The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1921-09-16
Why the Eighth Amendment
Should Be Defeated

heiancc OF abeul $4,000, There vii,
be- additions BY reason OF tax coiicc-
Ions since made. 40 TINT with an IS
mill ifVy pins The balance In the
trnasufics. rufflcicet money viii b.
realized 10 conduct the schools during
the coming year. There viii be little
or no balances eft al the close OF the
school tnrm ncx' wear
Fr1pf, sc.,ool Treasures.
Too many counties are now %orcrat-
a few are ontcring lnio the present
. f. ware entering Into the present
school term without any money IN he
treasures with which to pay tho
teacherf salaries for Tho months OF
September. October. November and
December, which VIII ,ieeessita;e the
borrowing of money or the Issuance
/ stamped mo funds' and which war
rants win have 20 he discounted at
the banks or with those who VIII
Accept same always at a loss 10 the
tcachrrHh This IL not M Il should lie.
believe that our schools shouid he
operated ON n cash aals and whero yer
IL has been possible TO do ~ l have
protected h small balances now In
tht various school treasures ~ that
tar collections viii IN time accumulate
sufficiently 60 provide ready fund Tor
the first four months OF the school
torn and until tie first bali OF TIE
"a, - are &C llccted.
Tcachcr~ Must ne Pail.
I do not believe that this method Il
adding any additional burden on he
tax paying public. Our teachers are
entitled 10 be paid in cash as a matter
! Of right and now tina we have a law
, which oontro.s the budget expond.-
lures I deem II advisable that the
various counties and municipal dis
tricts be permitted 20 retain such
balances ms they now have at hand
and 20 add thereto during tho coming
| year from the delinquent tax coiiec-
tions until all shRl. have been placed
| upon a cash basis.
Mr.. AsDiund makes tho statement
that in tho event rs mills Is not suffi-
| Client the legislature may pass n law
permitting school districts Go use from
| the special levy fund money for main-
tenance. The present maximum for
| maintenance u rs mills and five mills
| for special purposes. making n total
Of 20 mills for all school purposes.
Even though the legislature eould
make such provision ! fail 10 see any
strength In the argument made by
Mr.. Asnlund as there viii be n reduc-
tion Of three mills from what can be
levied ~ the present time.
whRt the Counties Need.
Mr.. Asplund states that there arc
possibly three counties that will ok
coed rs mills. namely. Curry. San
Juan and Torrance. ] cannot at this
time give any statement as TO the
tax icvica FOR the several counties with
such n degree Of as would
be- desirable. hut just recently I have
estimated the tax levy for Quay coun-
~. Ia NV opinion thaarate OF levy in
that county vii not be less han l6h
mills. 1 hope within the next week TO
MAKE estimates " the levies for each
OF tho counties ana nE o o as I have
the figures I shall make them public.
In Snr Juan countv a levy OF q
less than N mills win be required.
The county and municipal boards In
that county made efforts TO
keep the tax rates down. The teach
ers an the rural schools are not over
paid. the ate Of pay In that county
being ts5 and SEQ per month for nine
months for first grade certificate
teachers. There II no chance of adding
60 the taxable wealth In San Juan
county to such an extent as to make
Il possible for them 10 conduct their
schools on a 70 mill maximum The
taxable wealth is not there. Those
who are familiar with san Juan coun-
IS know that the bulk or the taxable
wealth lies within the irrigated valley
and that a great portion nf this county
Is In the Indian reservation, not sub
iect TO taxation. and that there are
large tracts of land practically worth
'ess ut this time assessed at sl.l5 per
acre.
Mr. Asplund suggests that in eases
Of this Kind tho leg stature could pass
a law 80 that the deficiency woul be
met from "a higher tax on the other
counties. do not believe that this
can be done by the legislature or nc
count Of constitutional inhibitions
The passage Of such a law would