Durango semi-weekly herald., 1902-02-27
EFFECT OF NEELEY AMENDMENT
J. r. Burns Pictures r lin and starva-
tion for Colorado.


The Colorado fusion Legislature will
about ruin every industry IL possible
to do so-and just to raise money for
fusion county and state administra-
tions to squander When Republicans
were in power the state produced suf-
ficient revenue to conduct affairs, but
the state has run behind under the fu-
sionists. In this connection we repro
duce the following from the Denver
Post of Thursday:
''If the Neeley amendment to the
revenue law. taxing the mines at the
full cash value of their production is
adopted. it will paralyze the mining
industry and everything else in the
state" declared James F. Burns of the
Portland mine, who is at the 1rown
hotel,
Il came here to place an odder for
100000 worth of machinery, but will
not do so. The mine owners will not
stand such an outrage. The Portland
will be closed down as quickly as the
men can get out of the works and
know nearly all the other mines in
the Cripple Creek district will do like
wise.
Not Here to Lobby.
Il am not here to lobby. In no ext
gency will l attempt to change the
legislatures course. have yet to see
the inside of the house or senate
chambers and do not intend to.
"A tax on one-ffth the production of
mine is fair and we will agree to it,
10,
The Portland properties produced
$2.40S,00O last year. On the basis of
a so per cent assessment for the year
previous, which some persons have
suggested as a compromise, our taxes
would have been $54 900. which is $44,-
900 more than we did pay. This ex-
elusive of the assessment on improve
ments.
There is no use mincing words on
the injustice Of the thing-we will
close down and the miners will have
to suffer If this tax is imposed; We
will not run for the sake of running
: when the profits are cut out.
Such a measure is killing blow
to the mining industry of Colorado.
The agriculturists are entitled to con-
sideration; they ought to get their
dues, but why rob miners? Mining
has made Colorado. Mining is the
foundation which agriculture built
upon until it could stand alone. Den
yer owes her very existence to mining,
as does every other city or town of
consequence. We would not have
the oil industry II mining had not start
ed the population growing and produc-
ed the money. There would be no
Rio Grande railroad-the same with
other lines-if it was not for mining.
Owe Everything to Mining.
The men who have built Denver,
Colorado Springs, Pueblo-the whole
state-were miners.
Now comes q nondescript body of
lawmakers who would throttle the
mining industry
''It is not the mine owners who will
suffer, however OF course it would
be felt by them, but the men, the
women and children of the state, and
particularly the mining camps, will
suffer. The Neeley amendment will
take bread from the mouths of the
very people who elected its advocates,
posed law is enacted-another and
wiser legislature.
ITO illustrate the effects. take the
Portland property. We will be COM
PEELED to shut down under the Neeley
provision. We employ about 600 men,
Last month our payroll was $4,000
and expenses $45, 900. Throw 900 men
out Of work at one mine and see what
you get-starvation, strife.
Ruin and Starvation.
I'm the Cripple Creek district there
are upwards of 5000 men working, a
large per cent of them supporting
families. These are only small por-
ton of the army that will be thrown
out Of work If the mines are not taxed
at reasonable rate. 1t must be re-
membered that the whole output is by
no means profit. When the tax goes
above one-fifth it begins to fall upon
the men and it goes without saying
that they will not stand it. No one
blames them.
Suppose | take so cents a day off
of every mans wages, would they
stand it? Not few mines would
have to make such cuts and strikes,
( which are worse for the state than
shut-downs, will follow.
Let them pass the amendment II
they want. /, for one, will not raise
finger, but I'll give warning that the
consequences will be terrible. Pull
the pendulum of clock to one side
it is bound by the law of gravity tc
go back with greater shock and
force than it went forward, and 1t is
so with arbitrary taxation Of an indus
! try that built the state