The Pioche record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1908-1925, 1916-07-15
WHITE PINE PAPER
COMMENTS ON COPPER TAN

A serious menance to the pros
perity of White Pine county and to
one of the chief resources of the
State of Nevada is threatened by the
proposed enactment of tho new rev
enue law reported by the Ways aud
Means cgommittee of the House of
Representatives.
Word comes from Washington that
by his new revenue measure it is
proposed to single out the copper in
dustry and the munitions factor. in
dustry (largely centered IN the New
England states, as the two indus
trieswhich shall be bled for the pur-
pose of raising additional revenue
required to fulfill the preparedness
program. The bill, which according
to reports will be voted upon in the
house of representatives tomorrow
imposes a tax on the gross receipts
of copper smelters and copper refin-
cries of one per cent of the product
between a quarter and one million
dollars per annum to two percent on
the receipts between one million and
ten million, and three percent on the
receipts above the last named fig
ure.
This is an enormous tax and very
vitality affects the leading industry
of White Pine county. 1t is an enor-
nous tax by reason of the fact that
the proposed bill only aims to raise
the required revenue from the spe-
Gifted industries instead of burden
ing the duty of paying this excise oG
all industries alike.
1t should be we'll known to Wash
ington that is generally throughout
the commercial world, that copper is
not only metal the price of which
has enhanced within the last 2tow
years as the result of the war, fCH
increased enormously in market val
ue. So, too, should Washington know
that the increase in the in
dustry follows, is not limited to the
metals but to wheat, wool, meats
and food produces generally have
| likewise enjoyed a period of prosper
| ity; and hence they, with a great
many other branches of American
enterprise should share the burden.
Indeed one can hardly think am
commodity of necessity used in these
creased at least substantially as the
result undoubtedly of the European
war Why then should Washington
administer the blow to an industry
which in some seven or eight of the
states, principally western, are inter
ested?
The citizens of Nevada, although
their state is far within the United
States borders, north, west. south
and east, have never taken pro
vincial view of the preparedness
question and so far from decrying OF
opposing those who have contende(
for the necessity of preparedness
such as the citizens and representa-
tives of some of the states likewis,
remote from the exterior boundaries
have done-have always taken th
, broader national view and favore,
preparedness in a reasonable an
adequate measure. If the time ha
come, however, when those il
charge at Washington can settle TIL
! cost of such preparedness upon Gel
tain industries to the exclusion Q
others, it is certainly in order fo
the citizens of this state and it
/ representatives in congress to arous
! themselves and oppose such a viciou
: measure by means in their power
If copper can today be singled ou
: as the object of such nefarious rev
s enue raising law, the silver industr
e may be so individualized tomorro
e and honored CD by a correspondent
t enactment.
s The interests in the western pal
of the state are alive to the poss