The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-03-03
Assen1bly's Record
Slight but Reason
for Hope Of Future
Legislature Accomplished Little but
Threatened Much.
10y w. G. Ferguson, Staff Core.
spondent at helena.)

its day session. But dimly has this
body left it's footprints in the sands
of Montana's history. Heralded as be-
ing the first session ever held in the
state where the voice of the people
was to ring dominantly above the
hitherto overpowering chorus OF cor
porate interests it probably has failed
in its mission. Still there are facts
which point to n changing condition.
High tide of corporate domination
seems to have passed and while the
Fifteenth assembly did not produce
what prophets claimed it would. the
symptoms all point to brighter flu
ture.
First in the interests Of the people
of taxes, which to them meant, to a
large extent. placing an equal burden
on those interests which have up to
the present escaped their just propor-
ton. The license tax on corporations
as passed by the legislature is not a
decided advance toward the realiza-
ton of this dream. However. it cam
not be denied that the bill as passed
at least shows that the trend Of sem
timent is in the right direction. AS
was stated by Representative Hig-
gins, the corporations would have
smiled a few years ago at the sug-
gestion that license tax of any kind
be imposed upon them. Today they
have assented to a tax of one per cent
on their net profits and it may be
that the future holds in store an in
itiatcd measure which will come still
nearer giving state and county that
proportion of the mine earnings to
which they are entitled.
Tax Commission.
This brings us for q minute to the
consideration of the tax and license
commission which was and is to make
thorough study of the tax situation
and report to the next session Of the
legislature. 1t also brings up for
even more than the house was pro-
claimed ultra radical in its tendencies.
At the beginning of the session
there was, in common parlance. moth
ing to it," The mines were to be
! taxed, the farmers were to receive
beneficial and much needed legisla-
| ton. In fact, there was going to be
distinct reversal in form. True. all
| corporations are to pay In one per
| cent of the net profits, but the partic-
ular corporations thought to be the
| tax dodgers We're not treated any diff
ferently than the smaller ones.
The radical senate amended the tax
and license commission bill by naming
the men who are to make the report,
| and there is no disposition to criticize
| the gentlemen placed on this commit
| tee. The committee is distinguished,
| however. by the absence of the expert
| recommended by the house. The
amendment was concurred in by the
| house, which realized that there was
| no chance to secure anything better,
| but the real intent and purpose of the
| measure was to a certain extent nulli-
fled by the elimination Of the services
of a man versed In this deep and in
| tricate subject.
There is no doubt but that the bills
placing a license tax on express and
private car companies are equable
Hearings before the tax committees
developed that the express companies
were not paying taxes and they could
not be well expected to volunteer to
take this step. The revenue derived
from this source has never been
touched before with the exception OF
the tax imposed by the assessor OF
Lewis and Clark county.
Prohibition Left Alone.
/. Prohibition is practically in the same
form in which it was when the leg
islature first convened. The senti-
ment generally among the Legislators
was that nothing should be done with
the saloon question. as the people hat
voted to terminate it's existence in
two years and the men engaged in /,
should be given this time in which Il
wind up their business. AS conse.
quence, Sunday closing and other pro.
hibition bills met defeat, although the
l 'oA'Nes SAoosHe az" puocCu luc UOuSS
and was defeated by the senate with
only one vote standing between its
defeat or passage. The legislature
did, however, make provision for The
dry" season when 1t comes. The An,
min bill provides the means for strictly
enforcing this measure and is the only
legislation along this line to receive
favorable consideration.
Governor Stewards vetoes effectual
~ put a damper on any hope cherished
by the sportily inclined Of the state
The racing bill allowing six-day race
meetings with pari- -mutuel betting ant
the boxing providing athletic commits
sions and 20-round bouts for countie,
of the first class could not muster suf
ficient strength to pass over the gov.
ernor's action.
There was considerable discussion a
! the inception of the session regarding
the big influence to be welded by til,