The Coconino sun., 1927-07-29
DUAL MEET STATE TAX
MEN AND SUPERVISORS
SHOWED CHANGE NEEDED
ASSESSMENT METHODS
CONTINUED from page u

AAOAA pcSC
Hunt to amplify his call Of the special
legislative session "by including with
in such call or in an additional call as
may be necessary under the law, the
matter of the consideration of a COM
prehensive measure" not only giving
relief to present highway conditions
but to initiate the construction and
maintenance Of an adequate highway
system.
The association appointed as legis-
lative committee Supervisors Bowen
of Maricopa, Taylor Of Coconino, Guy
nup Of Gila, Chamberlain of Navajo
and Lynch Of Pinal. |. P. Mcbride Of
Gila was reelected president of the
association, James C. Kennedy of
Coconino, president, and Frank
Gates of Globe, secretary
Considerable discussion of plans for
a statewide advertising campaign was
indulged during the entire session,
and the resolutions committee brought
in plan which was afterwards tabled
and q motion to appoint committee
to work out al plan and report at the
next meeting substituted for it. This
committee is headed by Supervisor
Moore of Yavapai, the other members
being Supervisors Hunt of Mohave,
Adams Of Cochise, Knight of Gila and
Moody Of Graham.
Major w. w. Midgely, former Yava-
pal county supervisor and now $3.50
resident Of this county and Yavapai,
was called on. He responded with one
of his forceful, straight-from- the
shoulder talks. He declared that the
present system of electing supervisors
is wrong, and that the state legislature
should be asked to restore the former
method of electing the three at large
instead Of from districts as at pres
ent. He said that in almost everv
county since the adoption of the dis
trict election method the board is ran
by two members, the other and his dis
trict being shelved.
Major Midgely also characterized as
unbusinesslike and rotten the present
laxity of supervision over the expendi-
ture of money by county superintend-
ents. He made no charges of dishon-
esty against any of the county super
intendents, but said that permitting
them to spend, without supervision
and with practically no check-up. vast
sums each year, sums greater than the
supervisors themselves dispense, is
manifestly absurd and poor business.
The major asked his hearers when
comparing highways in the various
counties of the state TO remember the
tremendous highway burden that Co
conino county--the largest in the
United States-has to shoulder with
her small road money. Coconino
county has almost no money for roads,
the major said, and that they are SO
good is largely due to the wonderful
work of Major Wright, the county
engineer.
State Tax Commission
Quoting actual figures taken from
the tax rolls of the state, Chairman
Charles r. Howe of the state tax COM
mission Friday morning answered the
| attacks made on the commission bv
| the secretary of state.
Range cattle valuations have been
reduced SO per cent since the peak
years, sheep valuations 3715 per cent,
mines 331a per cent, irrigated farm
land values 33 per cent and merchan-
! disc stocks 20 per cent, Howe said
He asserted that the commission has
consistently endeavored to treat all
j classes Of property with equal fair
ness and that while some valuations
such as the producing mines had suf.
= fered a severe shrinkage it was only ii