The Daily Missoulian., 1910-11-23
sUescRlsERs, PAPERS.
WEDNESDAY. NOVEMBER 2s. 1910
a FAIR ASSESSMENT.

a valuable Influence and aid nv all
sincere advocates of improvement in
taxation methods; but when it reckons
tnat i IS easy enough to make a lust
regulation Of this matter, 1t certainly
under estimates both the character.
ana the power of the influences and
( interests which will be found resist
ing efforts for equal and fair taxa
ton at every point where resistance
can be effective.
Ihfs, from the Montana Lookout
indicates that The MissoulIan's posi-
tlon regarding assessment has NOT
oeen made plain In its editorial
cosumn or else that The Missoulian
mas not been carefully read by the
Lookout For a long time we have
\ urged the necessity which exists In
this state for fair-and- square assess
ment. The action of the county com
missioners, In convention at Billings.
gave encouragement to those who had
held the belief that things are wrong
mighty wrong-in the assessment work
that is done in Montana: at that time
the discussion of the matter was re-
newed by many newspapers in the
state.
Then, as previously and as now, The
Mlssoulian was on record as favoring
an assessment which should be uni
form throughout the state and which
should relieve the man with all his
money invested in home from bear
ing an unjust share of the public ex-
pense. We renew the statement which
called forth the comment of the Look
out, that the man who pays 500
year as taxes on his home--in other
words. for the privileges of living
bears more than his proportionate
share Of the burden of taxation and
that he should be relieved
A few days ago, we remarked that
the regulation of this matter Is easy.
We believe that 1t Is easy if the men
who pay the taxes on the homes of
the state will insist that it be done.
The Lookout declares that another
constitutional amendment is required
before the adjustment can be made
complete and satisfactory. If that is
the case, let us start the campaign for
the needed amendment right now. We
are willing to enlist for the war.
If it is fair for the man whose only
possession is his home to pay taxes
upon an assessment which is close to
the full valuation Of that property, 1t
is just as fair for the railway. the
mining company, the public-service
corporation, to pay taxes upon the
same basis. The main thing is to Sc
cure uniformity throughout the state.
This is, of course, absolutely neces-
sary in order to equalize the distribu-
tion of the state tax. II new legisla-
tion is necessary, let us get that legis-
lation. If constitutional amendment
is necessary, let us not delay in get
ting that amendment.
Proper assessment Of Montana prop
erty win work beneficially in many
ways. 1t WILL in the first place, put
Montana property upon fair COM
petitive basis in the investment mar
ket, by bringing down the tax-levy TO
a figure which represents right con-
tlitions 1t will, in the second place,
Impose the proper share of the sup
port of state and county and city
upon property which is revenue-pro-
ducing. 1t will, most important of all,
relieve the man whose tax represents
a license to live.
Whatever is necessary to bring
about this desired result, let US get
together and work for it. The legis-
lature is about to meet Now is the
time to subscribe.