The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-02-21
WEDNESDAY MORNING. FEB. n. 1917.
THE PROPOSED TAX BILL.

The legislative mountain has been in labor fo
the past SO days and yesterday afternoon i
brought forth mouse in the shape Of proposed
tax measure that evies three-quarten Of one pei
cent on the net income. Of all corporations in ex.
cess Of $4,000.
In no way does it even pretend to equaGze
taxes upon property in Montana. Like the dew
from heaven the new tax measure falls on all alike.
those who are already paying their nshuul pro-
portion Of taxes and those who are not. 1t merely
aceentuates the present inequtable system.
In all theories Of taxation. now employed by
the federal government and by nearly all Of the
states. whether in the matter of incomes. inner
hanees. corporations or individuals. the principle Of
graduated tax has been applied.
The bill that was introduced some time ago by
Representative Higgins incorporated the graduated
tax principle. but the house committee has rejected
that plan and reported flat levy upon net pro-
ceeds. that does not touch the question Of equaza-
ton at ALL
Under the bill introduced by Mr.. Higgins sur
tax was proposed upon net corporate incomes above
$4,000. graduated as follows:
IVH &SIsOVO 70 @IVVsOVUs One-elGMn
'of one per cent
From 100000 to $25o.ooo. one-haN
Of one per cent.
From $250.000 to 100000. one per
cent.
From 100000 to ST. 600. 900, one and
one-hak per cent
From 100000 to $5.Oo0.Oo two
per cent.
From $5.ooo,ooo to $lo.ooo.ooo. four
per cent.
In excess Of $4,000. 900. net proceeds
per annum. five per cent.
The graduated tax proposed in the Hssins bill
would have approximately equalzed the present sit
uation. which permits the big mining companies to
escape the payment Of their equal share Of the taxes,
now being paid by the farms, the homes. the rail.
roads, the livestock interests and the banks Of Mon
tana.
, y 4 = 4
In Anzona. the greatest copper producing state
in the Union. the mines are taxed upon FOUR
times the net proceeds. plus ONE-ElCHTH OF
THE GROSS PROCEEDS.
In Montana, the mines are taxed upon the net
proceeds only.
The recent report Of the senate special lax CON-
mttee shows that the gross proceeds Of mines in
Montana last year was $l4l 100000 and tina,
they contributed only $40 per cent Of the total
taxes.
That the gross proceeds Of the farms Of the state
was $o' .'54.OOO and that they contributed 32.I4
per cent Of the taxes.
hat the gross proceeds of the livestock industry
was $54.l67.0O0. contributing 1913 per cen, Of
the taxes.
That the railroad gross receipts were $50. ,99,-
wv, from which they contributed 1899 per cent
d the taxes.
And yet the tax Dill reported yesterday by the
ways and means committee Of the house proposes
to levy surtax on all these interests alike, those
which already pay and those that arc now ESCAPING
their nshdul share.
In discussing this matter. the Libby Times ve,
pertnently says
AS compared to all other larger indus
tines the Anaconda Copper Mining COMPANY
isn't paying anywhere near its share Of the
taxes. 50 plainly shown by this report. Yet,
in the face Of this condition. unquesioned
and undoubted. why is it that the people Of
Montana can't get through its legislative as.
sembly some measure which more clearly
equalizes the tax burdens Of the common
wealth. Is it that The members Of the Ies;s-
ature don't know or is it that the Anaconda
Copper Mining company is sufficient to pre-
ventl There. certainly is reason and it
nd sshns too much upon the part Of the
peopt Of th''''.te to know what the reason
When he roll is called in the house and senate
now sitting, ., helena, he people Of Montana vii