The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1907-02-13
A BILL THAT SHOULD PASS.

In referring to the bill introduced in
the tenth assembly by Senator T. NJ.
Everett, of Chouteau county, to pro-
vide for the submission of a constitu.
tional amendment relating to a
''square deal" in Montana tax laws,
the Billings Gazette says:
Whatever reason may have existed
at the time the constitution was
adopted j~ustifying the present system
OF taxation as relates to that class Of
property, it may not be said to any
longer hold good. Mining is now es'
tablished upon a permanent and profit
able basis, and along with all other
Industries of the state should be re-
Quired to bear it's burden of the cos,
of maintaining the state %governmen,
and its various institutions. Because
OF the distinction made in the consti.
tuition, the state is compelled to depend
mainly for its upon taxes
derived from property valued at 1926,
600, 600, Notwithstanding that the &C.
tual value of all property is con.
servatively estimated at 600, 00O, 900.
This accounts for the lack of revenue
of which so much has been heard dur
ing the present session. Taxation
should be just and equitable and all
property should be compelled to bear
its rightful proportion OF the burden.
Under the constitution this is made
impossible.
The farmer, the merchant, the stock
man, the laborer owning the humble
home which shelters him. all are CON.
PEELED to pay taxes on a basis of the
actual cash value of their property
Not SO the great mining companies
which are enriching their owner and
piling up magnificent SURPRISES, and
taking no greater risks than others,
for mining as conducted in the
state may be said to have passed the
prospecting stage. In almost every
instance the monthly product and its
value can be estimated in advance to
within a few dollars. The s~pecula'
tive era in respect Of this is gone.
The business has been systematized
and is conducted on the same general
plan of all other enterprises. There
is no uncertainty attaching to it. Cos,
of production is figured down to d
cent and the value of every pound OF
metal or ore is known, hence no un.
certainty attaches to the results, there.
fore it may no longer be argued tina,
because of the risky and uncertain
nature of the industry it should be
treated more leniently than others.
Under the provisions of the consti,
tuition mining claims of any kind may
be assessed only at the price paid the
government for the ground and upor
the net proceeds. Manifestly such ar
arrangement is unfair. just think o.
any of the great mines ut Butte being
assessed at the rate Of q dollar and &
quarter an acre, and the absurdity O.
it will appear Instantly. Property
worth millions assessed no higher
than the pet lamb that plays about the
yard of the farmer who must pay on &
valuation of thirty or forty dollars ar
acre for the land upon which he raises
his crops! With equal justice and
propriety the law might tax the far
mer or merchant on his net proceeds
and assess his land at the price he
paid the government for 1t. This
might a still greater lack o
funds, but it would be only fair, &C
cording to the legal discrimination
made in favor of the mining compa
MES.
Let all the property Of the state b.
assessed equally and justly, as a mat
ter OF right, if for no other reason
When this is done we will no longe
hear complaints Of shortages in tn
state treasury and the burden now 81
uuequally distributed will be borne a
justice demands it should be. 1t
needless to say that the bill will NEE
with fierce opposition from the mo
ment of its introduction. There ar
members in the Legislature who ar
certain to exert every effort at thei
command to defeat it. but they shout
not be permitted to prevail. II tn
majority will prove true to the peopl
the measure will pass. Will the mi
jority do 1t?