East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1905-01-02

Speaking of Il mass meeting held at
sumpter for the purpose of securing
the repeal of the Eddy tax law, the
Sumpter Miner says;
The main object of the meeting is
to lnaugurate n campaign for the re-
peal of the Eddy corporation tax law.
Representative Smith is the only
member of the state Legislature who
follows mining as profession. Con-
seauently the burden OF the work In
securing the repeal OF the Eddy law.
which is an obnoxious and objection
able measure, when viewed from the
standpoint Of the miner, mine pro-
moter and mining stock broker, falls
upon him.
Ever since election. Mr.. Smith has
been quietly gathering data In sup
1 port of his contention that the Eddy
law is a bad one, and tonight's mass
meeting Is to be the occasion OF firing
many heavy guns before the conven-
Ing of the next Legislative session at
Salem
Continuing, the Miner gives an in
tervlew with Tom Gray. a mining
promoter, whose sentiment is a sam
/ pie of the opposition to the Eddy law,
and is as follows;
EVERY time I think of II lose my
temper. I feel an irresistible inclIna-
ton to go down TO Salem, bump up
/ hard against those webfoot farmers
and cent-per cent merchants of the
| Willamette valley, who have thrust
this Eddy law upon us, and tell them
in good, forceful, inelegant but high
ly expressive mining camp English,
exactly what I think OF them.
Here we are. compelled by the
state OF Oregon to pay for the blessed
privilege Of living We are taxed first
by the county (and often under an
exorbltant levy) out OF which the
state cuts a big slice. Our personal
property, in the way of mining equip
ment, milling plant, tools, powder.
/ bunk houses and boarding houses,
and our patented mining ground, are
( taxed often to the limit
what do we get in return? Does
either the state or the county build
roads for our benefit? Does the state
maintain bureau of mines, or a min
eral exhibit for the advertisement OF
the industry? Does the state, with the
money taken from our pockets main
tain college OF mines? Does It do
anything for our benefit?
"Not on your life. The state says
20 us: You will kindly pay us IA little
more money for the privilege of doing
business within the borders OF this
commonwealth. IL you do not, your
charter viii be revoked,
AS ] said before, the federal gov
ernment compels the miner to expend
annually the sum of 800 on his min
ing claim, thereby encouraging devel-
opment. And now the state of Oregon
steps in and compels the miner--not
to dig a deeper hole. not to expen6
more money in developing his minera
holdings-but TO pay direct into tn,
Golfers of the State "A sum of money ir
many instances greater than the fed
ernl government requires expended IN
> the ground
81 am connected with mining cor.
poration in this camp, capitalized a
S25o0O0. Under the Eddy Jaw we ar,
compelled to pay an annual tax o
$40, which is just about the wage o
one miner for one month. This then
is depriving my company of the abilit.
to drive maybe 10 feet of tunnel. or t.
sink shaft in pay ore, instead of re
curing that labor be done in develop
ment of the ground. and in the en-
hancement of the mineral wealth o
this state"