Belt Valley times. [volume] (Armington, Mont.) 1894-1977, 1922-02-23
KELLY DISCUSSES
TAXATION PROBLEM
MINE ATTORNEY DlscLosEs I'M
TEREsTiNG FACTS AT STATE
MEETING OF TAXPAYERS
FAvORS TAxPAaE Rs' CLUBS
declares Future of Treasure State De
pendent on Coordination Of In
dustries and Cooperation Of
Its Citizens

Billings-The future Of Montana de
ponds npnn the coordination of its TN,
t%ustries and the cooperation OF all
lis citizens TO the end that Its match.
less resources may be developed and
that it may be made the haHHe of a
happy and c~ontented people, was the
theme of the address made by II. NJ.
Kelly. representing the Anaconda Cop
per Mining company before the tax
PAYERS of the state In convention In
Billings Wednesday.
Mg. Kelly characterized the present
movement OF forming taxpayers
ieaeues rs n OF the most important
steps that has been taken by the peo-
pie nr-the state. stattng that hereto-
fore The people have been interested
only in raising money for public use.
and have never shown any interest In
what their money was spent for. He
urged the taxpayers gathered to do
everything Ia their power to see that
not another name was added 10 the
pay roll Of the state until the state
government has recovered from Its ua-
fortunate condition. During his talk
Mr.. Kelly discussed the much-discussed
question Of the taxes paid by the Ana
conda Copper Mining company.
lie said:
mfr. Chairman, Ladies' and Gentlemen
Il wish to express my appreciation
10 those In charge OF the program OF
these meetings for the opportunity Of
forded me, as a representative OF the
Anaconda Copper Mining company, to
he here, and TO take part IN the dis
cnssinns Of oar common problems.
Importance Of Taxpayers leagues
Il feel that no more important move.
meni has been initiated IN n quarter
Of a century In Montana than the
mnHeH4eHt-th Is now-nn foot through
out the length and breadth Of this
state IN the organization Of iaxpay.
ers' leagues TO study the question OF
taxation. and The expenditures ~ our
government. Too long have the tax.
payers Of this state spent all OF their
timeand energy In connection with tax
questions IN seeking ways and means
OF rnlsing public revenues, giving little,
II any. thought TO The question Of pub
lie expenditures. The government,
Hike individuals, when things are pros
porous and money easy 10 get, be-
comes profligate IN It's expenditures,
and while the farmer, The merchant,
the manufactures. the miner and the
lumber man were all prospecting no
Thought was given 10 any limitation OF
public expenditures.
Only Farm Products Yield Revenue
During the year just closed the
industry Of this state was prac-
closed down, the lumber mills
throughout western Montana were at
4 %standstill. the merchant was strug-
to absorb the deflatlon Of values.
The winter of 1919 and 1920. following
The dry year Of 1919. placed the live
business In q deplorable sltua-
lion. n condition from which It VIII
lake several years 10 recover Prac
tIcaily the only resource that yielded
my real revenue IN Montana In 1921
vas the products of the farm, namely.
oats. barley, rye and flax and
yet iie entire gross income of the grain
,rops Of Montana in 1921 would not
,a-suffieieI4t to meet the actual tax
evies Of the state and it's subdivisions.
When the cost of government reaches
his point under these conditions II IL
ime That the taxpayers lay aside poll
frs and give sUmF attention To public
BUSINESS. ?
.In 1915. when admittedly we Ind
cached the peak Of the high cost Of
II labor and supplies, when the firm
r paid So per day and board for a
arm-hand.- when miners and m%eehan-
es were earning from s. "a SIS per
ay. and wien every commodity on
market was commanding prices I.
ifherfO unknown. the taxes levied on
roperfy in this state for all purposes /,
mounted to 81 1900. In 1921. /,
fiien, in my judgment. we did not /,
eed any more government than we (,
eeded in 1918. and when no doubt /,
had more people than II bad :,
} 1921. the property taxes Of this !,
tate. levied for all purposes, amounted !
) nearly s27. 10000. and yet this {
mount Of axes was not sufficient TO !,
Ieef the cost Of government, eIs is evi q
pneed by the millions of dollars Of i.
sgisfered warrants and bonds Issued =
,roughout this state. not only for pub II
e Improvement bnt 10 meet the run. u
Ing expenses of government. But this a
not all. In 1912 the total taxes col- n
In Montana was s~Il.244.Tl9 z:
o this with 1921. when the total II
xes levied were s27. 443.OO0. and ask II
,urself whether or not the 1927 gov II
nment Of the state Of Montana nndlp u
i subdivisions was worth fwo and N
times rs much rs thar or ~
az a
State Payroll Increased
In January. 1913. Mhen / took office ~
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