Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-10-22

the expenditures of the state govern
ment exceeding it's receipts more than
500 every hour in the day, the tax
problem of Montana cannot be met
by putting additional taxes, whether
In the form OF income tax, or what
ever form, upon any citizen, resident
Or taxpayer. The solution is to be
found only in emphatic insistence
upon the cutting of expenditures to
meet our income.
To impose an income tax, a very
large per cent of which will be wasted
in its collection, would simply faclli-
tate the further building up OF the
states already large existing political
machine, and make easy continued and
additional and useless extravaganza.
To meet such a tax would be a o
or less serious matter to every one
subjected to it. In addition, the re-
quiring of every farmer, school teacher,
wage arner or other resident possess
ing an income in the amount suggested,
$1,000 annually, or more, to reveal full
information as to his or her opera
tons or business, would undoubtedly
be fully as Objectionable, and no one
with ordinary intelligence could for a
moment imagine that the yielding to
such additional tax would result in the
equalization or the lowering OF any
ones tax, or the accomplishment OF
anything but the further : useless
squandering of the taxpayers money.
Shifting Burden impossible
The assurance of Governor Dixon
and his political supporters through
out the state, that he or they only
desire and intend to accomplish an
equalization of taxes, and particularly
The implication plainly thrown out that
If permitted to carry out his plans by
imposing additional taxes upon the
mining industry he will reduce the
taxes of farmers Or any other class
Of taxpayers, is the purest OF political
moments reflection to be appreciated.
Neither the governor nor m of his
supporters has given the slightest as
surance that there will be any reduc-
ton in governmental expense, or that
they will not continue to increase. The
state government at the present mo-
ment is, running behind more than 81
100000 per year. According to the
financial statement of the state auditor.
George F. Porter, the o~verdraft on
the General fund ON the state of Mon
tana, on January /, 1921, was ST.
Isl, S69,02. As shown by the audit
or's books and records. the overdraft
on June 80, 1922, was 81 ,762, 471.77,
or an increase of more than $1,5OO.OOO
in this period of IL years Of Govern
or Dixon's administration.
No one would for a moment, even
If the governor would suggest it, on
tend that the mining industry could
stand an additional burden sufficient
to take up this annual deficit alone,
and unless 1t should be contemplated
that further imposts than this enorm-
GUS amount annually should be placed
upon the mining industry, certainly
no reduction could be contemplated as
to any other taxpayers.
AnImus Is Plain
The animus of the governors
speeches is plain. The time for ae-
counting to the people for the unbusi-
nesslike, ~extravagant and wasteful adj
ministration for which he is RESPONSE
BILE is approaching. This attack upon
the mining industry is a desperate re-
sort to divert from the real issue. and
an attempt to draw a red herring
across the trail leading to an under
standing by the people of what the
real difficulty and the plain remedy are.
The only purpose of this letter is
JDaI dI may huUW the ldCtS. lUOs6
interested in the mining industry be-
lieve that the development of all of
the industries of Montana depends upon
a r~etrenchment Of expenses of govern
ment and not on increased taxation.
The paralysis that results from too
much taxation is felt In Montana today
as never before, and 1t is now the duty
Of each and every one, who has the
best interests of this great state at
heart, regardless Of the industry in
which he is engaged, to see that her
people and her industries are not ex-
plotted by additional forms of taxation.
With the proper development of its
diversified industries, the future of
Montana can only be surmised, and to
cooperate TO this end, the mining in
dustry stands ready to do its share"
MONTANA MINING ASSOCIA-
TION,
CHARLES S. MUFFLY,
HIprnu;4opS -