Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1921-02-25

winch recommended that Fl. 8
This income tax bill, one Of tn,
Dxon administration measures, ila.
been in the hands Of the committe,
for q number Of weeks and was helt
back pending disposal Of other reveLu'
measures which were before that CON
mlttee. It was reported out ThurSda,
accompanied By majority and minor
ity report, the majority report bearinl
the signature Of Chairman r. III. Coon
ey Of Cascade county. while the minor
lty report was signed by ]. A. Shoe
maker of Yellowstone county. O. A
BergesOn of Chouteau county. e. w
Brown OF Lewis and Clark county. ane
X. G. Dillavou of Yellowstone county
The latter report recommended that
the bill be amended 30 rs to eliminate
the graduated scale of taxes upon in.
comes and to substitute fiat one per
cent tax upon all incomes, subject ia
the exemptions provided in the origins]
bill.
Cesasy Move DefeateA.
Cooney moved adoption Of the major
lty report whereupon Shoemaker moved
as substitute that the minority le-
port be adopted.
Taking the floor in opposition to
the substitute motion Conney said the
committee had had the bill under
consideration a long time.
During our entire session and the
sessions of the committee" said be,
we have had nothing to report but
taxes. taxes and more taxes. We have
reported .favorably upon every bill re-
kating to revenue, some amended by US
and some In their original form.
This bill imposes tax upon every
person in the state with a graduated
tax running rs high as six per cent.
Attempts have been made to segregate
the corporations and make the tar ap-
phcable only to individualst This sub
sdtute report imposes q flat income
tax OF one per cent upon every individ
ual and corporation. For the corpora
tons it means this addition to the fed
eral income tax, net profits tax and
various other forms Of taxation. In
addition to this we have imposed upon
the mines tax Of 1h per cent upon
their net proceeds. Accordingly the
industries would have to bear an en-
ormous aggregate tax. It would i'm
pose an additional tar upon state
banks which would not be borne BY ma
tional banks across the street No
of our committee was in favor
Of this bill. It's provisions were too
drastic"
Demand for General Tu.
J. A. Shoemaker, Of the minority.
aid that the committee had been won
ierfutly harmonious - to all the
revenue measures with the exception
II this one. He said there exists IN
he state demand for general tax,
hat this bill was drawn after the
Wisconsin law which had been very
Affective. He said the minority had
'een impressed with the idea that the
'raduated tax would not Be fair In
lew OF the mine proceeds tax already
imposed and 1t was thought best to
'ass this income tax IN order TO reach
he $1,000 persons who were paving
10 tax, even though Il b necessary 20
impose tax Of one per cent upon
he corporations to reach these,
BerSeson said he had signed the
minority report In order to reach the !
arge number Of people who are now !
scapins taxation, which he also estim-
ted ut $4,000, and added that the |
would not suffer 4 great |
Edward Scharnikow Of Powell coun.
? said he had signed the majority re-
ort, adding:
II believe the income tar TO be the
lost equitable method Of TAXATION but
q have put the cart before the horse.
70. instead Of doing ~ q Wise busi-
essman, cut our expenses to the
uick, have done just the opposite.
'sThere has BEEN no concerted effort
, cut down. On the other side instead
I trying to get an equitable income
II we have passed innumerable bills
increase the revenue Of tho state.
MY friend BerKeson says we are
in short &500.000. How does he
now? What are We trying to do
Use q lot Of money to sQuander two
.ars from now!
Fears Surplus n lo23. +
II hope we shall not add this addi-
pnal bill which may create I surplus
= the next legislature to jugyle." Il
r. A. O'Hara Of Ravalh county
'oke for the majority report.
II realise this il one Of the admini-
ration measures and AZ much a. I
,uld like to support II cannot do /,
;" said he. As long a. ~ collect
{Ceutizssa - Paae Nlns.) +,