Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-10-22
Summary of Associations Reply
to Dixon's Charge That Industry
Has Not Paid bust Rate of Taxes

~ sa,sss,,s$ # !, zig 4 i. y ;ss y si"s' ' q farming and livestock property lands !" not
'.as:s III I ! IA $ s ,.ssssa liz H. such s.s n5a 4sS.M. s,e S 5s;;s,sss S ys.gat'1 ,nss s!9 sss
mines with buildings and i hrrs We It's; . power sites itss,. dams sand and hydro ydrs
Ing plants. cement plants; and even the eonssntfators and shelters Of the
Such Justification not only ds pr s the h.m mining Industry Of a large
lion to to ts pr p Of The Industries with which it IS IS sought to Be e. Snfssor-
paid I is Il j.; si s%; sf At. t' s.s s:s' ,: ss:'fT # 's ST.: State. 1; sss *. '' aisfss , Ia = 81;
:: e 81, g!s'. e ! 20 x, N. %hs 'si h: s' s5%s: '' taxes ss 'i he sSs'' ''' s%s 'o Scr p 'sii
cent? :. as "a .'., sSPs 6; he y:a; s. @saa the he, " nss1lg ie's ps9 en-! ssa IT. ' at Il tss q ,.s s.
paid i H. taxes to to tie tSs s5sts . Montana for state purposes only, si555 out Of
"a jS !, 1 : S'ssI3a I & es COMPANY. p % is, 7i" Tss s asPi 'ss' pa %fi fs 's.. s's &c
IT, e. stste + Fl g s';; it,, S' sss%n tS ! s sssssssI y n ,s 81" st ct f &, sss ;s e O. 3
p'' ss"' "a e. a g. s sSIs n E : = ! Z ss%sssss I: . ; a. IA jan, :" : Z ~ ;'s y e;
,ns, n Son7 ns F 5ssr estate! as9p Ts , :tasss; At i Fs sss han mt s. SP ps1 Cent a" q it. ' tfss
; ss!'s sov =: or hf fnsaFs Values sss a as $685. sSs S s s:ss.s sssst fss 9 s.s at:sss'', YET s"i i:
IS R': s.:, s'';!' # :, : sp y: i f. !. 3. / ! 4 ::::, s''s'' t., that IT, . .'s,'''', :" .. santana q,
I Isss ' s%s. So s: fss Ms & it ,'s Is S sI s.a t. t; s:i'; il: 81 s7T' ,; ;ss;;sy q f; s's;s
not only nj Ias ' Ti:'G 1ss 'af@;'s se Ct " ts ssa. %sti; aa' , ss9"a.t ps '! i. .s sss.
s The 's esassfst Rss ssss az 9s '1 It IS . " 3s '"SiIets o. to- s's and i IS ssfiss"'s fro%,
, t. "iiss;" = e. a: e: "" iSSs9- ." 8 y tt. t s:ss;" ina! Ds IL Ia: ss's ;ssu. t,ssF; vain. In:
% SSi Gu" 4,s no r" stf Cd. 1 III; e5 a1ss;s i, s Sio1. n s%s . tssa,s5y s'R r ss1Ss. to and 8
tssss ta"s fo t" # saes' ~ fSs S ss P PTSs ' Il: m 1Sess1'i in s%' e ~%" ! "'''' "a''
s.toI il Il. M ss1sSis; ;%rs" ss. SS%Gi ss' 81 sot aT bs~ to that sti in lss min ns' p SrSs!sg
tenants ts" ts'o of f.. 's state s'' t"r r ss 's ''" %t that s g Date ts'P %'"1ns % " vas the s' STATES
"" IS SOU Instead Of being taxed merely "at 500 n asrs" asa as alleged by the
Substantially increased, because of the constitutional provision that Increased
value must be assessed in full. In Butte, for example. this Increased
value of the surface of mining claims amounts at times to more than $1,000
a front foot!
is. Mining is 10 longer a simple, mining operation. 1t Is a % -grade,
in%sstm ms1e's i. in "t teos' %aoSnsr r'' aPPd pian \" NTs" v which, SS' ar easily fly assess,
able under the existing system.
~ Under the taxation classification law the average percentage of the
psossS Of sf mines IS as taxed at a full 100 per cent value or 50 is times that
of other classes.
J8. In 1921. aneginu the existence If a popular demand for further
taxation of mines, Governor Dixon secured the passage OF tn latest min
tar (mnes license taxi on the assurance that the imposition of this tai
would auay much alleged camor. and that he would personally advise the
electorate that mining W as doing its share. or more, In the matter OF tax
Instead. he has broken his word and Is shamelessy accusing this
industry of "evadina its lust share
10. Iaynu aside the property net proceeds, net profit and mine
Ucense taxes (su of which this industry is now paying) it is evident that If
oUr mines are assessed IT the "un cash value" a advocated by Governor
Dixon. they would actually yield less revenue TO Inc state nj thy 10
nw under the present system.
on II ronos additional tax revenues would meal Increased efn-
ciencv and more rigid economy in state government, they might be swallowed
nv h already thTotIed taxpayer. But from Helena comes n hint of
retrenchment, no pledge of governmental thrift. Instead, the governor
drHws IN red herring of prejudice against the states greatest industry
across the trail leading tic truth and understanding. in the hope that he can
obHter.ta TN teu-taIe tracks of 20 months of administrative waste and
extravaganza. ~ - H..
+a burden Ms added" TO this single industry would not be lifted from
oo4Sor vnave sue taxation would not yield sufficient revenue TO take
mn In nrevaiina annual deficit, and the governor knows it. Even If ii
wTouid no reduction would be forthcoming for others. And the governor
knows this. also