The Coolidge examiner., 1942-08-14

A4ooN - wv OSbot u TAX ueilH
quency
While the governor continues to
talk vaguely of millions of dol
lars" his state and county proper
" tax statement. officially signed
by w. II Linyille. Maricopa coun-
ty treasurer. reveals the governor
Is delinquent S4.09-his total pro
perty tax payment for 194I
Observers explain this interest
in the governors tax delinquency
by pointing out that millions of
dollars" is nothing but a vague
term 10 the average person. But
the average individual can get
downright indignant over the fact
that a governor drawing $500 a
year from those who pay their
taxes fails TO pay his own insight
ficant property tax bill OF only
S409
As one newspaper inquired. "In
what condition would Arizona's
finances be- If all taxpayers fol
lowed the example OF Gov. Osborn?
In connection with state financ-
es II Is amusing 10 close observers
To witness the manner in which
the governor has hedged within a
week. First. the chief executive
claimed the cash surplus" on June
30. end OF the fiscal year. was in
excess OF one million dollars. The
state treasurer's Official statement
said II was slightly in excess of
three-quarters of a million dollars.
Today. the governor has shaved
his own estimate to $500, 900. indi-
eating that his figure is quite
flexible.
As matter OF fact. the "sur-
plus" was only bookkeeping sur
plus Outstanding claims, for
which warrants weren't drawn on
June 80 TO permit a good political
showing. ate up some $4,000 of
the mythical surplus on the very
day after the governor took a bow
In newspaper releases.
Then. too. the excellent condi-
tion" OF the state treasury is due
to enormous increases In sales tax
receipts and the receipts OF $780,
600 from Boulder Dam power rev
enues. a negotiation OF Bob Jones
Colorado River Commission. fac
tors over which Osborn had abso-
lutely no control.
But the governor. never a stick
Ter for facts. either as a publisher
or a politician, goes blandly and
boastfully on his way claiming
anything and everything on the
presumption the people won't know
the difference.
Observers OF the states political
picture agreed that interest in the
current primary campaign. which
for a time was dormant, is warm
ing up with the election only three
weeks away.
From several sections OF the
state come reports that slight in
creases have been reported in the
number of electors qualifying to
cast ballots on Sept. S. In Mari
copa county. however, the total
has shrunk to $1,000 potential vot-
els. a loss of 5 900 from 1910.
In Coconino county an anticipat-
ed increase of 40 per cent in reg
istrations. due TO employment OF
several thousand men on the near
by Bellemont project, has shrunk
10 an increase OF only per cent.
according TO county officials.
ed .penMfiM,P shrdl ushrdlus
New registrants in Coconino are
required to exhibit convincing evil
dence of one years residence In
the state and proof OF other qualifi-
cations before being permitted to
register.
Maricopa county Is regarded as
the principal battle-ground in this
wears gubernatorial and congress
sional contests. The vote In the
so-called "outside" counties is ex-
pected to be widely divided be-
tween the is candidates for con-
gressional nominations.
In the contest for the Democratic
nomination for governor. however
veteran observers predict Bob
ZONES will repeat what he did IN
1e4O lead Osborn outside Mari
copa-and by a considerably wider
margin.
These observers say an increase
in Jones strength is particularly
noticeable in Coconino, Mohave and
yavapai in the north where bust
ness men are openly accusing the
governor of stirring up class hat
reds in an attempt to WOO the sup
mort of labor organizers.
Candidates Sor other offices sub
scribe to the opinions of political
observers that Bob Jones strength
in Pima. Pinal. Cochise and Yuma
counties is considerably greater
- a.. a relative neriod in the