The Helena independent., 1889-08-02


Leave IL to the Legislature.
Maginnis was in favor of leaving the
whole matter in the hands Of the legisla-
ture and the more it was discussed the
more convinced he was that the subject
was legislation The question of exemp-
ton was tieklish one at the best Be
sides charitable institutions, school houses,
etc, this was the only thing sought to be
exempted for he denied that mines were
exempt from taxation OF all the species
OF property IN the world bitches are the
property which should bear their portion
OF taxation. It would be here, IL we al
iowt q corporations to have their sway. as II
IN ancient times when knights and mobiles
owned the water ways, where the lelds
once smiling with grain now lie baking
beneath the sun. By taking up these water
rights IL would interfere with the United
States or the state which might take steps
after awhile 70 construct bitches and reser-
yoiIs- He found the agricultural people
divided upon the question. II the United
States went ahead and constructed these
reservoirs, would that be any reason why
we should turn over the work of the gov
eTnment 10 corpOratiOns2 The United
States has a vast amount of land which has
been heretofore considered valneless.
Now il wants TO demonstrate that this land
can be made valuable. Suppose the gov
ernment gives the lands 10 the states,
piedging the revenues derived from them
70 be used for constructing canals and
ditches you would see system OF irriga
tIOn established that was never dreamed Of
| tie was in favor OF rclegating the matter TO
tue legislature
Ramsdell said there was a morbid sensi-
/ tiveness developed which be did not think
| existed De WAS prepared 10 say that the
| mining industry was not paying its share
OF taxes. But owing 10 the peculiar condI
! tiOns under which that industry existed he
was willing that the tax on mines should
/ be as has been fixed Agriculture was the
SOU OF existence Other Industries might
/ rise and fall, but agriculture would exist
/ forever. The lands that led the hosts OF
Hannibal still poured into her granaries
the food which supports her Inhabitants
| The measure WAS good one and be want
ed 20 see II carried
| Dixon said he had not proposed to say
| anything, but the measure introduced by
Il himself had been mlsrepresented. Not a
| single privilege was given TO a corporation
| unless on conditions which were beneficial
| 10 the people. The waters of small streams
| had been taken up aud II was
/ intended TO encourage 10 a certain extent
| persons who wanted TO invest their Capital
| IN large enterprises. If We wanted our
lands made profitable We should eD, Ourage
| every irrigation enterprise. His friend
| from Silver Bow (StapletOnl said that the
| land Increasing in value unQer bitches had
TO pay the taxes But this was not true,
| for as the net rental was increased the
| bitches would be taxed that much more.
| He wanted the proposition considered upon
its merits, divested OF hOTld OratoTy and
| silly assertions. All the matters which
had been mixed up in the discussion had
nothing 10 do with the question.
What Has Been Done.
Gibson was Of the opinion the question
should be treated upon its merits. Is it
necessary to give bonuses for enterprises
OF the kind, he asked. OF all the territories
Montana has more water which could be
conducted over the LAND cheaply. All the
water in the Teton had been taken up, and
a magnificent canal had been built To irri-
gate the lands between the Teton and the
| Missouri. The projectors of this enter
| prise did not ask To De exempted from taxa
| ton. bitches were a safe investment, and
| II be had surplus money to invest he would
seek for nothing better to invest in.
| Luce said there were no restrictions on
| such enterprises as the Northern Pacific,
| but we started out giving county commits
siOners the right To regulate and control
| the affairs of corporations. That was no
way 10 get capital IN Montana from Lon
| don ana New York. There was no differ
| eDce between the proposition 10 tax the in
| come of water bitches and that by which
| you propose to tax mines. In his county
| they had corporation of farmers and they
| were entitled TO protection as all were,
| either great or small The question is
/ whether we shall protect these corpora
/ lions OF not 10 a certain extent. lU6N
| never could become mOnopOlies because Of
the prOvisO giving the county commission
| e-s chart g.
Burleign proposed to vote upon the
/ question when it came up. He wanted TO
| present few facts which had came 10 his
| knowledge. In Custer county there are
| four practical agrlcultuTiSts who had told
| him that II il had not been for their cattle
/ and horses they would have become paup-
| ers. Two of them had attempted 10 irri-
| "a
and the only thing left for them TO do now
| was 10 20 into some other business. He
was willing TO vote for the proposition.
Collins said in mis- opinion the PROPOSE
ton was upon false hypothesis. A pre-
MUM was given TO men who invested their
money in large enterprises but not one
cent to the farmer or combination of farm
ers who took out bitches for themselves
AS d been said by Mr.. Stapleton, taxes
were multiplied against the farmer and the
men who own the bitches are uutaxed.
The matter should not be put in the con-
stitulUn for we might be working IN the
wrong direction, aud If this was discovered
after wards it could not be changed. If We
| give a bonus to corporations they will take
| up all the water in the territory. Ii was a
| subsidy which should not be given.
| bitches have been taken out heretofore
without this subsidy, and 10 give away
| $3.50 600 for $500 600 invested was wrong.
Galloway said that twenty-five years ago
| a large body of settlers in Beavcrhead aud
/ MaQlsru COUNTIES uctu the MdttIe Oh iuc
| Beaverhead until year OF so agU, when a
/ company constructed canal thirty miles
above the mouth OF BeaveThead, and last
| week that stream was dry for fifteen miles
above the mouth. These settlers had been
/ lett without water for their stock and
homes He did not propose 10 vote any
i subsidies 10 corporations. He did not be-
/ lieve in exemption from taxation of any
/ business. He knew that the net proceeds
| OF mines given out for taxation were moth
| Wit fhk3u baf
90 into the pockets of mine owners. Ii
| might benefit small miners but was simply
| a farce as far as big mines was concerned.
| What was true of mines was true of ditch
| companies
Hartman offered an amendment as
substitute which gives the legislature the
DO ,ver to assess all properties and the
methods provided for so doing.
Galloway moved TO lay upon the table.
which would carry the subject with IL.
The Motion Lost.
Collins called for the ayes and noes.
The motion to lay upon the table was lost
by ayes S5. nays 81, absent 8.
Collins offered an amendment TO the sec
ton providing that all lands benefited by
lrrigating bitches be taxed upon their net
proceeds. as may be provided by law.
J. 4. TooIe moved the previous question.
The president decided that Collins had
the fOOr.
PArberry spoke in favor OF Collins
amendment. He said il was as just for the
man who used the water 10 pay on his net
proceeds as the man who owned the water.
}. h. IOOle said II Mr.. Collins would
subject the land owner to the same re-
strictlon as the owners Of the ditch, have
the county commissioners place a value
upon his crops there would be some reason
10 his proposition.
schmidt moved to strike out "or other
beneficial use OF water" and insert ''Of
water for irrigating purposes" Lost.
Mayer moved TO strike out "shall' in
line two and substitute may" Lost.
The question occurring upon Hartman's
substitute IL was put and lost-ayes, 80;
noes, AZ; absent, 8.
The vote To indefinitely postpone was
put and carried-ayes, s.; noes, "a; so-
sent. 8
Galloway moved to reconsider the vote
and lay upon the table. LOst-syes. b;
noes. 81; absent, 3.
On motion of Maginnis the convention
went into committee of the whole for fur
ther consideration Of proposition =, mis-
ceIlaneous subjects
The clerk of the committee of the whole