Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1921-06-22
WHAT is THE ANSWER?

The next few months is to demonstrate
that the state of New Mexico is temporarily bank
rupt. An effort doubt will be made to keeT
the real condition of the state treasury from tho
public until after the senatorial election Then II
not sooner, the real condition of the finances Of
the state are bound to become matter of public
discussion.
AS far as the Journal is concerned, effort
will be made to conceal misplace the respon-
sibility for these conditions In so far as they
are due to general business conditions in the state
and nation that fact should be SO stated without
any demagogery. Where the responsibility rests
upon political parties or individuals, that respon-
sibilty must be accurately placed. Only so can
any improvement in the future be hoped for
Governor Mechem told the last legislature to be
economical In many instances really necessary APP
preparations were denied. In other instances, among
which the public printing may be named, politics
ruled without shame and the peoples money was
thrown away to pay political debts The $4,000 for
a fish hatchery was instance Of political APP
propriatlons That 1t came out of special fund
does not change the situation. This fund should
have been used for essential purposes in year
when the people of the state are in distress and
are going without any frills
The record will soon be out in published form.
The Journal will then undertake fair analysis Of
the appropriations made.
But the record of expenditures does not half
tell the story of the situation Sources OF revenue
must have the first consideration. Income must
be fixed before there is money which can be spent.
The story of escaped taxes in New Mexico is a
long one. We will not attempt to reiterate 1t now.
Special interests have dominated the politics of
the state for their financial advantage. The
powerful have manipulated the laws and their ad-
minstration to load the burdens back upon
the pepole who least able to pay.
AS a result of all this, the rank and file Of
the people are grooming under a tax rate which
is CALLING in the extreme Yet, in spite of these
abnormal and unjust burdens, the state treasury
Is drifting on to the rocks
1t looks as thought it would be impossible to
get through two years without special session
OF the legislature to fix legislation.
If the election of any man to the senate
or to any other position to result In fasten-
ing tightly upon the people the rule of the
exploiters the people would be to blame for the
result. Already the public will is ignored and re-
pressed. Surely no sane people will allow it to
proceed farther.
The control of this group of special interest is
confined to no faction, is it confined to any
party. There is an element In the democratic or
ganization as amenabe to their will as is a GER
tain republican group. A change in party
label will accomplish nothing.
The people must not look upon the approach
ing election a thing apart from the general
taxation problem which is so harassing them.
What is best to be done must await developments.
What promises for the future will Senator Bur-
sum make personally and what will his party say?
Will Secretary Fall and the ant-Bursum group
succeed through their Vaccinations in naming the
democratic nominee? These and other questions,
time alone answer.
Their answer will determine the Journals
course in the campaign.