The copper era and Morenci leader., 1922-03-03
New Officers Elected Representing All
 Parts of County

That the taxpayers of Greenlee county. both large and sm,,,l. are keenly interested in the question I'll taxation and the cost of state and county administration of public af- 1alrs was manifested on Monday evening of this week when approxi- mately one hundred and fifty tax payers attended the annual meeting of the Greenlee County Taxpayers' Association held in the "Y'' building.
 Although the meeting on Monday
 night was the official annual meet ing of the Association members for
 the purpose of electing officers for
 the new year, all taxpayers present.
 whether members of the Association.
 or not, were invited by President
 Hull to take part in the meeting. At
 the conclusion of the business of the Association, the membership rolls
 were opened and sixty new members
 were added to the list representing all parts of the county.
 c. E. Hull, of Morenci, President
 of the Association for 1921, called the
 meeting to order and asked for nom nations for Chairman of the meeting
 and MT. E. H. Green was unanimous
 ly chosen. On motion of MT Hull. Secretary H. E. Brubaker read re-
 port to the taxpayers as follows: i Report of Secretary H. E. Brubaker Gentlemen:-
 l will not take up the time of this
 meeting by asking you to listen to
 the reading of a mass of figures or lengthy comment. It may purpose to impress upon you the urgent ne
 cessity of giving serious thought tu l tho faS ;aI | against. That this problem is a ser ious one, is apparent from the fact 1 that our state legislature have gone | into special session, few days since. 1 with the view of devising such legis- lation as will afford relief to the peo- | pie of Arizona from their burden Of
 taxation.
 It therefore behooves us, as bust ness men and taxpayers, to take care of our county's part in tax matters ] by making careful analysis of con
 ditions here at home.
 | You all. no doubt, appreciate that
 our taxes have increased from year : to year. and if this is allowed to con 1 tinue, it can only mean disaster. It was only during the past year that
 any attempt at retrenchment was l apparent. But when we consider ! 1 for state, county and town purposes
 were over SSO0,0O0.00 for the year 1 1921, which was over five times as 1 much as for the year 1911; and when 1 we consider also that we are up
 against the worst depressed econo-
 mic conditions in our county'S eNis- ! tence, surely we must awake to the stern realities of our situation. and devote our earnest efforts to adopt
 active measures for relief.
 i Much has been said about our
 high taxes, but very few suggestions
 offered in the way of a remedy. It is
 up to us to devise that remedy. Only by united action can this be brought about Selfish interest and prejudice
 should be forgotten; our personal in terest should be in the taxes we pay
 as a whole, and not to any certain , proposition which might benefit some
 particular person or community. but
 which the county as whole might , we'll do without We are too easily | persuaded to approve of some new activity which seemingly will cost , us little as individuals; the result is
 that we have piled up an aggregate of public costs that is discouraging to private business. So why not make
 up our minds that taxation affects I us all either directly or indirectly. a Our existence depends upon the . success of business in our communi- q ty The success of business depends l. upon profits made above expenses n An important item of expense IS
 taxes, and if they become ton burden : some the manager of q business in S stitution is forced to make cuts in l. other expenses over which he has f control. If he is merchant he may t charge you more for the goods yoI 1. buy; your landlord may charge you !. more rent: or your employer may f have to cut your salary. So yOL S would contribute to taxation in in t creased living expenses and de t creased wages.
 '. With this thought in mind, that 1t taxation is matter in which we are q all interested let us all go into Il d without prejudice or bias. Use meas d ures to control the amount of ou' h public expenditures. Use the sam'
 business judgment in public affair: d as we would in our own private IS business. Endeavor to ascertaiI D. where there are Implications or con e fiicting offices in our county ant Is town government: whether there ar
 any unnecessary functions whiel ot might be dispensed with. in viev " of present conditions. Elimirat S. everything except what is absolutel d essential regardless of how il vii
 affect individuals or special iu,e'
 ests. Establish program of ecOnors ly and efficiency to carry on right pOI