Albuquerque morning journal., 1922-04-18
NINE TAX INCREASE.

When the Journal was making its fight before
the legislature in 1921 for bill providing for the
ad valorem assessment of mines and an approprta-
tion of $25 900 with which to employ expert ap-
praisal engineer TO fix the values of these mines we
were accused Of urging the legislature to extrava-
gance The $4,000 sure to be wasted" 1t was
claimed.
The appropriation was made and the money
spent, The state tax commission now informs us
that as a result the mines will pay 100000 more
taxes in 1922 than they otherwise would have
paid This is eight times the cost of the appraisal-a
rather good investment.
This same appraisal, with slight alterations from
year year, will basis for mine taxation
for many years. BY spreading the cost through a
five year period during which it will serve the
amount will be 5000 per annum. This is one
forteth of the estimated added taxes this year. or
two and one-haf per cent. We are rather proud
OF the bargain which we strenuously urged upon
the legislature,
Had not the Fates been against the showing
would have been much greater, Soon after the leg
isature adjourned great slump in the copper mar
ket led to the closing of the metal mines They
have remained shut down ever since. Had pros
perity continued these appraisals would have been
many millions higher than they were placed by
Mr.. Findlay. In this he acted conservatively but
wisely we believe.
However his appraisal fixes the values of these
unoperated mines at 100000 more than The net
output system gave them in the year of their great
est prosperity when Chino Copper, for instance.
had income of around $10.OOO,OOO. Had conditions
been similar this year these appraisals would be
at least 100000 900 higher than they are under
present conditions. These facts point to the con-
cuson that the political activities of this financial
group have robbed the state of something like
100000 a year in taxes for the past half dozen
years Rather profitable political activity. we
opine!
This illustrates what the special interest group
has been doing to the public through its ascend
ancy the republican party. They wrote their
own tax laws in return for their campaign contri-
buttons. To put up 100000 to corrupt the ignor-
ant and purchasable vote of the state good
business"
As result, the treasury robbed. But, worse
STILL the public morals of the state corrupted
until New Mexico became rotten burrough' for
little potico financial gang.
As the journal pounded away month after
month on this condition were called every con-
ceivable name and slandered back bitten and
assailed in unbelievable fashion by the minions of
this gang. Now it Is all perfectly clear. We were
right. Many good people were confused. The
scales should fall from their eyes and they
should see clearly how just was our and how
entirely in the public interest was our fight.
lis 1t possible that right-minded people can be
80 blinded by politics that they will longer be de-
ceved by the lies and innuendo Of these influences
and their publicity satellites?
The Journal is proud of this piece Of public SER
vice. 1t is but one victory. however, of a series
which must be won before New Mexico can come
into her We will fight on.
When Mr.. Findlay first appraised the mines OF
Michigan he made very conservative finding
From year to year he raised his original figures
until the mines of that state are adequately taxed
In this he was probably right the shock would
otherwise have led to protracted resistance in the
courts by the mine
If the mines fully taxed in New Mex
leo they would drop out of politics except to pre-
vent sand -baggng legislation just the Santa Fe
Railroad has done. But they will not drop out yet
They will fight to hold their assessments down
They will stay in control of the republican party
and the state for that purpose If they can do So
This is our prediction Should this prove to be an
untrue prognoss will say SO when we see that
we were wrong and find that their political
alert public opinion must protect them against in
Justice.
Previous campaign contributions entitled
them to protection" They are getting 1t now at
public expense At their request the troops are in
Gallup guarding their operations at the expense OF
the taxpayers to the tune of probably 1000 Der
day.
How long, o. how long will patient and long
suffering public endure such things? How long, O.
how long, will the public continue to countenance
and support newspapers which assist in such fraud.
by misleading the public?