The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1907-01-23
WEDNESDAY, JAN. u, 1907.
EQUALlZE THE TAX BURDEN.

EQUAlIZE THE TAX BURDEN.
Among the legislative gossip that
comes from Helena is the announce.
ment that the state government is EN-.
barrassed by lack of revenue. There
are not sufficient funds, it is alleged,
to conduct the public affairs of the
commonwealth 10 an efficient and sat.
isfactory manner.
That is probably q true statement
Of the stu alton, and the cause is not
difficult to explain. Under the unjust
discrimination resulting from existing
tax laws, the state OF Montana is trans.
acting the public business of q COM
munity that has over 500, OOO, 900 worth
Of property, while its revenue is de-
rived mainly from taxes upon proper.
~ valued at less than S225, 600, 900.
1t is suggested that the problem of
securing more revenue be solved by
increasing the burden upon property
that now produces most of the revenue
for state purposes, but the more equi.
table and just solution would be q
change in our laws by which all prop.
erty shall pay it's proper share OF tax
alton.
Governor Toole, in his message to
the legislative assembly four years
ago, made these significant remarks:
Equal and just taxation of ALL
PROPERTY in the state at its actual
value, is the Indispensable condition
upon which general contentment and
prosperity rests"
That condition never has obtained
in Montana and never will exist until
the state constitution be amended in
respect to the exemption from tax
alton enjoyed by of mining
property. The mining industry is es-
tablished upon a firm and solid founda-
ton; mining operations upon prop
critics that have been developed are
conducted upon a business basis; the
monthly product and its value can in
many cases be accurately estimated in
advance: in fact, there is less uncer-
tainty and risk in operating mining
property of known value than in any
other enterprise in Montana.
That is a fair statement OF the stu.
alton, and yet, under these favorable
circumstances. the tax laws of Mon.
tana in regard to mining property re-
main the same as in early territorial
days when the mining industry OF
Montana vas confined principally to
prospecting. Under the provisions OF
Section 3, Article MI, of the state
constitution, mining claims contain.
ing gold, silver, copper, lead, coal,
or other valuable mineral deposits,
are assessed at the price paid the
United States therefor, and also upon
their annual net proceeds.
The Montana rancher, stockman or
business man who has a few thousand
dollars invested in livestock, farm or
city real estate, or in any form OF per-
sonal property, is required to pay
taxes upon the actual cash value OF
his property. The citizen who invests
in mining property Is taxed only upon
the net annual proceeds of his invest
meut. In this age Of the ''square
deal' there should be u unanimous
desire among fair.minded citizens
including members of the tenth legis.
lative assembly-to redress this griev.
Gus wrong, to remove this "unius,
discrimination.
Equal and just taxation of ALL
PROPERTY in Montana will provide
sufficient public revenue for all legiti.
mate purposes. The people Of Mon.
tana have the right to say whether this
exemption from taxation enjoyed by
owuer Of mining property shall con.
tinue, but they mo exercise thai
right without permission from the state
legislature. The latter has the privi.
lege of permitting or refusing to per-
NIT the people to render a verdict IL
the matter. Will the tenth Legislative
assembly respond to the demands o.
the occasion by authorizing the sub
mission of a square deal' amend
ment t. the constitution which shall,
require ALL PROPERTY in the state te
be taxed at its actual cash value?
II the tenth assembly shrinks from
such a public duty, will it provide fol
the submission of an amendment tina
will give equal justice to all con
cerned, by requiring ALL PROPERTY t
be taxed only upon its annual ne
proceeds?