The Ronan pioneer., 1917-02-02
Looks Like a Farmer:

by telling that he had been a stock
holder in one of these small banks
which charged less than 10 per cent.
and his dividends were so small that
he sold his holdings. He has his
way. The legal rate of interest was
fixed at 10 per cent.
White is the man around whom
the farmers side of this tax contro-
versy revolves. 1t was at his in
stance that the tax investigating
committee was created. He has CIV
en- notice that he will introduce
bill for the creation of permanent
tax commission. He proposes to have
this tax commission call in tax ex-
perts, and make two-year survey
of tax conditions, and report to the
legislature two years hence.
"Our whole scheme of taxation is
wrong" said Mr.. White in discussing
this proposed commission. II propose
that this commission shall investi-
gate all the problems in connection
with taxation. If necessary the COM
mission would be empowered to call
in tax experts and go into these prob
lens with care. On a report the leg
islators of the next assembly could
act with intelligence.
"It would be a big job, this sur
vey. 1t would take lot of time.
We could arrive at an understanding
of the situation and devise some
equitable plan whereby one dollars
worth OF my property would pay no
more than one dollars worth of
yours. The tax dodger is very nu-
merous individual. We want to
bring about a condition whereby he
will not be quite SO numerous.
1--WE elect our own assessors, and
the assessors we put into office ap-
praise our property for the purposes
of taxation. Naturally the assessor
we vote for is inclined to favor us.
Appraisement of property varies to
such an extent that it is ridiculous.
"This movement is not directed at
any one industry. We do not want
to put a straw in the way of existing
institutions, or do anything that will
retard Montana in her great forward
movement. Montana is new state
and we want to adjust the laws so
that the mine, the farm and the
stockman will pay taxes on basis of
equality in order that we may all go
forward happily, each of us bearing
Ills olld1C anu 1O lllOlO.
"In order to arrive at this happy
situation, and at the same time pro-
vide more revenue for our growing
state we propose to investigate all
questions pertaining to taxation care
fully. We will employ tax experts OF
repute to assist the commission in
it's two-year survey. This would
give the commission plenty of time
to make careful study of these
questions. And when the commits
sion reported the legislature could
take action and pass laws with some
knowledge of the subject"
Mr.. White is an Old time Montan-
an. He lived in the state for 80
and is fairly well-to-uo. He is prom
inent in the farmers organizations
of his locality.
II Senator Fred Whiteside has his
way, children born out of wedlock
in the future will be legitimate. He
will shortly introduce a bill, which
will provide that if the father of an
illigitimate child is a married man.
the child takes his name and shares
equally in his estate with his chill
dren born of marriage, and must be
supported by the father. If the ia
ther should be single, proof of par
entage is the same as in marriage.
and the offending male automatfcal-
ly becomes the husband of the wom-
an who is the mother of his Off