The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1917-05-04
TAX COMMISSION
PLANS MUCH WORK
NEW BODY SOON TO TAKE UP
IMMENSE TASK OF CONSIDER
ING TAX QUESTION.
HAPPENINGS AT STATE HOUSE
What Is Transporting In the Different
Departments Where the Affairs of
State Government Are Ad-
ministered.
Helena.

Helena
Within a short time it is the pla
OF the state tax commission appointe
by Governor Stewart, to hold NEE
ing, organize, employ secretary an
assistants and begin the work of il
vestigating every phase OF the ia
question. The commission will deyot
much labor and may employ expert
and will present an exhaustive repor
with recommendations to the Six
teenth legislative assembly which viii
meet January 1, 1919.
On the basis of these recommends
tons it is expected the Legislature
will pass new and far-reaching law:
looking to equalization.
The commission is composed of c
F. Leonard of Butte, lawyer; Charles
Mcnamara of Helena and Big Sandy
banker, and William Lindsay of Glen
dive, former United States marshal
and ranchman.
Defense Representative.
Governor Sam V. Stewart has named
Charles ]. Kelly OF Butte as Montana
representative of the state council OF
defense at the meeting to be held in
Washington on May 2.
Says Hall Is Chairman.
Attorney General S. C. Ford has
rendered an opinion holding that J.
H. Hall, recently deposed as chairman
of the state railroad commission by a
majority of the commission, is entitled
to the office and that Daniel Boyle,
present chairman, should abdicate.
The commission announces it will con-
tinue with Boyle as chairman pending
decision by the supreme court.
Wants Montana Volunteers.
Chairman A. E. Spriggs of the state
industrial accident board has received
letter from former Governor William
Sulzer of New York, announcing that
he is seeking to raise a brigade for
service in Europe and would like
some Montana volunteers.
For County Agents.
Chancellor E. C. Elliott of the Uni
versity of Montana and his staff from
the Montana State College have SUBJ
mitted a plan for immediate and eff
Gent work to increase production of
grains, vegetables and farm animals
in Montana, which has been adopted
by the Council for Defense.
This plan provides for the appoint
ment at once of an agricultural expert
for every county in the state. Fiji
teen counties now have such men at
work. Others, whose salaries will be
paid as usual, and whose work will be
paid for by the public either county,
state or federal funds. Some of these
men are already on their way to the
fields where they will work for the
next five months. In some instances
automobiles will be furnished them
that they may cover the widest pos
sible area.
Baker Asks State Aid.
Governor Stewart has been appealed
to by Secretary of War Baker, chair
man of the council of national defense,
to have Montana aid in every way pos
sible. He writes in part:
THE council of national defense is |
now engaged in the work of prepare
ton for the war and in the co-ordina- |
bioll VI lnS lSoOulSCo anu Sucl Sle0 VI |
the nation.
st holds itself in readiness to CO.
operate with the states to bring about
he most effective coordination of ac-
.ivities and procedure for the general
good of the nation and the successful
prosecution of the war and it invites
he states to advise with it.
ITO further the prompt and ener-
setic organization which the situation
demands, it recommends the creation
~ the states of committees with broad
)owers to cooperate with the council
such committees to perhaps be
,nown as state councils of defense
If the states resources.
"Please advise us as promptly as
'ossible of action being taken or con-
emplated in Montana in furtherance
# the national defense. Please send
IS full information with copies of all
avs, proclamations and forms relat-
ng thereto"
Dry Crops No Ban to Entry.
The Federal land office has ruled
hat crops can be grown on desert
and, without irrigation, without mill
ating against a desert entry.
The decision is upon a contest by
ennie Stalcup against the entry of
arab E. Under on a tract near
hree Forks. The case has been be-
,re the land Office for some time and
as been bitterly fought. The ruling
said to establish precedent.
To Conserve Forests.
Forest Supervisor J. B. Seeley has
one to Boulder, where he will super
ltend the planting and transplanting
10000 small forest evergreen trees
the forestry nursery near Boulder.
here will be 100000 trees sown this
sason and 100000 transplanted. All
-ders from various sections of the