The Powder River County examiner and the Broadus independent. [volume] (Broadus, Mont.) 1919-1935, 1922-03-03

magnificent quarters. and there were
vacant offices : on every floor. 1t
looked as though we bad a capitol
building that would meet the needs Of
Montana Tor at least IS years. and yet
Today this building u packed TO the
roof witt, boards, bureaus and officers,
and we have built two large buildings
IN addition thereto; one for the state
BOARD Of health, and the other for the
livestock interests, and II We continue
TO grow officially in the next 10 years
40 we have In the last, there will not
be room on the capitol grounds for the
buildings that win be necessary to
take care Of our public officers, boards,
commissions and bureaus. The total
state payroll for the month Of Decem-
Der, 1914. amounted to $77,371.19. In
the month Of December, 1920, this had
grown to the appalling sum of sl49,-
1870, an increase Of 02 per cent. II
the taxpayers organizations in Mon.
tana Will accomplish nothing other
than to see that there Is not an addi.
ttonal name placed on the payrolls Of
this state until we have recovered from
our present unfortunate condition,
their existence will have been justi.
fled.
Mine Taxation
"Since ! am here pursuant to an in
vitation extended to the Anaconda
Copper Mining company. I assume
that the much discussed, and. if may
say, the much misrepresented question
OF mine taxation is expected to receive
some consideration. want it distinct
~ understood from the outset that I
am not here to apologize for the taxes
paid and being paid by the mining
industry Of this state. They need no
apology. come before you. with the
firm conviction, whatever misappre-
hension there may be in your minds
that the mining industry is paying and
has been paying it's proportionate share
OF the burdens Of this commonwealth.
hope it may be fully understood that
am not here to attack any other in
dustry or any set of men, whatever
their convictions may he upon this sub
ject.
"The future Of this great common
wealth depends upon the coordination
Of Its Industries and the cooperation
Of all its citizens to the end that it's
matchless resources may lie developed
and that 1t may be made the home Of
a happy and contented people
A. c. N. Taxes Misunderstood
"Cnfortunately the amount Of taxes
paid by the Anaconda Copper Mining
company has been so persistently mis-
represented that there exists in the
minds Of large portion Of well.mean-
ing citizens Of this state the impress
sion that mining companies pay taxes
only upon the profits Of the business.
Let us examine the facts. The Ana
conda Copper Mining company pays
four kinds of taxes in Montana:
"First. 1t pays property tax. Up
on its mines and mining claims it is
assessed at the government price. In
addition to that. If the surface has any
value for other than mining purposes
and # so used. It is taxed ut such
value. 1t is we'll known that the SUR
face Of practically all OF the mining
claims In Montana Is rough, mountain.
Gus ground. and that a value Of S. per
acre is more than the surface Is ac-
tually worth. But in addition to that,
IL the surface has any value. whether
1t be for farming, grazing or townsite
purposes and is so used. it is assessed
at such value. It Is fact Of common
knowledge that what Is now the most
heavily assessed property In the state
Of Montana formerly constituted mere
~ the surface of mining claims, for
practically the entire surface of the
city of Butte was patented as mining
property, and city blocks that are now
assessed at a real estate value of hun.
dreds Of thousands Of dollars originally
paid only the tax on the purchase price
from the government. So that as far
rs the surface of mining property is
concerned. 1t is In exactly the same
position as any other land in Montana :;
with this exception. the surface Of min.
ing claims Is assessed at 100 per cent,
whereas other lands are assessed on a
basis Of 30 per cent. Again, all i'm.
provements, buildings, mills, smelters,
reduction works aud property of every
other kind is assessed rs other prop
erty.
Second The Anaconda Copper
Mining company pays tax on its net
proceeds on the basis Of 100 per cent,
which means that the net proceeds of
mines are assessed on basis Of more
than three times the average Of other
classes Of property.
"Thirtl. This company pays cor
poration license tax of per cent Of
the net profits Of Its business in Mon
tana.
'Four,h. This company pays mine
license tax OF ia per cent on the net
proceeds, or 15-mill levy on 100
per cent If the net proceeds of its min
ing operations.
'The last two forms of taxation 20
directly into the state treasury for the