Rocky Mountain husbandman. [volume] (Diamond City, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1879-02-27

passed in the House by vote of Is to 8. 1t
provided that Lewis and Clarke county
should paw the taxes of the railroad for II
wears. for the whole Line of road, and re-
ouired the northern terminus of the road to
be completed to Helena in two years. 1t
wouldprobably have passed the Council Dus
the President of the Council ruled thatthirl
reading of the bill could not be had without
suspension of the rules, which took a two
thirds vote. and as there was not two-thirds
in favor of it. the bill could not reach the
third reading. The blunder was made by
Sanders, of jefferson, who got III an amend
ment, as the bill would doubtless have goue
to third reading, had it not been referred to
a committee. Halt of Helena citizens sisneA
a petition for lbs passage, and AS the approx
al WIS to lie determined by the voters Of the
county there was no serious objection mani
tested toward it. The strongest opposition
was from the west side members, who fcar-
ed Helena might grow tat without giving
them a slice, except on the condition of II
subsidy, which would undoubtedly have
been the result had the bill been passed.
The bullion bill, as it was called, passed
the House by a vote of IA to r. last week.
and is now a.law.. 1T provides for the taxa
ton of the net proceeds of mines, and re-
uuires statements Of receipts and expenses
to be furnished the assessor, but 'prescribes
no penalty for a failure to do 50. The mine
can only be taxed at government price, and
the improvements are to. be assessed at their
value. 1t is a one-sided law, dictated by
those interested in the advantage it will add
is regarded rs an assurance that the Mon
tana stock-growers, farmers and. merchants
will hereafter pay the taxes Geo. Steel,
Jas. Fergus. e. G. Brooke, AL. Hamilton,
II. Mood. e. Wilson, C.. Harrington, r.
Beach, ). j. Boyer, w. l.. Perkins and g.
Edwards exerted themselves earnestly to
amend the bill 50 as to require mine owners
to return and pay tax on one-twentieth of
the proceeds oAtheir mines, but the array of
Lobbyists and monied power prevented any
change. On the final vote Mr.. Edwards.
speech was one Of the best I, ever heard
made in the interest Of the tax-paying peo-
pie of Montana. Every word was properly
spoken, sensible, truthful, polished with
round sentences, delivered with ease, good
style and to the point. No people
have better cause to be proud of the actions
of their representative than does the Gala
TIN voters who sent Mr.. Edwards. Mr..
Perkins remarks were confined to facts and
figures, a reiteration Of Truthful statements
that have before been printed in these let
tonc M. D.aa1x ..:l L.. 1.aAlt .-G.1 -
consider the bilI with the hope to see it
amended. as he wished to. see a more modi-
fied:law than the present revenue law. He,
however. did not want to have the mines
fully exempted was willing if they would
pay taxes on one-twentieth of their gross
proceeds. lie said that stock men had to
pay tax on their gross products. and
thought miners should not grumble at pay
ing tax on one-tWentieth OF theirs. Fergus
opposed the bill on the same grounds, and
the first ballot read a well-timed essay on
the subject of "equah taxation" Sanders,
whom we gave credit last week for taking
part and voting with the agricultural peo-
pie, voted for it :, and Robinson, who had
labored so hard for the bill voted no. This
freak OF things may look like statesman
ship to Tyre and Others, but to us it has the
appearance Of. being a sell-out-s.a hocus-
pocus swap The farmers can thank Mr..
Robinson tor the bill if it suits. them, and if
not, OF course they will return him next
session to do more humbuging for them
Mr.. Sanders ditto. Mccormick, of Missou-
la, assuming to represent. an agricultural
county. voted for the bill, but Mr.. NJ. would
not se!l-oh no. We take it back, he would
%notsell. Mr.. Forbis, of Butte, represented