Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1922-02-08
FACING TILE FACTS.

with the cold, hard facts of most serious stua1
ton. Let US meet this situation without equivoca-
ton and solve it.
The first fact to face is page from history in
this state Tax evasion has been matter of edu-
cation among people. For years one sought
to solve the problem of taxation by a campaign of
insistence that each do his full and just share.
Evasion began at the top. For many years the
Santa Fe railroad was the worst offender and set
the worst example 1T maintained political or
ganzation and controlled the territory in order to
escape taxation, Every one followed suit. The
fellow who had to pay his proper taxes was "out
of luck"
To this day the republican organization has had
its basis in the political control of assessments. The
Santa Fe railroad dropped out of this scheme sew
eral years ago. after having founded it. When
Captain w. c. Reid became the attorney for the
railroad in this state he favored policy of political
aloofness in taxation matters. Gradually that rail-
road has come to pay amount of taxes which
closely approxmates full valuation. 1t now pays
taxes in this state on a valuation of $50 600 600.
Others took the place of this railroad in the tax
evasion system. The mine operators became the
conspicuous offenders. the height of their pros
perity they paid values about equang those
which Mr.. Finlay finds to exist in the midst of the
present slump when all metal mines shut down.
This evil is its way to correction.
This system of tax evasion through Influence
extended downward through the body polite to the
very bottom The plain fact that the public con-
science has been completely demoralized on the
question of honesty with the state in the payment
of taxes. Men who were dishonest and could get
off through pull have escaped their taxes. The
rest of the people have been compelled to join the
System" in sef-defense. The business man who
attempts to be scrupulously honest in his assessment
returns mulcts himself out of business. SO COM
pete is the decentralization that have become a
state of willing or unwilling tax-dodgers and we
swear to false and inadequate values with scarcely
qualm of conscience No knows how to
escape from the system" Honesty means unen-
durable penalizaton.
The only way out of this predicament is to adopt
system which will take us all out at time. If
everyone's assessment brought up to full vau-
alton at once the tax rate would fall correspond
ingly If the taxes of any are raised it will be
because he Is now paying less than the present low
average In that event he should be raised. He
ought to be willing to be raised. A should be
ready to be honest when the system will permit it
without unjust penalizaton. If he Is unwilling he
should be compelled.
1t is doubtful whether cure is possible under
our present system of assessment It certainly IS
not unless the State Tax Commission takes a much
sterner hand than It has in the past. All property
must be taken by the scruff OF the neck and firmly
put where it belongs the tax rolls Seventy five
per cent of the people would consent gladly II at
the same time the other 25 per cent were COM
PEELED to do in order that all might be treated
alike
The Santa Fe railroad has forced the issue. IN
Torrance and Curry counties It has rendered one
half Of the first half of its taxes 1t does this under
the claim that its property is assessed at 90 per
cent while all other property is at so per
cent II the Santa Fe is right in its premises that
this discrimination exists, It is right in its concu-
sion not to endure It, The Journal has no way o.
lyppvr -tvr
exists in fact
The railroad officials say that they picked out
these two counties because they are the worst Of
tenders" They say that example is to be made
or these counties Next year, they warn u.s. they
VIII do the same thing in every county on their
lines, unless the evil is corrected
Chaos is certain to result in the finances of
Curry and Torrance counties The condition which
will result in the schools these counties is un.
thnkabe. A solution must be found. It cannot
be solved by attacking the policy Of the railroad
company unless 1t be shown that the dlscrimi-
nation does not exist If 1t does exist the railroad
is right in resisting the imposition
1t cannot be solved by cowardice on the part Of
officials or newspapers What is the popular thing
must be forgotten and plain, blunt service must
be rendered the public. The government belongs
to the people; its policy must be determined by She
people; the bill must be paid by the people, The
people must face the problem without subterfuge
and must solve it,
The State Tax Commission should at once sup
ply the public with the best data available as to
the per cent Of actual values at which the average
property Of each county is returned II Curry coun-
y is assessed at so per cent the commission should
say so boldly They should say the same thing con-
corning the per cent in every county in the state
They should also state the per cent Of full value at
which the railroad is assessed
1t should then move to compel the assessment
OF every county in the state to come to a uniform
per cent in the 1922 assessment There has been
too much evasion of official responsibility in our
assessment system for fear OF unpopuarty. OFF,
Gals should do their duty resign
Curry and Torrance counties should not be
brought to 100 per cent assessment unless every
county in the state is brought there also The State
Tax Commission should assure these counties that
If they will accept accurate assessment that every
county In the state will be compelled to do the same
thing. Otherwise these counties would be COM
PEELED to pay too great portion Of taxes for state
purposes.
II this is done on the 1922 assessments the
friends of these counties will undertake the task
Of persuading the Santa Fe railroad to let bygones
be bygones and pay its 1921 taxes We feel con-