Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1922-02-11
THIN ICE.

THIN ICE.
Let none of us fail to think clearly on the taxa
ton question which is brought to the surface by
the refusal Of the Santa Te railroad pay its 1921
taxes in Curry and Torrance counties
1t required the Iroquois fire in Chicago years
ago to arouse the public to demand asbestos cur
tains and ample exits in public play houses The
people who were aroused by it did not approve of
the fire, but they did believe in the of intellt-
gence in dealing with the fire evil, this dis
aster brought it forcbly to their notice.
Most of the citizens of New Mexico, for vary
ing and diverse reasons, will not approve of the
action of the railroad in tying up the finances of
these two counties by refusing to pay these taxes
for any considerable length of time. However,
intelligent people will learn the lesson which the
catastrophe brings and will try to find the hon
orable remedy which will prevent a continuance
or repetition of this corresponding disaster. The
cause should be reached and removed.
The Journal does not blame the Santa Fe rail
road for vigorous protest if that road sincerely
believes it is being Disseminated against in the
matter Of taxation. We do not believe that the
moral health of the state is benefited by a public
aequiescence in unfairness to that the burdens
OF government are equitably distributed.
The fact that there may be grievances against
the railroad in other lines does not justify retaa
ton by putting its taxes unduly high as compared
we believe they are, that question should be
separate ISSUE settled on its merits. If rates
too high, the excess in charges is wrung from
entirely different group of people than those who
benefited by a retaliation through tax dscrmina-
tions. To attempt to correct wrong by doing
another, is the worst conceivable practice both
morally and in practical results.
The Santa Fe railroad may not be paying taxes
at anywhere nearly 100 per cent of valuation. /:
would require experts to decide this. The Journal
has had the feeling whether correctly or not that
the railroads assessed valuations quite approx.
mately approached the cash values.
Nor do we presume to say whether Curry county
and Torrance county are grossly under assessed as
the railroad contends If this is true it is fact
which is ascertainabe with reasonable accuracy by
the State Tax commission II there is any gross
discrimination. the moral sentiment Of these coun-
ties ought to put stop TO it,
The Journal does not wish to put the stamp Of
its approval upon the method used by the railroad
in dealing with this matter The determinations
of which the railroad Complains occurred, if at ALL
last spring and summer when the assessments were
being made Then was the time to protest or
appeal. BY tax paying time the matter could have
been threshed out.
For the railroad to wait until the payments of
taxes are due and then to refuse to pay throws
the whole machinery of government out of gear and
tends to disrupt the schools of the affected coun-
not used by the railroads in attempting to correct
what the latter feels to be an injustice.
We cannot believe and do not believe that the
Santa Fe intends to the courts in effort
TO escape this 1921 levy If does this at this late
date when It has had nearly year in which to
force the correction of any determinations against
st. the people will construe it the deliberate crea-
ton of an uncomfortable situation in order to COM
pei the public to yield to its demands. such an
q
The loss of good will would be disastrous.
Again, IL the payment Of the 1921 taxes is to
be withheld for the purpose of trading with the
State Tax Commission for a reduction in Santa Fe
assessments for 1922, in return for paying its 1921
taxes, public sentiment will balk. The railroad can
not settle this matter with stuffed club. There
is way to protect the public against such
methods
The Journal understood the purpose Of the rail-
road in Withholding its 1921 taxes in these counties
to be an effort, through the suddenness and seri-
business of the problem, to call public attention to
the grossness Of the tax evasion evil We regard
such a momentary refusal to pay being rather
wholesome in its effect. It will make think over
the whole tax evasion system. Such thought will
be beneficial. Public sentiment should get right
on the question Of equity and justice in taxation.
Any time the Santa Fe railroad desires to pit
its power against that OF the state and attempts to
seriously harm destroy the functionng of our in
stitutions, by beated litigation begun at a time
when the counties can not stand the delay in tax
payments and must yield therefore to coercion, the
Journal will speak in uncertain terms concern
ing such a procedure.
We cannot believe as some profess TO think,
that the Santa Fe is about to embark upon such an
enterprise against the public welfare.
To call attention sharply to any injustice
1t feels is done it, by temporary refusal to pay,
is not unwholesome in It's effect If the railroad
intends more, it will develop, The Santa Fe
should be warned that the ice is very thin in the
direction in which many people profess to think II
is skating.