The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1921-11-29
THE TAXPAYERS ASSOCIATION

meeting IN Albuquerque ON Monday, December 9th. The invita-
: tin Of the association reads that 'ai citizens of New Mexico
who are interested in an efficient, economical administration Of pub
lie affairs will be made welcome at the meeting, whether they are
members Of the association or not. This is fairly comprehensive, as it
is assumed that all citizens are so interested. Ii should bring out a
large attendance, for, as the associations call states The constant
ly increasing tax rates, the uncertainty as 10 future valuation of prop
erty for purposes of taxaton, and the difficulty of collecting taxes
assessed, are subjects for serious concern. They call for the most in
teIigent consideration of which we are capable"
The trouble seems to be that our concern and intelligent eonsid-
Grafton for these problems, while both can be aroused from time to
time, are not sufficiently sustained aud persistent to lead us to murh
progress
In the campaign of 1920 a great deal of wholly unintenigent con
sderation was given TO the question of taxation. Violent ~prejudicesI
were voiced and the principal appeal was TO prejudice and not to in
felligence. One set Of party leaders was seeking to sustain a sys-
TEN of taxation then in force, without putting forward any very def
mite proposals as TO correcting its obvious defects. The other side
was violently attempting to wreck the system without proposing any
thing intelligent in its place. The wrecker advocates were defeated ;
the sustaining forces were elected. The result was a tax law revision
which left our taxation system as freely shot with defects as was the
Ease before the revision was undertaken. This situation and its out
come are in no way unusual. II IS the common course of taxation and
revenue agitation and tinkering as practced by state governments
and in the national government. We have just witnessed a parallel
case in the national congress wherein two major points of an interli
gent administration program revision were defeated by the dema-
gogie cry of the minority party of 'legislating for the rich - a cry
which frightened a sufficient number of politicians on the majority
side to cause the defeat of an intelligent maximum supertax and a
retroactive excess profits tax repeal.
More intelligent consideration, further careful deliberation and
pressure for complete removal of the shackles from business will
overcome political fears and bring about these necessary amendments
in time. Our state taxation and revenue procedure will improve
slowly and surely. Prejudice, political expedency and demagogie APP
peal will not help il.
1t is only through organized, non-pardsau, persistent effort that
taxpayers can bring about lasting reforms The taxpayers associa.
ton in this state has offered a medium for such effort. Unfortunately
this work has been left to a few corporations which sustain the asso-
citation. Popular support and interest have fallen away and preju-
dice against the association has been created. Referring to this, the
association, in its announcement says;
at has been repeatedly charged that the Taxpayers association
ia exclusive, and has failed to regard the welfare and development of
the state. An impartial, dishnterested consideration of the record of
the associations activities will reveal results that have been of ben
eft to all who bear the burden of taxation in the state"
This is all true. The association has done some very valuable
work and has saved taxpayers large and small a great deal of money.
The fact that it is sustained by the contributions of large corpora
lions, however, has lost IL the measure of popular interest and popu-
lar support without which tax reforms are impossible. There has
been no time when the small taxpayers might not have joined the as
sociaiion and participated in its work. They still have that oppor-
tunity, and it would be a very fortunate thing if taxpayers generally,
either as individuals or through representatives elected by farm bu-
reaus, commercial bodies, etc, from the several counties, could be
represented at the meeting here; consider the reports Of the work that
has been done and ask for IN active part in future work Of the asso-
citation, should it be continued.
There have been times when it has seemed that some of the pol
icies advocated by the Taxpayers association have dictated solely
by the taxpaying responsibilities Of the large corporations; without
regard TO general welfare and state development. There have been
times when il has seemed that the association was being used to further
personal political fortunes and to satisfy personal political grudges.
At the same time, and in spite of these impressions, the useful,
ness of this organization to all classes of taxpayers and to better gov
ernment cannot be successfully denied. 1t would be unfortunate for
the state and for taxpayers TO permit the organization to dissolve be-
cause of prejudice or through lack of a popular interest and activity
among taxpayers which would easily permit them not only to have a
voice in the organizations affairs, but to take charge and direct
them.
The suggestion is made to the taxpayers Of New Mexico that il
would be to their interest TO be represented at a meeting here on De
eember 5, that they investigate carefully the work that has been done.
that they urge the continuance of the organization with widespread
popular membership and participation in sustaining the association
and directing its policies and activities. The suggestion is made for
what il is worth to thoughtful taxpayers. The Herald believes that
10 such taxpayers it Is a suggestion Of considerable value.