certain departments
may be expected. the report states
that "even when the utmost care
is exercised in public expenditures
there will still be need of addltlonai
revenue to the end that certain
classes of property shall not pc 100
heavily burdened. 1t Is for these
reasons that we recommend bet
ter and moro efficient administra-
ton. an income tax to bring intan-
gihle wealth under the burden pf
taxation and an ad valorem basls
for taxing the mineral wealth oil
the state.
Show Assembly Waste.
AS an instance of extravaganza,
the commission cites the increase
of the legislature from twelve 10
twenty five members in the upper
house and from twenty-four 10
forty-nine in the lower The COM
mission points out the doubtful in
crease in efficiency of the larger
bodies. Other eXtravagances are
cited as due to ignorance, cupidlty
and political exigencies, although
il is declared that New Mexico Is
apparently no worse off than other
states in this regard. However, the
commission holds that the taXpay-
ers of the state are less able to
hear the burdens than those OF
richer and more thickly populated
states.
1--WE are in complete accord,
saws the commission, with the
opinion generally held that, ire
spectiye of the source of revenue
supply, too much is being spent IN
proportion to the benefits received
In other words, We believe that the
amount of money now being spent
for governmental purposes in this
state even If 1t is properly distrib-
uted, would be a very severe bur-
den on the taxpayers, greater
burden than they should be re-
ouired to bear. Perhaps this would
not be true were the burdens oil
federal taxation not 50 great
Wealth Development Slow.
The report then urges that in the
state of New Mexico, "the chances
of any rapid development OF wealth
producing revenues are very re-
mote. No program involving RAPID
increases in public expenditures
can be properly predicted on any
rapid increase in our taxpaylne
ability ..... New wealth in th's
state must depend in a very large
measure on the development of az
riculture and mines. The grazlns
industry upon which so great a
share of our prosperity depenoS
has, In the opinion of honest on-
servers, reached its limits and, IN
fact, passed it's zenith. Our ranges
are already overstocked.'
The advances in irrigation are
polnted out, and at the same time
the handieaps are shown. The ne
cessity for the modern irrigation
system as contrasted with the OLD
ditch systems built. by the Indians
is mentioned. The report forecasts
that not over 10000 acres of LAND
In the Pecos valley will ever bt
brought under effective IRRIGATION
In the state. Cotton raising IN the
Carlsbad sector holds out a prom
Use of raising the values OF lands
there.
May TIL Million Acres.
Summarizing the agriculture
prospects, the report says: "Unles'
there is an entire reversal In the
order of nature, 1t is not probapl'
that in the next hundred years,
total of more than million acre.
Of New Mexico's 78,000.000 acres o
land will be brought under contin
| uous and successful cultivation.
| Perhaps, a very considerable
increase in the aggregate of taxable
| values in the state will be ultimate
| ly brought about by success OF Or!
| farming ,.... An honest analysis
of that situation will, however
| clearly demonstrate that the who'll
4 subject of dry farming in this com
| munity Is still in an experimental
stage, that nowhere near enough
| has. as yet, been demonstrated II
THAT respect to warrant the state
ment that dry farming is a success
"As to the development of he
r,;neral resources, New Mexico ha
aiso been VIGOROUSLY slow. No sec
ton of the United States was s.
early explored for precious miner
ais. But in spite of this earl,
original discovery of those ore
hearing districts, their develop
i went has been exceedingly SLOW
and the total number of producinl
mines in this state is now compar
atively small" The commission
then points out that there is now
revival of mining in parts OF IN
state which may eVen.uahy iiiea'
additional taxable values.
No Railway Building Likely.
| Taking up the question OF rail
lroad valuation, the commission de
| clares that the railroads are tn
| greatest revenue producers In tn
state and points, out that they. pa
TAN the taxes levied against them
while the average payment IN IN
stats u Eoupd ninety PEI cen