The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1922-02-05
In the Matter of Public Revenue, "Where Do W. Go From Here?"

The Finlay appraisal of mines was made public last week. 1t
fixed the value of mining properties at approximately the same as
that arrived at by the former method of taxing production and
surface improvements, and, as Mr. Hagerman said, provided a
controlling basis for mines valuations for some years. - Also II
settled tho long standing controversy by the method demanded by
the most vehement demanders. Also it cost the state s25 900 or
thereabouts.
But what did it get the people? All this talk about tax con
spiracies and bandits and hundreds of millions OF escaped taxes, and
hghtened burdens for the email taxpayer, etc; how has it benefited
New Mexico Of any of its citizens?
AS you slipped your check to the county treasurer last week
for the tax on your house and lot did you note anything tina, looked
like a reduction, or a promise, hope or dream of a reduction?
Having exhausted the resources of the railroads as tax dodg
ers; and having exhausted the resources of the mines as tax dodg
es and having used up the visible supply of malefactors of great
wealth, cOnspfrators and other stage properties as objects of &C.
cusation as tax dodgers-
Where do we go from here?
Last week the Santa Fe railroad rendered its vouchers in the
counties of Curry and Torrance for precisely one half OF the total
sum of taxes levied against the road in those counties. The tender
was, in effect, an invitation to these counties to sue for the bal
ance, if so disposed. This tender was made, as the railroads at
torneys explain it, upon the ground that whereas they allege the
railroad to be assessed at full 100 per cent value of its property in
Curry and Torrance counties, they contend that other property in
those counties is assessed and taxed at not to exceed 5oper cent of
its actual value. Therefore they alege discrimination, tender a
fifty percent tax voucher in iull payment, and step back to see
what happens.
What will happen9
Well folks, we are no prophet.
Neither are we a lawyer-nor a taxation expert.
The facts available indicate that if the Santa Fe is right, and
if that railroad, being right, can sustain its demand to be allowed
to effect a so per cent violation of the assessment law along with
the rest of the folks it charges with being law breakers. then one
of two things will happen in those counties:
Either the schools will close considerably ahead of time, or
some people are going to pay more taxes than they have paid in
former years.
And if either of these things happen it ISM going to prove that
the Santa Fe railroad is a tax dodger, because, if we have the facts
about its position straight, the railroad will admit it, resting on its
claim to protection against discrimination and seeking TO maintain
its right to break the law along with everybody else.
In the matter of increased public revenue, Where do we &C
from here?'
The occasion is ripe for a prune fed reformer yearnng to lift
the burdens OF increased and increasing taxes from the shoulders
of the people, plc. those burdens where they belong, on the backs
of the tax dodgers. and thereafter be rewarded with the aura of
renown and the coveted place on the payroll