The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1922-03-25
TOPIC

Elsewhere in this impression Is an
article which epitomizes the magni-
tude Of the Anaconda Copper Mining
Company's operations In Montana and
its status as a taxpayer in the com
monwealth to the north. The infor-
nation contained in the article ia
very Incomplete, as the methods OF
taxing the great concern and the in
justice practiced by the taxing pow
ers OF the State are not dwelt upon
II may be stated, however. that the
Anaconda company's representative,
quoted in the article, made 1t plain
that unconscionable extravaganza in
the conduct of State business was
proving a bane to the State and that
a halt would have to be called IL the
State was to prosper in the future
and become what 1t should be-one
Of the most important Industrial.
manufacturing and farming States in
the Union.
All that was said about conditions
in Montana applies with Just as much
Importance to Utah, says the Salt Lake
Mining Review, where the mining
and farming interests are being taxed
out of existence. Something has got
to be done to trim overhead" In
consequential reduction of clerks sal
aries and similar expedients are not
going to bring results, nor are they
going to satisfy either the big or lit
tie taxpayers. The frills Of govern
ment must be dispensed with and
when the next session of the Legis-
lature II will be up to those
who are selected to represent the peo-
pie who pay the fiddler" to find a
way of sweeping out many of the
commissions, boards, bureaus, etc.,
hat now call for huge maintenance
sums of money. The mining indus
try. which is the chief industry Of the
State, must be permitted to continue,
for identically the same reason that
makes 1t imperative in Montana.
Publications in every western State
are discussing the tax menace" from
some angle. and with good excuse.
Politicians will do well to read the
handwriting. Here is the way the
Arizona Mining Journal looks at the
situation:
From almost every State in the
West comes the plea of industry for
tax reduction. Practically every west
ern State is loaded with a political
overhead which would not be justi-
fed by ten times the population.
Every public official denies all re-
sp~onsibility for the increased tax bur-
den and says "If the people vote
these measures what can l do?"
Admitting without argument that
the people are to blame for all the
tax burdens under which they stag
ger at present, what is t o be done
about it? Obviously II the people are
resposible for the tax increase it is
up to the people to see hat they get
a tai reduction. When tax reduction
is suggested the present beneficiaries
OF our tax system say 1t simply can
not be done, but the fact remains
that 1t must be done.
Private industry has reduced ex-
pense all along the line to meet
changed conditions and government
must adjust itself to a more conom
ical basis in the same mi as the
individual and business has done.
The man who fights for tax reduc-
ton to-day is often held up to ridi-
cule and calumny by those who prey
of the present tax system and pay lit
tie or no share toward the burdens
OF government. The power of pres
emf political parties will be over-
thrown unless they join willingly in
the campaign for tax reduction.