The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1921-08-17

Unable and public spirited citizens In
It's membership. but In a we'll known
fact that It's system OF financing ~
self ls such aa to preclude ANY control
by the actual bona fide residents and
citizens of the state. without the
contribution made 10 II annua.y by the
Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fc Rail
road company. and its allied Interests.
the New Mexico TaxpaycrH' aHsOcia-
ton could not exist thirty days. lie
officcrA directors and members are
good citizens. but nevertheless. the
policy OF the association Is controlled
by the santa Fe railroad. for II III
policy were N a~ntaEonistic TO the
railroad. any man of ordinary sense
ought to know that the railroad con-
tributiOn would he Withdrawn. and the
association itself would Immediately
collapse. The association IA. TO al
lntents and purposes. a railroad or
ganization. controlled by Il. and act
ms no a railroad lobby.
Tlc Matter of Lobbying.
Now. there " no objection. as this
office views II. to the Santa Fe rail-
road. or any other corporation. main
tanning a lobby for it's purposes. II II
Wishes 20 do 20. Lobbying IL. In itself,
merely one method whereby the cit
izen can present his ideas to M law
M F'"fh" " ~ - ENtHHN -
members OF the w. 9. r. T., working
for prohlbitory mcnsures-cnttle men
Attempting TO obtain passage Of a
Wild animal bounty law-or the head
OF an educational institution asking
FOR Increased appropriations, are al
lobbyists. The travelling auditor has.
at times. lobbisd, and he has the same
right as any other citizen or a cor-
pOrntion. So has citizen who
..l.A.. a.. 49,. ....ah4.. la.. eA.N IA.
thinks ought to be done. q. course,
lobbying for a wrong object, or with
a wrong purpose. or the use OF illegi-
inmate means. cannot be defended,
but any citizen. or corporation. or as
soc alton has the right to exert It's
influence and speak It's opinion on
the merits or dement's OF any proposed
legislation.
Consequently. there can be no valid
objection to the Santa Re railroad
maintaining a lobby at the state
capital. II il desires to do so. And a
man employed by Il FOR such purposes
L. probably Just as essential In the
general scheme ~ things as d mcr-
chant. or a public official. or a
doctor. But he is employed by the
railroad and represents them Just as
surely and certainly u their counsel
or the man who sells "A mileage book
nt the ticket window.
However. the railroads. for some
reason which has not yet been
tathomed. generally resort to subtcr-
fugc 10 accomplish their purposes. II
would he perfectly proper to hire n
man and place him In santa Fe, to
tel. the people that he was employed
to look after their interests. and by
thus taking the people into their
confidence. their representative would
have an honest and open footing
Hut instead OF doing this. the railroads
proceed to organize "a Taxpayers as
sociation." the general idea being
disseminated that II Is composed OF
actual Citiscns and resisents. a
"dircoto' is employed. and the AS
ISOLATION" assumes to speak Tor the
people" and tax payers" when, as
q matter Of fact, n only represents
the railroads and their allied inter-
csts. There " no objection 10 the
organization OF a lobby to look after
their interests. II known as such, but
the subterfugc. when once known.
always creates resentment on the pat
OF the people and railroads very often
defeat measures which might right
fu.iy have been enacted into law. by
uch methods.
or course. whether the New Mexico
Taxpayers association is. or II not
a railroad lobby, Is beside any actual
discussion ~ the merits or dement's
Of the proposed amendment itself. but
the people are entitled To Knuw what
the interests are that are forcing the
fight for the adoption of the proposed
amendment and to form their con-
illusions with such knowledge.
Erroneous Issue Created
Now, there is only u cas- Tor
a.aa ..MHNHu.NN-. NH..aN...L. 80. Nna
lCvics. II the tax lcVics heretofore
made have been necessary and the
monies raised thercfrom honestly ana
efficiently expended. why the amend
ncnt?
Government must be maintained.
Schools. and roads. and salaries, and
boards OF heath, and wild animal
hountics. and the are OF the poor
and san tho preservation ~ law
ana order. the t-onsrrNatiu" Of natural
resources, the payment of debts, and
the hundred and one other things
governments are Instituted for. must
ne taken care Of. Otherwise. govern
ment would he a farce. n. In th5
past, all these objects have been at
taincd with reasonable efficiency. and
no undue waste or extravaganza or
graft. there would be no need of q
constitutional amendment limiting
the taxing authorities In the making
uf lrvics. ~ curse. any man knows
there is some waste. aud incfficicncy.
and i~ncompctcnCy. At times. some
official tries to steal the public's
money u these things did not exist
at All. the state would have no need
.tu ma ntuin "a travelling auditors Of
flee. But L. ask IA constitutional
amendment limiting the tax levyinE
power Ia every activity Of government
prcsupposes. As a matter Of course.
there has been such enormous and
~far-rcaching waste aud inefnciency
and corruption In the expenditures Of
public funds as to demand drastic
methods OF correction. Withou; sue a
presumption. there IL no reason what
eve FOR the adoption Of such AZ
amendment
The New Mexico Taxpayers assoc
iRtion has long held to such theories.
or at least, assumes 10 believe In
them Il tells IA OF the extreme
necessity Of clecting honcgt and COM
pctont men to officc-thHt " waste
and extravaganza we're ciimHtCd our
tax burdens would be greatly re-
duccd--that the expense Of the state
government has increased 400 per
cent In a few yenrs-that county
governments are running wild-that
graft and corruption are the rule.
and not the cXccption-that cities are
rapidly going hankrupt-that all
things must be ha ted=that the