The Bozeman weekly chronicle. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1883-1889, 1884-09-24

annual net proceeds Of said mines shall
be taxed as provided by law"
There it is, now reader read it care
full and see who represents facts. II
plainly says that all mines of every kind
and description shall he exempt from
taxation. As sort of sugar coating il
provides for taxing the same ground
and improvements with this provis0, 'as
provides by law" Yes, it prohibits the
law making power from taxing it forever
and then provide that the part that may
Ike taxed shall be at the option of the
legislature to tax as it may choose. But
'it taxes net proceeds" Well, if you
want to tax net proceeds then tax net
proceeds of our farm, our stock, our
goods in trade, how much would be left
Let our farmers keep an occOunt Of their
entire expenses, hired labor, implements,
interests on money invested, &C., and
subtract that from the gross receipt of
farm products and you will then have
net proceeds. At present prices of farm
products would there be any met pro-
ceeds" left ito tax?' Not much. But
you say lit exempts growing crops" So
it does. But that point is fully settled
by the common law Of reality! Growing
crops are part Of the real estate until
they are severed from the ground and
are taxed as part of the reality. That is
the universal rule of all civilized coull-
tries. So you see we are not sucker
enough to bite that "pin hook"
Now let lis see how this rule will
work. A comes into Montana and in
vests 100000 IN mines. B invests the
same amount in stock, c IN farms and d
in merchandise. Now the tax in Gal
latin county is II m. Il believeD that,
| Oh S1OOOOO would be $17OO. Now the
miner gets out of paying SLIGO, while
every other business Of equal capital in
vested would have to pay $l7OO. Now 1
ask is that fair? Is it not unjust No,
not bit of it. Let all kind of property
pay tax equal. We all share equal in the
protection that government gives us and
let us bear equal in the burden. Not ex-
empt the rich, the powerful, and Cypress
the weak. the poor.
But again you say that had it not been
for the mines Montana would never have
settled and we would all get out of here
that could get away. What, is Montana
such poor country that nobody could
live here without the mines? Where are
our thousands of cattle that live the year
round on our bunch grass and are ship
ped to the eastern markets annually?
They don't depend on the mines for
market. Where are the millions of
pounds Of wool that are raised on the
range annually and sold in the eastern
markets, they too are not dependent on
mines for market. Why, l believe
there is not wooden factory in the ter
ritory. Where are all of our fine farms
Could we not live on them still ? It is
true that the mines do furnish market
for farm products. But sir, is it possible
that after all your praise of the Garden
Of the Gods" it is so poor that the mines
are the only thing worth staying here
for, and they SO poor that they need the
protection Of the pauper act to save their
existence? No, let us protect all indus
tries alike and let every "hog root for
himself" Again, this is species ofleg-
islation the most dangerous kind that
could creep into any constitution. 1t is
designed to uphold and protect rich cor
porations. WHO'S it that own the rich
mines in our territory? The poor pros
pector who discovered them? No. he sold |
out for mere pittance and the mines
passed into the hands of a rich company.
Well and truly did the Husbandman say,
there are from fifty to one hundred
millions of dollars worth of mining prop
erty in Montana owned by foreign capt.
talists who don't pay dollar of taxes in
Montana"
l further believe this article is con-
trary to the constitution of the United
States. See amendment to the constitu-
ton, article XIV and last clause, "nor deny
to any person within its jurisdiction the
equal protection of the laws" Now to
take one mans money and exempt ano-
ther is contrary to this article and MAY
defeat our admission as state.
Montana Stock and Mining Journal
has taken me to task, speaks of my mar
ideas concerning taxation
and accuses me of stirring up strife be-
tween the various interests of the terri
tory; and thinks that the question has
been fully discussed by the wise men of
the convention and that it is now to late
discuss it. Well. it seems that the con-
vention was the servants of the people
and that we have a perfect right to ex-
anime their acts. The question is now
before the people for ratification or re-
lection, therefore discussion is the order
Of the day; but you want to muzzle free
do you? You know that once
the people get their eyes open to the
contents of this constitution they will
vote adverse to your interest. If we are
stirring up strife We did not begin it.
Your side forced it upon us, and we are
lighting for our rights and to save this
territory great wrong. II
1t is further argued to catch the votes
If the farmer who hate the railroad, that
when we are state Y can tax the rail- {
'oads. That is species of the very |
worst of pettifoging. We can tax the
abroad just the same under territorial ,
government as under state govern
nent. Now let us see if this is true, Or t
anic act of the territory Of Montana, sec.
!, "And be it;fnrther enacted, that the 8
legislative power of the territory shall c
xtend to all rightful subjects of legisla- q
ion consistent with the constitution of u
he United States and the provisions of s
his act; but none shall he passed inter- t
,ring with the primary disposal of The
oil; no tax shall be imposed on the prop a