Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1921-06-14
STATE WILL PRY
INTO ASSESSING
IN THE COUNTIES
Continental Oil Co. to
Force Suit Over Gaso-
line Levy of | Cent.
Action as Intervenor by
State Ordered in Muir
ray Estate, After Fuss.
Special to The Tribune.


Helena, June 13.-Although Nils 7
Haugen, tax expert Of the Wisconsin
tax commission, who was recently en-
ployed by Governor Dixon to act "a
the directing power of the Montana
board of equalization, has been 1t
work in the state capitol since May
21, it was not until Monday after
noon that his services were officially
engaged by the board. At meeting
of the board of equalization, fully at
tended, in the executive office of Gov
ernor Dixon, Mr.. Haugen was cm-
ployed at salary Of $4,000 year tor
no definite period, commencing May
q. The motion to that effect was
made in the presence of Mr.. Haugen
by State Treasurer J. w. Walker.
and was unanimously adopted.
This action was taken after At
torney General w. d. Rankin, at
short secret session prior to the open
meeting, had informed the governor
that, while he had no objection to the
employment Of Mr.. Haugen at such a
salary, still he did take exception to
the fact that he, as a member Of the
board, had never been consulted and
had no direct information that such
step had been contemplated until at
previous meeting, when he was in
formed that Mr.. Haugen had declined
the offer. Governor Dixon is said to
have admitted that he had overlooked
consulting with Mr.. Rankin.
The board then devoted a couple OF
hours to discussion of tax matters
with Mr.. Haugen, at which it was viru-
tually decided to send representatives
out into various counties to look over
the work of county assessors, to as
certain if proper assessments had been
made and if any taxable property had
been overlooked.
Six Others on Board.
In addition to Mr.. Haugen, there
are now six upon the payroll of the
board of equalization: John Edgerton,
the former assistant, still being an
employe, although his resignation is in
the hands of the board: w. F. Parker
of Helena, r. H. Wiedman of Kalis
pell, s. C.. Moore of Poplar, and two
stenographers.
1t was brought out that, while most
of the coal, oil, cement and gasoline
companies had made reports and had
paid the new state taxes upon their
production for the first quarter Of the
year, many under protest, one big con-
Germ, the Continental Oil Co., had "e-
fused to pay the 1 cent per gallon
tax on gasoline sold between the first
of the year and the day upon which
the law became effective, March 5. and
that it probably would be necessary to
file an action in the courts unless a
test case should be instituted by one,j
of the protested taxpayers previous to
the institution of such a case by the
state.
4 sssnA ssa
The matter of the new Inheritance
tax also came up in connection with
the james Murray estate, in which the !
pends largely upon whether the courts |
shall determine that the residence of |
the decedent was in Montana or In
some other state. Later in the meet !
ing resolution was adopted, after a |
rather stormy. second secret session,
directing the attorney general to inter
vene in behalf of the board of equal !
.ization.
Previous to this meeting, the state
board Of examiners had appointed Ell
mer E. Stewart of Kalispell to the Of
flee of state accountant. This action !
was not entirely unanimous, as Attor
ney General Rankin had nominated r. |
J. Lemert, but was voted down by
Governor Dixon and Secretary of State
G. T. Stewart.
This meeting of the board of exam
iners was not without its little scrap,
which came up when State Examiner
Shelton appeared before the board
and asked authority to employ two
additional deputies for a period of
six months. Attorney General Ran
kin wanted to know if the finances of
the department would permit of the
increase in the payroll, which brought
out the information that there was
available June l a little less than
$1,000 with which to meet the June
expenses Of the department, the pay
roll of which, alone, amounts to $1,000
for the month, without taking into
the travelling expenses of ]
the staff of five deputies now en-
pl0yed. II
Mr.. Rankin accordingly informed the |
state examiner that he would not agree (
to any deficiency claims and served
notice that he would not approve any
bills in excess of the appropriation ]
made for the department unless order
ed to do SO by the court. Mr.. Shelton
insisted that he would maintain the
force and would keep his men il he ]
would have to 70 into the court to | :