Albuquerque morning journal., 1922-03-04
A MENACE.

Were Mr Percy Wilson of Silver City merely
the attorney for the Chino Copper company, his
Performance before the State Tax Commission on
last Thursday would be less shocking to the moral
sense of the people. His views might be regarded
then as reflecng the wishes of his client, instead
Of his personal attitude.
But Mr.. Wilson is prominent local republi-
can in Grant county He is a delegate to every
republican state convention where issues are in
voved In 1920 he was a member of the commit
tee on platform and a member of the sub-com-
mittee of that committee, having charge Of the
wording of the party's declarations. His disingen-
uousness in this matter before the Tax Commits
sion throws an interesting sde-light on his actv-
ities as a member OF this committee on reso!u-
tons.
At the session OF the legislature in 1921 MI
Wilson was much in evidence. After the Special
Revenue Commission, of which GOV. Hager~
man was chairman, had submitted bill as a rev.
enue code for the state Mr. Wilson and his asso-
clates promptly said that it would not do, There
upon Governor Mechem, with astounding solicit
tude for the mining companies, undertook to con-
sttute committee to rewrite the bill. This an
official committee made up of the governor
Senator Phillips and Mr.. Wilson Mr.. Wilson did
the active work of rewriting the bill and the COM
mittee held special meetings each day in the Of
flee OF Governor Mechem. This practice
tinued until the bill was nearly prepared. when
tax expert, and Gov Hagerman were admitted
to the conferences.
In the last days of the session a representative
OF the Journal was granted the privilege of being
present at the conferences held for the purpose
Of arriving at a compromise. our representative
pointed out that the provision of the bill, desis-
mating that the average net income for the past
five years should be used as the basis for the
1921 assessments, was so adroitly drawn by Mr.
tn Ieav do1lht IN Ne 1,.pan
contention was ridiculed by Mr.. Wilson and his
friends who insisted that it perfectly clear
that such basis should be used by the state Tax
Commission. Governor Mechem overruled our
insistence that the clause be clarified.
Now Mr.. Wilson appears before the tax COM
mission insist that the bill is not clear in this
regard and that it the purpose of the legisla-
tors to base the 1921 assessments upon the net in
come for 1921. AS this net income would be
nothing due to the idleness of the mines, the
Chino would have net income tax to pay were
Mr.. Wilson to prevail.
This situation well illustrates the predcament
into which the people of New Mexico have fallen.
The pledges of Mr. Wilson'S party skifuy
drawn by his fine hand to mean nothing. The
laws which the legislature enacts drawn not
by representatives of the people but by the attor-
ney of Chino Copper company, in order to leave
a doubt as to the meaning
That the people of the state have so long en-
dured this brazen effrontery is beyond the com
prehenson OF any That any party sc
controlled can long endure in the public esteem
is past belief.
The confidence of the Journal in the State Ta7
Commission has been steadily rising. These mer
seem to refuse TO be controlled by the specia
interests. Mr.. Wilson was turned down flat il
his contention, as he should have been. Perhaps
he will appeal to the supreme court in the hop'
of finding a more cordial forum.
The time is coming rapidly when of th
Wilson type will be a liability, instead of asset
to the mining companies and TO the republican
party What earth the party leaders thlak
ing Of when they lend themselves to such pur
poses is beyond human understanding.
Concerning Mr.. Wilson a man, a privat
citizen an attorney the Journal has advers
comment TO make. But factor in decidn
upon republican tax policies writing republican
platforms and tax bills, he is menace.