The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1923-02-02
CLARK'S LAWYER
STANDING GUARD
Proposed Inheritance Tax Law Draws
Judge Sydney Sanner to Helena in
Interest Of Chief.

Judge Sydney Sanner, former assO-
ciate justice Of the supreme court,
who was seriously i'll at his home in
Butte several weeks, and who still
feels the effect of his long illness, has
arrived in Helena. He became active
among the legislative members imme-
diately upon his arrival.
Judge Sanner is chief of the w. A.
Clark extensive legal staff in Butte.
He spent considerable time about the
legislative halls in Helena two years
ago in behalf of the Clark interests.
After the inheritance tax measure
was passed by the house two years
ago and reached the senate Judge
Sanner wrote 10 amendments to the
measure, 81 of which were adopted by
the senate and after the inheritance
tax measure was so amended it be-
came the law which now is on the
statute books. It is a law which, af-
ter the legislature adjourned, the
court found only provides for fiat
rate of 10 per cent on inheritances
up to $4,000, with $4,000 in exemp-
tions. For that reason Montana was
only able to realize a tax of $3.50 upon
the Murray estate, while California,
because of its effective inheritance
tax, received more than 100000. It
was because of the amendments in
corporated by Judge Sanner that Mon
tana was denied the benefits OF a tax
such as is the rule in California.
New Measure COrrects.
A new inheritance tax measure was
introduced Wednesday in the house,
and is a measure intended to over
come the defects of the present Mon
tana inheritance tax law. If it passes
as drawn Montana will have enacted
this time an inheritance law modelled
after the law in force at present in
Wisconsin, and 80 per cent of the pro-
ceeds viii go to the benefit of the
schools Of the state.
Fixer Arises From Sick Bed.
Judge Sanner. incapacitated from
illness though he may be, left his sick
room and rushed to Helena immedi-
ately after this bill appeared in the
house, and he will remain here, it is
said, until he learns what treatment
the bill will receive when it reaches
the senate. Former Senator Clark is
reputed to be the richest man in the
world, and his aides are here to put
forth their mightiest effort to prevent,
if they can, the passage Of any
measure that will require the Clark
estate in years to come to be sub
jected to any such inheritance tax as
is required in California, Wisconsin,
New York and nearly dozen other
states.
Employees of all corporate interests
were extremely numerous and ex-
tremely active in the Hobbies of the
hotels Thursday night until after mid
night, and detained with their whis-
pered conversation all legislative
members who would give them atten-
ton.
1t was not until after midnight that
James R. Hobbins, formerly manager
of the Montana Power company in
Great Falls, now first assistant to Con
Kelley, president of the Anaconda
Copper Mining company, with head
quarters in Butte, left the lobby.
Frank Bird, tax commissioner for
the Montana Power company, was an
other who was among the last to dis
appear.
w. C. Rae, former state treasurer,
now tax commissioner for the Ana
cOnda Copper Mining company in
Butte, was holding some of the legis-
lative members to the leather cush-
Toned chairs until late hour, as were
other employees of the company"
Even w. B. Rodgers, foremost lead
er of the Anaconda Copper Mining
cOmpany's galaxy of legal lights, did
not leave the lobby until after mid
night.
Sam Stephenson of Great Falls, a
recent addition to the forces of the
corporations and foremost banker, did
not retire until after the midnight
hour.
Neither did Dan M. Kelly, an attor-
ney in Butte for the A. C. NJ, and who
was formerly attorney general.
c. w. Towne Of Butte, publicity di-
rector for the Anaconda Copper Min
ing company and Montana Power com
pany, was among the arrivals in Hell
ena Thursday, and he will remain
here for several days.
Franz M. Kerr of Butte, general
manager for the Montana Power COM
pany, began helping to organize the
"company's" forces several weeks be-
fore the present assembly convened.