The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1921-02-16
Exclusive to Bozeman COurier)

Exclusive to Bozeman COurier) I
Helena, Feb. 15-Although the adj
ministration tax commission measure,
H. B. 5, passed through the house
committee of the whole late Monday
after a stormy session in which it
was strenuously opposed by E. H.
Cooney, chairman of the committee
on revenue and taxation, it still has
quite journey ahead Of it if it final
ly gets by third reading and into the
senate. Cooney was strongly sup
ported in his fight against the mea-
sure, the anti forces holding that this
question was overwhelmingly defeated
at the polls last November and that
it has no place on the statute books
without the approval of the voters.
Before it rached the end Of its jour
ney through committee of the whole,
! the bill was amended so that the life
Of the commission was limited to four
years, leaving it up to the next legis-
! lature to say if it shall be continued.
1t was further amended so the sec
retary shall draw but $1,000 per
year and its expenditures must be
limited to the appropriation made for
the purpose.
At the same time the committee of
the whole acted favorably upon two
Of the taxation measures, H. B. 112,
imposing a tax of five cents per ton
upon the production of all coal mines
in the state, and II. B. 72 by Hatha-
way imposing a license tax of four
per cent of the gross revenues of
express companies. The latter is an
increase of 1 1-2 per cent over the
existing license tax on express COM
panies.
The committee amended the coal
tax bill to exempt from taxation all
coal consumed at the mines and thai
wasted upon the dumps. In order
to make such a tax applicable to Goa
which shall be brought into Montana
from other states, which cannot be
taxed under interstate commerce, the
committee on taxation has introduced
: another measure imposing q hcens'
tax upon coal dealers Of five cents pc
ton on all coal not otherwise taxed a
the mine.
During the past week the committee
on revenue and taxation has con.
: Quoted public hearings also upon tn
measures for the imposing of a pro
: duction tax on-Ioil, upon the meta
mines net proceeds tax measure an,
the income tax measure, none of whicl
1 has as yet been reported out by tn
, committee.
: Public hearings have likewise bee
held upon the anti-picketing bill, com
5 pensation and various other measure
0 Of statewide interest, probably all G
{ which will be reported out during tn
: present week.
Il In opposition to the administratio
motor vehicle tax measure, whic
II would greatly increase the automobil
/ and truck licenses, several measure
IS have already been introduced, one bC
s. ing brought in by the committee o
y revenue and taxation, which had prt
IS viously introduced the administratio
bill. This substitute bill would il
"a crease the license generally about
u Dor cent over that now being collec
II ed.
n Prohibition has had its inning du
ID ing the past week, the house havin
v passed on third reading two impor
N ant measures bearing upon this sui
hC iect. One Of these was substitute
lg B. rs by Dillavou which provides fl
ne the appointment by the attorne
L general of special agents for the e.
e. forcement of the laws and requir,