Albuquerque morning journal., 1921-02-22


and more control over the ex-
ploitation of the natural
wealth OF the country. If the
mining interests are wise they
will take a broad view of this
subject and get right with the
public everywhere. l am op-
posed in principle to govern
ment control of industry but l
think it Is necessary for those in
control to prove that govern
ment control is neither neces-
sary nor wise.
"'I hope therefore that you
will be able to convince the
mining interests of New Mex
leo that n due regard for. their
own welfare demands co-op-
GRAFTON with a view TO bring
ing about tax equalization and
to bring It about in a way that
makes it perfectly obvious to
property holders generally that
equalization is actually at
tanned
Too Many Postponemcnts.
THE legislature should, l am
sure, bear clearly in mind that any
solution Of this veXing problem OF
mine taxation which is not brought
about in a way that makes 1t Der-
fectly obvious to property holders
generally that equalization is ac-
tually attained will he no solution
at all but only another shifting
only another postponement of a
real solution. There has been al
ready too many postponements of
a solution. Everything possible has
been done in an attempt to gather
and organize the available infor-
nation on the subject and spe-
cific plan has been before the peo-
pie and their representatives for a
good while. No alternative plan
has, as yet, been presented. Meth
er has the plan which has been
presented apparently received any
thorough consideration either on
the floor of the legislature or in
committee. The present legislature
is an unusually strong one as to
personnel. There are numbers of
strong men in both houses, good
lawyers and men of much practi-
cal experience and yet, for some
reason, with the session nearly
over, there has been no discussion,
no open consideration Of this all
important question with the single
exception of last Tuesdays hear
ings in the supreme court room. 1t
cannot be said that that hearing
added much to what was already
on record in the revenue commits
sion's hearings which We're printed
ago. Those hearings fully
record the position of the mining
companies. The companies do not
seem to have in any way changed
their position except perhaps as to
the contiguous property clause of
the present law. Even as to that
Mr.. Hawkins maintained its de-
fects, if any, were due not to the
law itself but to its defective ad-
ministration by the tax commits
sion. Whether this view was
merely a personal view or repre-
.sented the opinion of the mining
interests generally did not appear
clear.
Must Give Accounting.
an the meantime-and it is a
sad commentary on a system which
permits it--all, or neariy all, con-
structive legislation has been held
up, and obviously held up because
of this one issue, because of the
pail that this one issue seems to
cast over the whole legislative
horizon. There are many members
of the legislature, perhaps most of
the members of the legislature,
who feel deeply how anomalous is
the position in which they are
placed, for they must know that
their constituents at home are
watching fer them to come back
with assurances that they have
done something to lessen the over
burden of taxes which is sapping
the economic resources Of the state.
They must know that If they can
not go back with such assurances
that it is going to be very difficult
for them to explain why so large
q share Of the session was con-
sumed in comparative inaction, Mt
a time when action--direct, posi-
tive, aggressive, constructive aC-
tion-was clearly called for. What
little has been done in the way Of
effecting economies and cutting
down expenses is good, as far as il
goes, but. in the aggregate amounts
to amost nothing-pin- pricks on
an an elephants hide-in face OF
the crying need, and is more than
made up for by the shifting of bur
dens from a few to many groups
of our citizens.
"Mhat is the matter2 Is Il ana.