The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1907-08-07
MAY RESIST THE TAX.
County High School Matter May Be
Taken Into Court.

Taken Into Court.
The additional tax alton necessary
to establish and maintain q county
high school is not welcomed by many
Of taxable property in Chou.
tea county. They believe it is un.
necessary and unjust. They would
not object to the establishment Of sew.
eral high schools located at various
points in the county, provided they
were not compelled to pay the expenses
Of such institutions. The payment of
additional taxes is the feature Of the
proposition to which they are OF.
posed.
The imposition OF q county high
school tax would apply to every item
Of assessable property in Chouteau
county, and would be particularly
unjust and burdensome to communi.
ties that already bear the expense of
msintaining district high schools.
The latter provide for the education
of their Own young people, would de.
rive no benefit whatever from q our.
ty high school, and look upon the
payment of additional taxation as an
injustice to which they should not
voluntarily submit. They regard it
as double tax alton FOR high school
purposes.
In view Of the additional taxation
contemplated by the establishment of
q county high school, the matter was
recently submitted by several tax.
payers to local attorneys for investi.
cation, for the purpose of ascertaining
its legal status. They have been advised
that the high school law itself is de-
~fective to an extent that has invali.
dated other acts passed by state legis-
latures, and that some of the proceed
ings connected with the recent special
election ignored the legal require
ments to q degree that should render
the election void. Court decisions
upon similar grounds are cited as
authority for the belief that q contes,
in this case would result f%avorably to
the taxpayers.
1t has not yet been definitely de-
cided to bring suit to prevent the col.
lection of what is believed to be an
unjust and unnecessary tax. The pro-
ceedings will not be instituted unless
the taxpayers themselves express q
desire that such action be taken. II
they prefer to pay the additional taxa
ton year after year, without any eff
fort to protect themselves from thu
imposition, they have that privilege.
A anvas of Chouteau county tax,
payers is now being made, 70 ascer'
tain their wishes in the matter.
The county tax levy in Chouteay
county last year was II mills. 1t il
understood ~that-owing to a large
general school tax required under
new law, and increased demands upol
the public treasury-the county ia,
levy this year will be II or IL mills
A county high school tax is no, in
cluded in this estimate.
Should suit be brought to determin'
the county high school matter, ther'
will be no animus whatever in III,
proceedings. Their sole purpose will
be to secure protection from a higl
rate OF taxation. 1t il perfectly legiti
mate to seek such protection. Tn,
advocates of q county high school ex
e~rcised their rights in availing them
selves of the law providing for the ee
Establishment of such an institution
Those who object to the payment Q
taxes may also exercise their right t,
appeal from anything they believe t,
be unjust, il they SO desire.