The Ronan pioneer., 1917-01-26
Legislative Bureau of
the Montana Newspaper
AkkOciatinn. Helena

author of bill which is OF especial
interest to farmers. 1t has to do
with the building of elevators and
warehouses in various sections of the
state. 1t is proposed to create a
warehouse board, comprising prob
ably the governor, the state treasurer
and the grain inspector. Under GER
tain conditions and where sites are
furnished free the law would author
ize the issuance of bonds which would
provide the means with which to
build the elevators. 1t is thought
that the storage and brokerage
charges would provide sufficient
funds to pay the interest on the
bonds and provide for small sink
ing fund, sufficient to allow Of the
accumulation of the WhereWithal to
redeem the bonds when they come
due, some 80 or 35 years from the
date of their issue.
The plan is thought to be very
feasible. If the law should be en-
acted it will be tried out in a modest
way, and if it proves up to expec-
tations, the state would go into the
undertaking on an extensive scale,
and build elevators wherever they
are needed. The fact that 6O2 ele-
vators, an increase of $50 storage
places over the number in operation
a year ago, are insufficient to take
care of the 1916 grain crop, which
was only about 60 per cent normal,
is giving those who have the grain
growing industry at heart, food for
serious thought.
When it is considered that Mon
tana grew only about 35,00O,000
bushels of wheat last year, with par
tial crop, and with enough wheat ly-
ing out on the ground to fill 100 addi-
tional elevators, and an estimated
crop of 100000 bushels for this
year, providing crop conditions are
normal, it will be apparent that the
state needs great many more ele-
vators than are now in existence, and
that this need will grow and expand
with the growth and expansion of the
states grain belt is a certainty.
Another bill that will make it's ap-
pearance later in the session is one
that will provide for the putting into
effect of the Torrens land title sys-
tenn. This will make titles absolute
a piece of land is purchased the deed
is made to the state, the state then
deeds it to the purchaser, and the
ment.
Another piece of prospective legis-
lation is measure which would put
into effect an unearned increment
tax. Under the provisions of this
proposed law the state receives a
small percentage of the appreciation
of value of real estate. For instance,
when the individual purchases a lot,
say, for the purpose Of illustration,
for 81 900, and sells it later at a
profit, the state receives percent
age of the profit. In most instances
the unearned increment tax is five
per cent of the increase.
The bill provides that all proper
ty owners should make declaration of
the values of their holdings within a
year, the values to be determined to
an extent by the tax appraisement of
the property. This applies to city
and town property. The law would
fix value on lands, dry,
semi-arid and irrigated to be in three
separate classifications. Deed would
not issue to the purchaser unless the
increment tax was paid.
In growing state like Montana,
where values are going forward at a
rapid rate, and where there is great
deal of buying and selling of proper
ty, the tate participating in the ap-
probation of property would mean a
revenue. In real estate
booms the result would be harvest.
Eddie Booth, creator of new coun-
ties, made his appearance at the
capital the other day. Whenever
Eddie comes the word goes forth for
the map makers to get busy.
Speaking of Eddie Booth suggests
new counties. Two county division
projects are before the legislature.
Residents of the southern portions
Of Custer and Fallon counties would
change the map of that section of the
state, and create a new county to be
called Sykes county. Those back of
this project would make Ekalaka the
seat.
Wheatland county is another coun-
ty divisional scheme. 1t would be
from the eastern part of
Meagher and the northern Sec
lion of Sweetgrass, with Harlowton
as the county capital.
The overshadowing question at the
capital is taxation. 1t started with
the resolution to Investigate the
taxes paid by the mining and power
companies. This let loose a flood of
bills and resolutions. Among 9TH
ers came a bill from a member of
the Butte delegation providing for
a universal eight hour law. If it
should become law, any employer
in the state, mining operator, farmer
or sheepman would be committing a
felony If he allowed his miner or
his farm hand or his sheep herder
to work longer than eight hours.
There is talk of all sorts of legis-
lation on this question of taxation. 1t