The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-12-10


Of Montana We're agreed upon by the
members of the state tax commission
ana the state board Of equalization at
the joint session just conducted here.
Whether these changes can be
brought about at the next session of
the legislature will depend upon the
construction that is placed on the state
constitution.
Constitution Ambiguous.
In one place the constitution provides
that revenues shall be derived from a
uniform rate of assessment and taxa
tion Of all property, while another place
the constitution provides that a uni
form tax shall be levied upon the
same class of subjects. II the latter
provision Of the constitution is the one
under which the legislature may make
enactments, then the recommendations
decided upon by the tax commission
may be written upon the statute books
of the state at the next legislative
session. but if the former provision is
followed, it is believed that the con-
stitution would have to be amended
before proposed changes could be
made. The commission will ask Attor
ney General S. c. Ford for an opinion
on the Interpretation of the constitu-
ton before definite recommendations
to the legislature are decided upon.
May Abolish Mortgage Tax.
The abolition of the mortgage tax"
is one Of the most far reaching changes
proposed. Under the present laws the
assessor goes to the records and takes
off a list of the mortgages. These are
assessed to the mortgages. If the
mortgages happen to live outside of
the state, which most of them con-
trive to do. the tax cannot be col
lected.
"The revenue. derived from assess
ing mortgages amount to very little.
said one member of the tax commits
sion, "but the system has a strong
tendency to keep up interest on pri-
vate loans. The mortgagee always de-
mands a higher rate contending that
he must pay taxes to the state for the
loan"
Substitute Registration Tax.
Instead of taxing mortgages and
sion has proposed a registration tax or
all mortgages. No definite figure has
been fixed. but tentatively it has beer
agreed that the fee shall be so cents
for each 800. The commission reached
no conclusion as to what percentage Of
the fees so collected shall go to The
state and to the county. respectively
! The question of how to assess none,
on hand or deposit in bank has lon.
been stumbling block.
The tax commission agreed that /
would recommend to the Legislature
that law be enacted whereby none
be assessed 30 cents on the 800
Montana. under the present taxation
system. Is deriving SO little revenu
from the taxing of money that the in
come Is negligible.
Public Service Companies.
Public service corporations of tn
state of Montana are hereafter to b
put on an equal basis in the matter @
paying taxes. The commission has de
cided to go to the books Of the count
assessors to get figures. SO that a
concerns may be made to bear the
just share of the taxes. Members {
the tax commission after some investi
CATION along this line say that man
public service corporations have on
valuation for rate making and anotht
for taxation purposes. Frequent
there is q wide difference between III
two valuations.
Investigations OF the assessmel
rolls of the counties TO get data Il
fixing valuations for public servit
corporations and also for other kint
of property will begin about Marc
/. The members of the commissit
are to conduct their own investig;
tions so far as it Is practicable.
Permanent Tax Commission.
Another proposed innovation is Il
creation of permanent tax commi
sion. 1t would have charge OF 4
levying Of taxes, the collection there
and would also to a large extent
given control of the expenditures Of ;
state moneys. The creation of I
commission would carry with it I
budget system for carrying on t
financial business of the state.
The honor system of assessing is o
of the proposed changes on which t
tax commission Is heartily agreed.