Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-06-04
(Tribune's Helena Bureau.)

ing of a corporation license tax Will
which to pay a bonus to the veterans
Of the recent world war. which il
understood to be backed by the Worle
War veterans and recently filed in the
office of the secretary of state, tht
corporations of Montana would be as
sessed a tax heavier than any ever
before proposed in the many taxation
schemes put before the voters or the
legislative assemblies.
A tax of 10 per cent OF the totaI
net income of all corporations operat-
ing within the state for each or tine
eight years of 1915 to . inclusive
is %pronosed by this bill and the money
so derived is to be paid to the veterans
of the recent war at the rate OF SlOu
for each month or Fraction of a month
spent in the service by each veteran
In the event that, afteri the distrltu-
ton of the money upon the monthly
basis. there remains in the fund any
MONEYS in excess of S5.OOO. the re-
mainder shall be divided equally among
such veterans as have been totally
disabled.
Circulated in FIathead
The first petition to be filed with the
secretary of state had been circulated
in Flathead county and bears the attes,
tation of the county clerk OF flatheao
as to the signatures.
The bill follows very closely the rom
struction of the existing l per cent cor
poration license tax. when, lot the
wears 1917 to 1921 inclusive. produced
To tbe state an average annual income
of S427 600. Assuming that the aver
age net income Of the corporations TOT
the eight-year period proposed by the
bonus bill was the same as for the
wears covered by the existing corpora
zion license tax law. the proposed Dill
should produce S4.270.OOO for each OF
the eight years or a total of S34.l6O,
coo.
However. the bill contains a prpvlso
TO the effect that in the event the funo
thus to be raised is insufficient to pay
the veterans the full sum to when
tbey NAV be entitled under the SlU
per month rate of compensation. tnen
the amount required shall be computed
nv the state auditor and a further
license fee be collected in such amount
as to meet the deficiency.
Estimate Total SIS 100000
It is estimated that the average
period of service of the Montana sol,
diers. of whom there were 46,VU
was 10 months so that to fully pay
I. These itttIduS Notlu ftIhhi 'C'
900 or an average of S6,S32.OO for
each of the eight years. This would
mean instead of a straight 10 per cent
tax. as provided in the bill, a deficiency
lew of in excess of g per cent. or 2
total of over Is per cent of the total
net incomes for all corporations for
each of the eight years.
The bill provides that the assess
, ment of this license tax shall be made
on or before June !, 1923. and the tax
must be paid on or before June 10,
1923. For failure to pay such tax
upon the day specified a penalty of 30
per cent would be added with an addl-
tionai / per cent interest for each
month the tax remains delinquent. The
bill would make the tax a lien upon
all the property of the corporation
located within the state.
Title and Provisions
The title of the bill, together with
Il digest of IFS provisions, some sections
being quoted in full, follows:
a bill TO enact by initiative a law
providing for the payment of compen-
sation to Montana veterans of the
world war;: creating the soldiers com
pensation fund; prescribing duties for
certain officers of the state of Mon
tana in connection Herewith; provld-
ing for the raising of revenues from
excess profits earned during the war
and postwar period by means of a
corporation license tax: and providing
for the adjustment of any surplus or
deficiency"
Section l.. Provides that, in order to
promote the spirit of patriotism and
loyalty. in testimony of the gratitude
of the state of Montana. in recogni-
ton of the splendid services of Mon
tana men in the war between the Unit
ed States and the German empire and
its allies, and to subject to the burdens
of this measure the corporations which
made money out of the late war" there
shall be paid to each person who was
regularly called, enlisted. drafted, in
Quoted or commissioned in the army,
navy or marine corps of the United
States between April 6, 1917, and No
vember II, 1918. and who served be-
tween April 6, 1917, and January /,
1922, and at the time of his entry into
the service. was q bona fide resident
of the state of Montana or entered
from any place in the state of Montana,
the sum of 500 for each month or
fraction thereof that such person while
in such service or after being dis
charged, an equal amount shall be paid
to his next of kin.
sections - 10 S."fTbNluP IDT tUe
collection, administration, and payment
of the bonus fund and exemption of
the bonus payments from taxation.
To Tax Corporations
Section 8. For the purpose of Gre
ating the soldiers compensation fund
hereinbefore provided. every corpora
ton except as hereinafter provided. or
ganized and existing under the laws of
the state of Montana and engaged in
business therein, shall pay to the state
treasurer, as a license fee for carry
ing. on business in said state of Mon
ana 10 per centum upon the total net
income received by such corporation in
each of the calendar years. 1915. 1916,
1917. 1918, 1919. 1920, 1921 and 1922.
from all sources within the state Of
Montana. including interest on bonds.
notes or other interest bearing obi
cations of residents, corporate or other
wise. and including the income derived
from dividends on capital stock or from
net earnings of resident corporations
whose net income is taxable under this
title; and every corporation except as
hereinafter provided, organized and ex-
listing under the laws Of any other
state or country, or the United States.
and engaged in business in the state
of Montana, shall pay for the exclusive
use and benefit of the state of Mon