The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-01-10
WEDNESDAY MORNING, JANUARY 10, 1917.
THOSE LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEES.

Judging from all the reports emanating from Helena
Speaker OConnor has done well in the makeup Of the house
committees and the committee committees of the senate
has done likewise.
If all of the political wseacres are mistaken Mon
tana legislature is about to set to work under the theory
that legislation ought of right be in the interest of the
people whole and for the sole purpose of protect
ing special interests.
Ibis is refreshing to the people of the state who
from long years OF experience have to look upon the
states legislature body controlled will by the local
agents of big business whose principal offices are located
on lower Manhattan island.
1t may be little early in the legislative to discard
all mental reservations whatever but along with manv 9TH
ers IN Montana he Missouan at this stage of the pro-
ceedngs has high hopes that nothing will arise conro
vert the good impression made the reading public by the
announcement of the personnel of the committees in both
house and senate which really have to do with the direction
OF the work of the session.
No person wishes legislative power used for
the purpose of working any hardship any legitimate bus
mess interest in Montana. To take any action in pure
spirit of revenge would be both unjust and foolish
here u.s. however, deepseated and widespread feeling
among the that the burdens of government this
state have not been distributed with hand and that
some of the big interests have by hrewd legislative eger
deman escaped their legitimate share Of the burden of
taxation
The Muscular believes this charge to be true and from
time to time has pointed out the great inequalities of the
present system When seemed that there was no relief
in sight through the ordinary channels of legislation this
newspaper three led the propaganda for the
tiaton of by petition, under the provisions of
the initiative and referendum amendment the
stution.
Nearly all of the side counties at that time sent up
more than their quota of sgners the petitions for initial
ing an equitable license fee law applied mnes water
power express telegraph and telephone companies doing
business in this state.
But owing to inertia and the lack of funds for carrying
on the work OF securing signatures to the petitions in other
parts or the state the attempt failed by the lack of
TWO additional counties necessary qualify the proposed
We believe that the bill as then drafted would have re-
eved the state from present necessities without impos
ing any hardship on any interest in the state.
AS matter OF fact the schedules then proposed
suclent to eQuaZe the taxes levied upon other forms of
property In the attempt of the proponents of the bill to
avoid any possible criticism of unarness they made the
percentages far too low.
FOR instance the proposed additional assessments against
e great copper mining interests of the state would have
yielded only approximately 100000 per year. while the fed
eGa revenue BILL passed the house at Washington last
summer would have taken this year toll of 50 100000
from the Butte copper mines.
Inc tax that was proposed be levied upon the water
powers OF Montana under the provisions of the BILL
ca only 70 2 per cent of the gross revenue while the
STATE OF caorna has tor years levied of per cent
upon the gross revenue of its water power companies
To-Day Arizona collects about six times the relative tax
form IT'S copper mines that Montana collects from her COP
per industry and no feel that the copper in
dsry OF that state has suffered any detmcnt on that
account.
The of Michigan assesses its great conner mines m
their actual valuation just the same way that it
every oter form OF property while Montana has pursued
the pocy or assessing its copper mines ony on the net
profits OF the business.
Just why all other classes of propertv in Mon+,n. sbd
be assessed on valuation basis and MINING nronertv on
on profits the business nconceivabe If farm
property and the railroads and the banks were similarly
taxed they would pay but small fraction of their present
taxation.
Probably ee per cent of the stock in the Butte
mines and the wafer power companies Of the state are