Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1921-01-14
BILL To MU[CT
MON TANA POW Err
Of S245,000 UP
Hathaway Utilities Tax
Measure Would Hit
One Company Hard.
Mutual and Co-Opera-
tive Concerns Exempt
Under Proposed Law.
special to The Daily Tribune.


Helena, Jan. 13.-Tax legislation by
which it is hoped to mulct the Mon
tana Power company and its subsid-
iaries to the tune of at least quar-
ter million dollars annually. with the
idea of providing funds for the pay
ment of increased salaries to public
school teachers, is proposed in house
bill No. "a. introduced Thursday by
Maggie Smith Hathaway of Ravalli
county. The measure was proposed
at the recent annual meeting of the
Montana State Teachers association
at Billings, but it was decided that
to make such fund available only to
the purpose for which is was proposed
would create insurmountable opposi
ton, hence 1t is made payable into the
general fund.
AS the bill does not apply to muni-
cipal light plants or to mutual or CO.
operative associations, it will under
present conditions be restricted prac-
tically to the Montana Power Co.
Would Net State $245,O00
AS IL iJi lueS lOE Sl1uudtcu La
cense fee on all concerns generating
electricity by water power, with the
above mentioned exceptions. which
cess Of $2,0UO,OO0 would amount to
five per cent, this tax upon the Mon
tana Power Co., based upon that
company's earnings in excess of its
operating costs for the calendar year
of 1919: the last for which figures are
obtainable would amount to $245.-
600. From the office Of the public
service commission the figures for the
calendar year of 1919 for the Mon
tana Power Co. and its subsidiaries
show a total of approximately $4,9W.-
600 as the net revenue upon which
such tax would be applied, this total
of earnings not including interest on
bonds or capital investments.
The revenue required by this meas
ure is:
On the first $4,000 of net revenue,
one half Of l per cent.
On the next $4,000 of net revenue,
per cent.
On the next $4,000 Of net revenue,
~ per cent.
On the next $4,000 of net revenue,
> per cent
On the next S1W.OW of net revenue,
2h per cent
On the next $500, 900 of net revenue,
3 per cent.
On the next $5OO.OOO of net revenue,
3h per cent.
On the next $1,O0OO0O of net rev.
enue. 4 per cent.
On all net revenue in excess of
S2,OO0,00O the license is . per cent.
Municipal Plants Exempt.
Municipal and cooperative plants
are not required to pay this tax.
The license also includes those plants
from which electric power is wholly or
principally developed by water power.
The revenue is to go to the general
fund of the state.
Passage of house bill IA, permitting
payment of legislators warrants at
par. introduction Of Mrs. Hathaway's |
state license fore hydro -elec |
trio plants and Haynes notice Of bill |
and confiscation of liquors and vehicles
law. marked the morning session of |
the house Thursday.
Members of the Butte Consumers |
league petitioned the house to kill the |
senate bill by Slattery which provides
for abolition Of price fixing powers of |
the Montana trade commission. The |
Commercial club petitioned the |
house for legislation permitting speedy |
development of Montana's oil re-
sources.
King Votes "No.'
The final vote on the bill to permit
Of inactive funds to the gem
aral fund was 81 for six against and
five not voting. King of Silver Bow
explained his vote against the meas
ire. He said he did not believe in
1aste in considering any bill regarding
of state funds and that al
though the general impression was that
The bill was aimed to benefit the mem
,ers of the legislature, if it was sifted
o the bottom some other motive would
De found.
Dodds sprang to his feet in reply
md attempted to answer on point of
personal privilege. Speaker Gibson
ruled that he was out of order and
.ouId not interrupt roll call
On the roll call those who voted no
we're Jones, King, McQuarrie, Wallace,
Nilcomb and Worden. McQuarrie and T
Wallace chanked their votes from aye
o no.
Brockaway asked for committee of
hree, to work with a similar committee
rom the senate on proposed amend
nents to the present state hail insur-
lnce law. The speaker appointed
3rockway, Northy and Stoner on the
committees.