The Powder River County examiner and the Broadus independent. [volume] (Broadus, Mont.) 1919-1935, 1922-11-03
ScOfIelO DELIVERS
nASTEnFUL ADDRESS 1t
.PQxDfRv|llE 0cI. 29.


II am pleased to meet you hero to-
night. TO the voters Of Powder River
county I would say that two years ago
you did me the hcnor Of electing me
AZ your representative In the state
Legislature, for which honor
thank you. and viii state that
am now before you for re-elsctaon. and
in asking You to vote for me ! will
state that I stand sQuareay- ON my
record during the session Of the Sew
enteenth Legislature and the special
session that followed It.
"Fellow citisens, I am proud to be
able to say that was cne Of the faith
full sixty.two in the house who stood
by Governor Dixon In his efforts to
secure the reduction and equalization
Ct the burden Of taxation and thus OBJ
tain Justice and fair play for the FARM
ers. stockmen and other business In
terests OF the state and compel the spe.
cial interests such az metaliferous and
coat mines. oil wells. power ana ratl-
road companies to pay their fair share
OF taxaticn and thus lift the burden
from the oxer-taxed farm lands. live
stock and other business interests. In
order to accomplish this we passed .
referendum, bill for the creation OF q
state equalization board tc be voted on
by the people .at the coming election,
and I am satisfied that when the peo-
pie Of Montana understand the sstua-
ton AZ it actually 10. that this amend
ment to the constitution will carry
by an immense majoriy.
zone reason why our taxes are 90
heavy il that there 10 practically no.
bc<ay to look after the equalization.
consequently q large amount OF prop
erty in the state ecapes taxation.
"Take the railroads. tine amount ct
property on the tax books for 1890
was 31S,Oo0.000.00 less than the values
placed upon it by the, federal govern
1nent.
'aThe Montana Power and Light &c M
pany paid taxes in 1890 en- $s1.e23.947
less than the valuation shown by their
balance sheet issued to their stock
"c TN 1890. wenty-ave M sanarsd licensed
automobiles escaped taxation.
1.-THE Hansen Packing Company in
Butte has property val ued at $46O.O0O
ON which they paid for an insurance
policy Of e436.00O and paid taxes on
$50. 200 valuation. and 80 on all along
the line.
TT all this property was taxed.
would 1t not lift the burden from US
who are paying taxes on every dol
lars worth Ct property we own or
have in our possession?
"I believe that q permanent tax conn
mission would solve this problem for
ua just as 1t has done for fcrty-two
other states which have adopted it.
The stock arguments Of the opponents
Of the permanent tax commission is
that the 'state equalization beard
has all the power necessary to adjust
taxation measures In Montana. Let us
consider this contention for minute
and will show you the fallacy OF It,
"The state beard OF equal alization as
created under the authority OF the con-
stitution Of the state Of Montana con-
sists Of the five executive officers. the
governor, secretary CT state, attorney
general, treasurer and auditor. All OF
these officers have all that they can dc
to properly attend to the business Of
their respective offices. There are g.
counties In the state ana It would bt
impossible for them to hold equalixa
tion meetings in each Of these and II
many cases to personally examine
property in order to determine iti
hoard Of equalization must act a. al
entire board upon all tax measures. II
other words. IL one member In absent
all action taken. by the other member
Of the board 10 invalidated. and thel
again their decision must be unanf
NOUS. AZ there is no provision In tn
constitution for quorum. You there
fore. can easily see row hard I: W ,ul
be for the state holrd Of equal isatto
to- adjust taxation measures even
they have ths ..tine which. they hav
not. Under the law now before tn
people for the erection Of q. tax ccm
mission Of three. two constitutes
quorum. - =: 80.
IA tax commission would centralis
authority and deflnitsly place respcn
sibility. It win place this atmportAl
duty In the. hands Of men, who undei
stand taxation: problerha aiuGtton IN
conditions within the state. who II
stead Of 6etng arbitrary Win
prompted in their acts by cocl deiil
GRAFTON. when Nontsna has ench ;:
- body Il will. begin TO scale down "a
reduce Its tax bardens. asA It -. ~
likely that this win happen until Y
take thJa bussnese.lilge atep ip tho y
ministration OF our tAx and reven'
laws.
I'VE an know that the apscial inte
ests ere, uAekine . Nc Cat 70 defe
the tax Ocnmoo0loa 0m0o1Dont 20 q
censtitutioa ana Aave teear spendil
thossan1S oe dollars - 6laA6n9 larl
advertisements IN nearly every .pep
In the 0taee. telling The peo0ee he
miaea ta1o0 they ase payang. thsrsl
tryta9 70 (: oreate-s IN. tmpeeoo3cn. II