The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-02-25
MOUNTAIN STATES
WOULD TAX THE MINES
Bill in Idaho Legislature Meets
With Opposition.
BLOW AT THE INDUSTRY
PROPOSITION TO LEVY TRIBUTE
ON THE GROSS OUTPUT.
lsnecial Correspondence1

Boise, Feb. 23.-One Of the most IN
teresting G7estons now before the Ida
no legislature, and one which in q
large degree viii work for the veal or
woe Of the mining industry of the
state. is that relating to the taxation
of mines. a bill taxing the gross out
put of mines has been introduced by
Senator Moore of Latah, and viii come
up for hearing in a few days.
So far the concensus OF opinion not
only in Boise, where the sentiment is
practically universal against 1t, but in
many other sections of the state, the
measure meets with condemnation.
There is not one business man of any
prominence who favOrs IT. The prac-
teal effect would be to turn back the
tide of capital now setting toward Ida
no to aid in the development of the
vast mineral resources of the state,
and thus cripple the chief industry of
the state.
Already in many Of the counties the
mines pay a very large proportion Of
the taxes. A leading mine in OWyhee
county paid last year the sum of Sd
69450. over 81, 500 more than that paid
by Mr.. Noble with his vast fOcks and
herds. In addition to this, the men in
the mine paid 81 500 a year poll taxes.
capital to develop our resources. sup
port our farming communities in a
number of counties by furnishing q
good paying market for produce, and
pay out big sums for improvements
besides. and hence the proposition to
lay additional burdens on them in the
way of taxation is not popular with
the fair-minded people Of the legisla-
ture.
On the contrary, it is seriously pro
posed to introduce a bill in effect that
mines in this state shall be exempt
from taxation for, say, ten or twenty
years, as they are in Colorado. It IS
this doubt and uncertainty caused by
the advocacy from time 20 time of UNI
wise measures like that of the present
mining taxation bill that cause capital
to hesitate and cripples the efforts of
those who are striving to bring capital
here to develop our resources. A care
full test of the legislature shows that
the bill will not become a law.
The subject Of the Pan-American
congress is occupying much attention
just now in legislative circles. The
house, with remarkable unanimity,
passed the bill apprOpriating SIS, 600 for
the purpose of making a fitting exhibit,
and the senate now has the matter I'M
der adViSement. Now that Oregon has
made a liberal appropriation for this
purpose, and other states are falling
the things to be expected that the SEN
ate will fail to concur in the house bill.
Public sentiment generally favors the
proposition as the best possible adver-
tiSement of the resources OF the state.
Within a short time the state CEN
trail committee Of the Democratic party
viii be called together to fill the yacan-
cy- caused by the appointment of K. /.
Perky to the position Of judge Of the
Fourth judicial district, and to lay
plans for the thorough organization Of
the Democratic party in every precinct
and county. This work of organization
is Imperative, and the committee, with
other leading Democrats now here. viii
formulate plans and they viii be car
ried out. "A meeting Of the chaiTmen
OF county committees of the Silver Re
publican party is called for March
in this city, at which time it is pro-
posed to discuss all matters pertaining
to the future of the party. From re-
liable information obtained from these
Chairmen. and from other leading Sill
yer Republicans in the state. there Is
little doubt that the party viii formally
disband and go over in a body to the
Democratic party.