The Mineral argus., 1884-07-17

and ought to prove the defeat OF the
constitution. BY what mode OF rea-
soning any elector can reach a conclu-
! sion That will cause him to vote against
the adoption Of this constitution for
containing this wise provision we can
not comprehend. If, after careful
thought, the elector is satisfied IN his
own mind that this provision is dis
eliminating in favor of mining as against
cattle or sheep raising or agriculture,
we will endeavor to explain away the
hallucination toyhis entire satisfaction.
The strongest arguments against
this clause in our constitution are made
by men and newspapers that know
as much about mines and mining as
Horace Greedy knew about farming.
| On the other hand a number OF the
territorial papers endorse the provision
and argue for the adoption OF the
constitution as a whole.
The Husbandman, of July 10th, IN
a column-and-a-half editorial, advo-
Gates the rejection of the constitution
solely on account of this, TO 1t, objec-
tionable clause. 1t says "There are
a number of points where those deslr-
Gus of finding fault might ASST 1t, but
we might be willing to look upon these
with some degree of allowance were
that portion relating to revenue and
taxation IN accordance with the true
principles Of government. y
A new constitution can be had at the
same trouble and expense, and this is
WHAT WE PROPOSE is THE BEST THING
TO DO. Let the people reject the
instrument before them and the legis-
lature provide for another convention
to simply abridge and tone down the
present constitution to such a shape
that it will meet all the requirements
of a great and prosperous State, such
as Montana promises to be-"
1t is gratifying to know that at the
same "trouble and expense" we can
have another constitutional Conven-
ton next winter "to abridge and tone
down the constitution" for the mem
bers of the first state legislature tc
"unbridge" and tone up again. The
expense is trihing aud the dear people
much prefer to pay taxes for such Z
purpose than to clothe n of the
industries of the territory with the
protection necessary to guarantee 1t:
rapid development and the investment
of capital,
Again it says: "Not only IS it pro
posed to exempt mines but all thel
improvements hat have not an indie
pendent value, which may well be con
strued to mean everything except thu
engines, which might possibly be usec
in some other industry"
The construction here placed upol
the meaning of independent value" i
the most absurd conceivable, and w
/, venture to say that another man can
not be found in the territory who woul
/ ever think of advancing such an argu
: ment. Such statements reflect upor
the ability and honest intentions of tn
trainers of the constitution, in no flat
terlng manner.
The facts are that the section i
controversy is so constructed as t
e make it as clear as day to a child {
ordinary intelligence, that every do
e lars worth OF machinery used il
IF around or about a mine is a~ssessable
1t its full valuation, and further, all builc
ings, mill-sites, water rights, and hnall,
( the product of the mine (Which has
existence only by virtue of all the:
lie Improvements, each and every n
S. which have an independent valuation
the bullion, is taxed.
IS What more is it possible 10 tax
le what more in justice can be taxed
a Coming up from the western porto