The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1921-03-12
BURYING A FAKE ISSUE

~ the light of the record of the legislative session ending today Ul
will be- difficult for the most skilful dcmagoguc to successfully
= make a partisan political issue out of New Mexicos taxation prob
lens in the next state election. a fake taxation issue was very skill.
fully raised for use in the last state campaign. The issue was fast
cncd upon the mine, Of the state, who were held up as tax dodgers
and public enemies. The issue was atiuny constructed by certain
individuals who were out to soak the mines, and in tn" earlier
stages of the campaign il had lis impression On the public mind.
Unfortunately for its asutc makers this minctax issue was pre-
scented to the people mainly by a band Of political blacksmiths who
were not. trained in the successful handling of So fragile a thing as a
fake political issue. They broke it early in the campaign and dis
played It's works to the public. The result was overwhelming de-
feat for the projectors of tm, fake issue and for those who hoped to
ride into office upon it.
For some time prior to the last campaign New Mcxicos revenue
problems had engaged tn" attention OF many citizens mat at'to-
tmn by taxpayers 10 these problems resulted in the creation Of the
special revenue commission. did much more than that, however
for it brought men To the legislature who were earnestly interested
in rcmcdying the faults in the revenue system. These men We're
srmbly. They were not in the Legislature to punish any industry,
or to make Il political issue ont of grave political problems. They
were there To help solve the problems rs best they could
The result of this attitude was seen from the beginning to the
end Of the session. The dcmagogu"S raycd in the earlier days of the
The republican members, working steadily at the big job before
them. were branded as traitors TO the people" The Glamour dinin-
either side of the legislative house, -
At the very end of the session there was presented the interest
ing spectacle of the most rabid of the agitatorS for impossible tax.
alton legislation. the Prophet of the Dawn of the New Day, vigor-
revc: ne code n, republican members of the assembly had revised the
document produced by the special revenue commission.
Everyone who gave any attention to the work Of the Legislature,
with the single exception Of Colonel Cutting and his Santa Pc New
Mexican, was prepared to agree at the close of the session, that a
very earnest aud quite successful effort had been made TO improve
with only minor exceptions, voted for the rcycnu" code with indyid-
ual expressions of satisfaction with it. Nor can any democratic
partisan blame any of these men for so voting, because they were ox
pressing convictions gained from close observation and active par
tcipation that the right kind of effort for taxation reform had becn
made.
The perfect taxation law is yet to be framed. The new revenue
have had. With the administration it will receive under Governor
Mcclcm, th, law will result in a better assessment and a better col
lection Of taxes II will result, within a short time. in a reduction
Of the overhcavy tax rates. and if the people see fit 10 write into
the constitution the limitations proposed in the amendment TO be
voted upon next September, the lowered tax rates will become per
mancp', and the benefits enduring,