The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1914-12-10


ators' point of view has been that most
well informed mining men have been
too busy attending to business TO give
the matter the attention that 1t de-
served. out of this difficulty has
grown much confusion.
Mining men seem to be almost nope
lessly divided upon the subject OF tax
alton Definite inquiries concerning
the fairness Of specific methods OF
taxation bring in most conflicting re-
plies. Not only do the various mining
men in the same state differ widely in
their opinions as to the same law, but
surprisingly different opinions are
held by different officers Of the same
mining company. As the result of an
inquiry as to the fairness of a present
law addressed to one of the great min
ing corporations of America, the reply
was received from one of the officers.
of the company that the law was fair
and equitable, while another officer OF
the same company expressed the opln-
ion that "a more unfair law could not
possibly have been devised by the
brain of man."
While conflicting Replies, such as
the above, are of considerable interest
to the investigator obviously they do
not aid materially in working out a
constructive and fair program for
mine taxation If the mining men are
to exercise any considerable influence
upon the tax legislation of the near
future, it is necessary that they should
get together and concertedly offer a
constructive program to the tax au-
thorities. In this regard, three points
stand out with unmistakable clear
ness:
/. The old-time method of obtain
1 ing fairness or favor in the matter OF
taxation by sending a few clever at
torneys to the legislature during the
session is obsolete. The legislation OF
the present time is more and more the
result of careful study by experts, and
especially is this true in present tax
Legislation. 1t may be possible fol
the mining interests temporarily tC
defeat a revenue bill, but nothing bu1
constructive program worked out up
on sound principles with due regarC
to other kinds of property will receive
permanent sanction from the legisla.
lures
2. Some well meaning tax officials
fail to grasp the important differences
which characterize the mining indus
try as compared with other industries
and these differences should be ciearl!
set forth by mining representative
whose general fairness of mind ant
spirit of cooperation insure the conf
dence Of the tax officials.
3. If the mining men of the countr.
assume any attitude other than tina
of constructive cooperation, they viii
have great difficulty in stemming tn
tide of opinion that mines should b
taxed for much larger amount thai
they now bear.
The good effect of cooperative worl
based upon even incomplete studies o
the matter has already been shown b,
the experiences of the mining men il
Nevada and Arizona. In each cas-
strong and representative committees
taking the subject up with the pro
per officials in public way, were alb
to affect materially programs of tax
alton. In both cases, however, tn
work was Of the emergency order, an
the truth seems to be that few min
Ing men have any real knowledge O
taxation The American Mining con
gress is about to meet at Phoeni,
Ariz. 1t will be attended by represen
tative men from many states, an
particularly by several that took i'm
portant part in the taxation ocnfer
ences in Arizona last year. 1t coul
not do more useful thing than to dis
cuss, as fully as the program woul
permit, the subject of mine taxation
and to follow the discussion by tn
appointment of the strongest posi-
Bile committee charged with the dut
OF studying the matter and conferrin
with the tax officials Of the variou
states. especially at their meeting a
San Francisco in September, 1915. TIL
needful thing is first to clear up on
own ideas as to taxation and the
present united, tactful front to ia
officials.