Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1879-01-23
SHALL WE HAVE THE BELL
PCNCHe


of our best citizens touching the Teri
tOral and county revenues. it is decided
in ''vOr Of the Bel punch or some othe
eq, lily just and effective financial mea
IRE. 1t would be well for our legislator
to take the matter into serious consider:
ton. at all events, and endeavor to orig
nate and bring ont something whic
would in some degree meet the desires an
expectations OF the people.
We are not sufficiently informed in re
gard TO the details or efficiency of the Bel
punch to venture an unqualified opinion i
regard TO its merits. but from genera,
idea of its operations and apparent result
we feel warranted in saying that we hav
nothing 10 lose and almost everything t,
gain by giving it Il fair and earnest trial.
Under the peculiar conditions and cir
cnmstances Of the communities Of Mon
tana, with the enormous expenses whicl
are being constantly incurred and the sys
TEN of revenue at present in force it neces
s'r;ly works great hardship and injustice
TO one class Of citizens. while another elias,
relieved. comparatively. from I'LL bur-
dens and responsibilities except those OF
creating or increasing expenses and in
debtedness for the first class to pay. In
other words. a very large portion of the
enormous expense incurred by GIlatin
county. for instance. each year. is clearly
traceable. directly or Indirectly. to the
habits or occupations Of a certain class of
citizens who contribute very insignificant
amount toward its payment.
For the sake OF distinction. this class
may be denominated the floating populi-
ton" Of the Territory. 1t is composed
principally Of men who own no real es-
tate. nave little. if any personal property.
have no permanent homes. and although
they generally make. or handle and spend
US nue. ''loOse change" as other citizens.
yet under our present revenue laws. they
contribute little or nothing toward the cx-
Densive machinery of the government under
Which they live and prosper.
AS general rule the persons "ompos-
ny this class go along through lite in a
rec and easy manner. and are. usually.
!ood-hearted and liberal to fault. Hun
lreds of them no doubt would willingly
'ay Il reasonably proportionate share of
he necessary public revenues. if the laws
equircd if. but. under the present system
t at ratoruns taxation, they are consider
d wholly exempt. while the heavy bur
ems OF taxation must be borne almost ex-
usively by those who have. by more pru-
ent management. economical living and
ldiclOus investments. secured permanent
ONES and collected little property about
lem.
We are not by any means in favor of {
ass legislation. nor any system of taxa !
On which would appear to be discrimi- {
ting or unjust. but we are in favor of {
me system which would more nearly
uailzc the burdens than that of the pres l.,
and could more nearly approach that !
inriple Of justice embodied in the cid {
age: Those who dance must expect to
y The fiddler g
1t is notorious fact that very large
rton OF the present indebtedness OF the i
rriiory and of the several counties, has ,
en- incurred by the numerous criminal
oseclliions and their results and which
We so crowded the dockets of our dis
1t courts in almost every county and at
irly every session held since the Terri II
y was organized. 1t is fair to presume. s
It. but for these expensive trials which r.
'e been and are OF such frequent occurr-
,e, neither the Territory nor any county O
it would be owing a dollar to-day. And o
fact is no less obvious to the minds of
'er. thinking men that a large proper
of the crimes committed - perhaps.
less than three-fourths of the whole =.
which have necessitated those expen-
criminal prosecutions. are directly =.
ceable to the baneful influences of the v
HE in intoxicants and the pernicious y
'its Of excessive indulgence in the
nc. ~
We are thoroughly Convinced that. but :"
these things. Gallatin county would -
to-day be owing and paying heavy
IS of interest on upwards of $4,000,
the rich but sparsely settled county of
'solila struggling on the verge Of bank
'try with a debt of over 100000. while
handful of brave. Industrious and law in
ling citizens are submitting themselves
he unprecedented levy and payment of Ii
~ mills on the dollar on their assessabe
lerty. for the purpose Of maintaining
ID iaith with the creditors of the coun- m
intoxicating drinks could. bv any ct
onal deduction. be class,d among the
rssaries of life we should be the last to an
o ate any system of special taxation
inst them, but seeing they are at best an
lngeroas. it not baneful. luxury, We
See neither Inconvenience nor inius IL;
IN requiring them. under the most
ngent provisions of law, to pay some &c
'onable proportion. at least. of the
w expenses resulting from their habit r;
or iinmoderate Use. Such tax would
necessarily fail heavily, or he in any IN;
rec oppressive. on those engaged in the
meas. II would be paid by the actual ry
sumner and in such way that it could
k no possible injury to any. The oc- RAJ
nnal drinkcr would have to pay trifie
e for the - luxury while immod- ke
C drinkers-those who generally spend
y dollar they can ''rake or scrape'' for
draughts- would only get Gil
lie less liquor for their money. which
Id no doubt be advantageous both to I've
lselves and the community. !
the Bell punch is not just what we
J. then let our Legislators. In their lucid !
:, ''put their heads together" and in I'LL
wisdom devise some other means
n shall be loss Objectionable and more wa
mt in securing those equitable, Just !
ends which We have briefly tiOI
referred to and which are
estly desired. we think, BY all good {
ms OF Mohtana. fro