The Helena independent., 1889-08-02
AFrERNooN SESSION.

AFIERNOON SESSION
Oa reassembling Galloway moved that
the convention reconsider the vote by
which section 4. proposition q, finances of
the state, was adopted. Carried.
The section is as follows:
bitches, canals and fumes heretofore
or hereafter constructed by any person,
company or corporation, for the sale,
rental, distribution or other beneficial use
Of water. shall be taxed upon the annual
net proceeds of such sale, rental, distribu-
tinn or use, in such manner as may be pro
vided by law. Provided, that the use and
price OF such water shall at all times be
subject 10 regulations by the board Of
county commissioners, OF other authority
as IN this constitution provided; and pro
vided, further, that this section shall apply
only to the bitches, canals and fumes Of
such persons, companies OF corporations as
shall, within such time as may De provided
by law after they commence the sale,
rental, distribution OF use of water make
and hle in the Office of the secretary OF
state, their duly executed written consent
t0 be subject 10 and comply with all the
terms ana conditions of this section and all
provisions OF this constitution, and fail
ure of any such person, company or cor
poTatiOn TO make and file such consent
shall render the bitches, canals and fumes
of such person, company OF corporation
subject TO taxation in the same manner as
other property without regard TO this sec
ton, So long as said person, company or
corporation fails to file such consent"
Collins moved to indefinitely postpone.
j. h. TOOle said 10 was never designed by
inserting this proposition that the United
states or the state of Montana would be
anyways interfered with. but nothing OF
the kind was the object Ii was in the in
terest OF the taxpayers. Ii be had his wsy
he would be in favor of the United States
taking charge of the water not only to
build bitches, but to have officers in charge.
IL this were done people who are now un-
able 20 take land could enter hOmesteads
and have the land ready for occupancy.
But Il would be long time before the
government did anything of the kind II it
ever did The section was introduced In
behalf of actual settlers. The county com
missioners were instructed to supervise all
Things pertaining thereto. There could be-
no discrimination. Corporations, ike in
dIviduals, transacted business from a bust
ness standpoint IL it is in the power of
the state TO protect the people he took
h that corporations were not going to be-
swift To take advantage of it, Without
water there are millions OF acres that are
vElueless, but If water could be- brought
upon n, u would create new values. Our
position Is an anomalous one. We cannot
depend upon the rains 10 make our lands
fertile He was surprised 10 see the zeal
0usness with which Mr.. Collins opposed
The proposition. He went so far as To ch r
acitTtze the proposition as the work of
lobby. He was willing to give every mem
Der credit for having an eye single 10 the
measures introduced for the good of the
public
Myers said that if the clause giving the
legislature power to exempt property had
not been stricken out he would have sup
ported the section. There is q vast Quanti- \
~ of water in Montana, and there Is no
such thing as monopolizing this water, pro-
vided reservoirs are constructed. Any
one who had had experience with capital
knew that bitches were dead capital
bitches are being constructed over Mon
tana by stock companies. IL that proper
" is to be taxed as other property is taxed
il would stop and for many years prevent
the construction of bitches. On the other
hand, il these little companies are not
taxed, they will go ahead and make land
valuable. From conversation with SEN
tor Plumb he was satisfied that there will |
BE- no difficulty in securing lands for reser-
vOirs, and il this be true the people of |
Montana should not be exempt from taxes |
further than that proposed In relation to |
water-the net income He wanted TO see |
the section put upon its hnal passage and |
passed
Opposed to Corporations.
Stapleton said the subject was of so |
much Importance that he did not feel like
taking il up now. 1t was legislation and
should be left to the legislature. This year
being dry one, has caused the people To
zgitate the question about building bitches
and reservoirs, but II left To the legislature
there would be time 20 talk the matter up.
The legislature can do everything that is |
necessary. He WAS not in favor of giving |
the legislature power to exempt anything |
from taxation except that prescribed by
law. A man takes out ditch and makes |
land utterly worthless valuable. Ii was
the same way with corporations: they made |
land valuable, but the men who put money |
into the bitches should be made 10 paw |
taxes as well as the persons who improve |
the land, We wanted law which will |
make it Just and equitable between the |
men who own the bitches and the men
who own the land. he would like to see
the motion prevail and the section indefln-
iteiy postponed.
In Judge Knowles opinion il was not
legislation at all. II special exception is
not made for these water companies he did |
not see how they could be taxed at all. |
The constitution provides that mines shall |
BE- taxed in q certain manner, and we could |
as well prescribe how water shall be taxed. |
No one could go 70 3 merchant or farmer |
and tell him what he shall sell his articles |
for. He wanted 10 see all of Montana /
prosper because Il benefited the whole /
state IL we could TX up something To /
make the agricultural interests of Montana i
prosper he would vote for t. He could not
see how persons in the agricultural districts
could be opposed To the section, which he
hoped would prevail
Cooper did not wish 10 see the motion of /
Collins TO indefinitely postpone prevail
He lived in the Egypt of Montana, the
Gallstin valley, and this measure was de-
msnded by his people TX is plain prOpo-
sition that TO improve any portion of this
territory would improve II all. He wanted
the section carefully considered and
adopted.
A J. Burns said we hsd IN this territory
20, 600 acres OF arid land, and about
5 OOO,OOO could be irrigated by private en-
terprlse. he was opposed TO capital coming
In and taking up the land which can be
tly irrigated and leaving the hard Dor
ton 10 the United States government OF to
the state.
Middleton was in favor of the section.
de said he rode IN company with Senator
Stewart TO Miles City last week, and the
seu-tcr wAs highly elAted a. the land he
saw in tie Yellowstone valley, which
could be irrigated without reser-
Noirs- II these lands can be frri- |
gated and made productive IN
rs the part OF wisdom for US 70 maze II
part OF the constitution allowing corDora |
tons 70 construct bitches for the recIama
tion OF them IL is true that il savors some
WI e OF legislation. but IL was a safe thing
70 adopt IN the constitution He probably
mi at have opposed exemption of rinine
pr uerty from taxation, but he WAS moi
prep AIRED 20 say that IL was not right, look
Ing from the vantage view that IL was in