The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1911-01-11
WEDNE SDAY, JAN. IL. 1914.
UNEQUAL

UNEQUAL TAXATION
Among the subjects of general in.
terest to which reference was made BY
Governor Norris in his recent mes
sage to the legislative assembly. was
the complex tax problem for which q
satisfactory solution is sought. The
governor called attention to the esi.
dence Of tax lodging. as it appears
upon the assessment roll of the past
year, touched lightly upon the dis.
Grimm alton in favor of mining prop
erty-the most unjust and intolersble
feature of the Montana tax laws-and
suggested the creation of q tax com.
mission a. q measure of relief.
The remarks of the state executive
regarding this matter we're in part as
follows:
The constitution and statutes of the
state provide that all property, not
specifically exempted, shall be as.
sessed at its fair cash value. It is a
fact we'll known that OF the property
subject to taxation only q email part
IL assessed at its fair cash value: that
. larger volume is assessed at varying
percentages OF its real value. and that
much property escapes taxation. A
few figures gathered from the assess.
ment rolls of 1910 will emphasize this
stAtement.
Bank stock ................@ 6,O65. 433
Cash and solvent credits. 1888, 239
Cattle, Gas, 1853 head........ II, 1888, 90l
Sheep, 1864, 136 bead...... IA, 73l, 1923
Land, II, 1856, 224 scres...... $685. 16
Mines, net proceeds........ 6,ll7,6O2
Contrast these figures with those
obtained from other sources, and the
Inequalities of the burdens of taxation
become apparent. Reports of national
and state banks show that there 10 on
deposit in the national and state banks
the sum Of s57. 974, s05. 10, and that the
capital. surplus and undivided profits
Of national and state banks amount to
DIG, 932. 575.49. These figures indicate
that bank stock has been assessed for
SO per cent. OF its value and that less
than Eve per cent, of cash has been
listed for taxation. Note should be
made of the fact that solvent credits
have been included as cash and tina,
no account 10 taken OF cash not on de.
post in banks.
The mines contribute upon only q
small part of.actusl values, stockmer
pay upon Is per cent. of number and
value of livestock, and lands are as
sessed for less than one.half what
could be obtained therefor In oper
market.
In the meantime the property Of the
small taxpayer, being tangible, does
not escape the vigilant eye OF the as
SCISSOR. 1t is conservatively estimated
that If all of thelproperty that should
bear it's just burdens of taxation we're
assessed, the assessed valuation of the
state would exceed one billion dollars
It is evident that t~ax.dodging is not
lost art and that different and more
stringent tax laws are necessary.
My investig alton OF conditions con
vinces me that our tax laws are utterly
inadequate and that a!fully authorized
tax commission should,be created tc
secure just and equal taxation. Tit
laws of Kansas on the subject OF as
sessment and taxation are the bes
that l have examined, and these may
be studied by you with profit with g
view to adopting q similar system fol
Montana.
An amendment of the constitution II
necessary to permit the creation of
tax commission, and l recommend tha
you submit a proper amendment tt
the voters at the next election, pro
viding for the creation. of q state ia
commission with the authority neces
sary t secure a just and fair asses
ment of all taxable property in tn