Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1922-02-15
THE CURRY COUNTY CAUCUS.

thousand people are reported to have attend
cd the taxpayers meeting at Clovis last Saturday
Resolutions passed demanding that the aO-
thorties act at once to compel the Santa Fe rail-
road to pay Its 1921 taxes The resolution also in
sisted that the 1922 assessments in Curry county
be fixed at the 1921 level
In the first demand the Journal eoncurs AS
to the second, are without the information upon
which to base judgment
If the Santa Fe railroad sincerely believes there
was serious discrepancy in the 1921 assessments,
it was justified in Withholding momentarily, It's
1921 payments in order to direct public attention
to the question It is justified in entering into
any litigation on the subject, in Withholding
its payments long enough to cripple Curry county
If the 1921 assessments were wrong they should
have been attacked in 1921 if test in court seemed
desirable. TO wait until the spring Of 1922, when
the money is due and is needed, before going into
court could be construed in light except as an
effort at coercion .-..,...
No institution big little, can be allowed to
club the people of the state Having failed to take
proper steps TO get into court to test the justice
of the assessments in 1921 the railroad company
should pay the sum due without litigation.
AS to the second portion of the resolution, there
may be room for discussion. If the facts show tina!
the average assessment of other property in Curry
county approximates the per cent of actual values
of those of the Santa Fe railroad the assessment
of 1922 should be about that of 1921 If nvestiga-
tion shows that such is not the case, the whole
matter should be open for REIMBURSEMENT just as
rapidly as similar readjustments are made in other
counties in the state. The good people of Curry
county should wish it So No honorable man wants
something for nothing in public matters
This portion of the Curry county resolution Is
based doubtless, upon the belief of those attending
the caucus, that Curry county Is paying on as high
a per cent of values the rest of the state. If
that be true tey should not be raised until other
counties are similarly raised. If 1t is not true a
resolution by 900 people cannot make it just.
Should not all Of us demand that the tax com
mission get busy to see to it that everybody pays
his just share and no more? Surely would
take the public position that he be especially ia
vored by being allowed to pay less per cent than
other taxpayers pay?
IT, as some believe. all this is gesture on the
part of the Santa Fe railroad to compel lower
ing of its 1922 assessment, that move should not
be tolerated. Coercion is out of order and cannot
be permitted.
II the tax commission now feels that the rail-
road is assessed beyond its actual value, it should
voluntarily lower the assessment. This is not true
in all probability If it is not true, but the rail-
road assessment is a higher per cent OF values than
that of other property, the other property should
be raised to uniform standard throughout the
state.
The law says that property shall be assessed at
the law should be obeyed. If the law should be
changed let change It, Meanwhile it should be
enforced without fear or favor against all of us.