The state herald., 1902-03-07
THE LEGISLATURE.

| During the afternoon the measure was
! given Its first reading in the House,
and 1t is the intention of Its supporters
to press 1t to an early vote.
The next important measure to claim
the attention of the House will be the
Gunnison tunnel bill Mr.. Hammond
claims that 1t will pass by n substan-
tial majority. The fight over the
Bucklin Australasian tax constitution
I al amendment will probably be fought
out on the floor of the House, the Bell
bill repeating the submission clause
/ furnishing the theme. 1t would seem
| that the repealers have majority in
the House, while their opponents con-
troll the Senate.
There Is strong sentiment growing
In the Legislature In favor of the Mon
tai1a system of taxing mines. In Mon
tana the full gross production OF each
mine Is taxed, after deducting the cost
| of extracting the same from the mine,
with the cost of transportation and re.
ductlon. This catches the great divi-
dend producers. and yet is fair to small
mine owners. 1t will undoubtedly meet
strong opposition from the mining
members, yet may be acceded to us a
compromise measure.
A motion to recommit the Revenue
bill to committee of the whole for the
purpose of amending the mining sec
tions was defeated after n warin de-
bate by the following vote:
Ayes-Ballinger, Beatty, Bell, Brad
ley, Briscoe, Cannon, Carringer, CHS
holm, Dickerson, Dinkel, Dunlavy,
Hearth, Lewis, Lubers, Martin, Nc
4 Raney, Rawalt, Riley, Sanchez, Twom-
bly,. White-27.
| Nays-Adams, Bartels, Bolsinger,
Galley, Cunningham, Davidson, Davis,
Eaches, Fall, German, Hollenbeck,
Insley. Judkins. Kennedy, Lorber, Lyt-
tie, Madden, Manion, Montgomery of
Larimer, Morris. O'Connell, Park,
Pochon, Schweigert, Spraguc, Stubbs,
Taylor, Whitelaw, Willis, Mr.. Speaker
80.
The Revenue bill was read for the
third time in the House on Saturday.
Several members expressed objections
to the mining section. but accepted the
inevitable and voted in favor of the
bill. The vote was as follows:
Yeas-Adams, Ballinger, Bartels.
Beatty. Bell, Bolsinger, Bradley. Bris-
zoe, Burwell, Galley, Cannon, Carrin-
ger, Chisholm. Cunningham, Davidson,
Davis. Dinkel. Eaches, Fall, German,
Hammond. Hollenbeck, Insley, Jud-
kins, Kennedy, Lorber Lyttle. Mad
den. Manon. Martin, Montgomery,
Of Larimer, Morris, qConnell, Park,
Pltschke, Platt, r0chon, Raney,
Schweigert. Smith. Sprague. Stubbs.
Taylor, White, Whitelaw, Willis, Mr..
Speaker-iI.
Nays-Dickerson Hearth. Lewis. Lu-
beis, Mclean, Neeley, Ong, Rawalt. RI
ley, Sanchez-10.
Absent-Dunlavy. Harris. Hart, Gar
ella, McGuirc. Meredith-G.
Excused-T,Sombly-i.
The revenue bill passed second read
Ing in the House Thursday afternoon.
The Senate should not take much time
In disposing OF the bill. Practically
every point upon which n conflict be-
tween the two bodies was feared has
been adjusted to the satisfaction OF the
Senate. The measure should reach the
governor before the close of next week.
Prompt adjournment should follow Its
passage. The representatives OF the
mining counties renewed the fight on
the Nceley amendment and succeeded
In securing modification. II is sub
stantially the substitute presented by
Mr. Spraguc on Wednesday. and which
was once adopted by the House by n
majority OF one. II was then reconsid-
cred and Mr.. Mcclure suggested I'm
portnnt amendments. II was In that
form II was adopted yesterday. II pro.
vidcs that producers shall be assessed
on their smelter returns and non-pro-
ducers at not more than nifty per cent.
OF the lowest producer In the district.
Some OF Its opponents threatened
10 oppose the entire bill on third
reading II the section were not
changed. but II Is not probable that
they can muster any great strength.
There Is n general disposition to pass
the law up t0the Senate In It's present
form. Insurance companies were ex-
empted from the operations OF the Hat
tax; the old rates Of interest on delin-
quent taxes Were restored. and II was
decided that all druggists must pay
the state liquor tax. When the final
vote was reached ON the recommenda.
tons OF the committee Of the whole.
only ten men opposed the bill while
forty.four voted for II.
Wednesday was n warm day In the
House. The cause OF II all was she
section OF the revenue bill providing
Tor the assessment or mining proper.
Ties. Two weeks ago the Nccly amend.
mcnt had been adopted by n decisive
vote. II taxed all the mines. dcycioped
nnd undcvclopci. at full cash value.
There was general sentiment that
this legislation was too stringent, and
yesterday the attempt was made TO
modify II. by close vote the Brlscoe
substitute. taxing producers mt nifty
per cent. OF their gross proceeds nnd
non.produccrs ut not more than the
smallest producers, was beaten. Some
OF TIE Arapnhoc members were absent
nnd II was charged that they were en-.
hrnyofins 10 dodge the record.mnking
vote. These charges were renewed
when n few minutes later the mining
contingent sprung surprise ON their
opponents 10y securing the adoption OF
ihe Sprngnr amendment by vote OF
- yeas 10 - nays, This proposition
had been prepared by senator nnliett.
nhd when presented It's supporters had
no Idea II would carry. Mr.. McGuirc
OF Fremont arrived In the chamber,
however. IN time TO east the deciding
vote FOR the amendment. III. situation
was dramatic In the .xtrcmc and pro-
duccd some ili-fecilnr. A call of ,hc
house wns ordered aud all the nh.
..n'ecs except Mr. Bradley secured.