The Havre herald. [volume] (Havre, Mont.) 1904-1908, 1907-07-19
The PROTEST
IS VIGOROUS

MheA ulosdtiSldCllOH mas lOf some
time been expressed among the en-
ployes of the Great Northern road in
Havre over the enforced deductions
made from their wages for the poll,
poor and other taxes for which the
state holds the company responsible
for collection. The workiagmen's side
OF the case and the fact there are SER
1ous misunderstanding in one quarter
or the other are clearly shown in the
following protest which has been in
circulation during the week.
A PROTEST.
TO Division Superintendent J. Fl. Nc
Naught of the Great Northern
railway, Havre, Montana.
We, the undersigned, members of the
Order of Railway Conductors, the
Brotherhood of Railway Trainmen,
the Switchmen of North America. the
Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers
and Order of Railway Firemen, de-
sire to respectfully lodge with you a
protest and plea for information.
1t is understood that a man who
has had no vote in Montana cannot
be compelled to pay the poll tax n
Montana.
| 1t is our understanding that man
who is not citizen Of Montana and
who is citizen and voter and prop
erty holder in ether states, as In sew
eral cases we may cite, cannot be
compelled to pay poor tax in Mon
tana.
It is our understanding that no one
but voters and citizens may be COM
PEELED to pay road tax in Montana.
It is our understanding that no one
not citizen Of Havre, nor a prop
erty holder in Havre, can be COM
PEELED to pay city taxes for the ben
Ell Of Havre-and, yet, we are noti-
fled that such charges are to be made
against our salary for July.
We believe we are being mulcted
regularly in an illegal manner; that
part of our wages are being taken
away from us without justice-and
we have grave reasons to doubt that
the money SO taken Is devoted to the
purposes stated; We protest, most
emphatically as in us lies, to paying
taxes without the slightest notifica-
ton or explanation from any state,
county or company officer.
| If the deductions made from our
checks are warranted and legal we
would like your full explanation of
the matter, Otherwise, we may say,
each signator, we shall take the mat
| ter to the courts to find out where
the citizens of other states stand in
Montana.
| In this connection we may call ycur
attention to the fact that an attempt
has been made on the Montana dlvis-
ion to collect these taxes from unnat-
uralized Wcrkmen and even from Jap
anese Workmen who cannot, under
the laws of the land, enter into any
of the benefits of citizenship. Their
protest, we understand, was effectuai;
our protest, we hope, will be given
as respectful and speedy hearing.
We are not citizens seeking to dodge
our just support of governmental and
civic affairs, but We are demanding TO
know by what rule OF law or justice
We are compelled to pay for this twice
and by what rule Of law or justice
we may be compelled to pay taxes
/ where we cannot possibly receive any
neutrality-suspicious. when this taxa
ton is imposed upon us without noti-
fication.
Believing in your own fairness and
Justice, and knowing that you must
have all the facts at hand, we hope
for an immediate and complete exrla-
nation to our committee.
In an interview accorded the Her.
| aid by request, Attorney F. n.
Utter, after long research of the
law, says:
"The whole question resolves itself
about the meaning of the word in
habitant' The law requires that each
of these must pay these taxes COM
| planned of One definition given by
decision of the state courts is: "A
residence is the place where one re-
mains when not called elsewhere for
labor or other special or temporary
purpose, and to which he returns in
seasons of repose.' AS the COR
poration can act safely only by in
forming itself correctly of its en-
ployes liable and withholding these
taxes from their wages where there
is dispute, and compelling the col
lector and employees to fight the mat
| ter orf in the courts il iS natural