The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1923-02-22
BIG FIGHT CENTERS
ON GROSS Mine TAX
LONG EXTRA SESSIONS TO GET
BILLS TRANSMITTED WITH
IN LIMIT

(By Herald's Special Correspondent
With only IL more days of the
present session and Monday, the 19tF
the last or fftieth in which all bills
must be transmitted to the other body
we find both branches of the legisla
ture working nights and session
for Sunday, the 18th, to finish up the
work now before them for such
transmission.
1t is rumored that the solons will
have to work all of Monday night
and into the wee hours of Tuesday
in order to dispose of all matters now
pending before their respective bod
les, SO that the records will show that
the work was performed on the fif-
tieth day in compliance with the rule
adopted by both houses regarding the
transmission of bills. Both houses
have appointed committees to act as
joint committees to pass upon the
constitutional amendments to be sub
mitted to the people, as the constitu-
ton provides that only three are per-
mitted to be presented at any one
election.
A Hot Debate
The week Just ended has been a
strenuous one for the lawmakers, but
the big battle was in the lower house
on the gross mine tax. In the COM
mittee of the whole the pet measure
of the administration withstood a
terrific bombardment at the hands of
Maury of Silverbow, Rodgers of
Beaverhead and Caplis of Silver Bow
but was ably defended by Pope of
Missoula. The enacting clause offer
ed by Lease of Cascade, throughout
the entire session a strong advocate
of all measures on behalf of the ad-
for time looked as
though it would be acted upon ia
vorably, but vote disclosed that it
was lost by vote of 51-47.
The Silver Bow delegation have
heretofore been divided equally on
all legislation as there are five of |
them who are strongly in favor of |
measures of the Dixon color, but in
this measure they were solidly against
the proposed tax on gross receipts.
They contended that the small miner
could not operate and that the mines
IN Butte would close, that the A. c.
". company could operate their pro-
oerties that they own in other parts
If the country. They further argued
hat the unions of Butte were strong
v opposed to the measure.
Defeat Forecasted
Carlson of Gallatin contended that
t was unconstitutional and for that
eason voted against it. On third
eading the bill passed the house by
vote of 54-40 and is now trans
nitted to the senate for its concur
ence. The bill will be referred to
ither the committee on taxation"
r. the ones on mines and mining.
here is every reason to believe that
! will be reported out of the COM
aittee that it do not pass. That will
brow the bill open for discussion and
here is every reason to believe that
hose advocating the adoption of the !.
linority will ask for a roll call. All
idications point to the adoption of
ne majority report by from 6 to 10
otes, meaning of course that the bill
i'll be killed.
Thus will end for this session at =
,ast the proposed tax on the gross
roceeds of mines. 1t is argued that :,
s is unconstitutional and that if pas =
ID and does become law that it
i'll seriously cripple the mining in :
ustry and put the small mine operat- Il
is out of business. :
Prints Dixon's Bill
A great deal of confusion perme- =
led the lower house the fore part of 2
st week when the committee print .
/ the bills relating to tax on metals ,
Id water power license. Arnold OF
awson, chairman of the ways and
cans. stated that the bills had never !
zen out of his hands and that Bray, .
iairman of the printing committee,
i'd an ardent Dixon supporter, had
id the bills printed without the tn
notion of the ways and means COM tt
ittee and that the bills were never re
dered printed. W
Bray contends that because the W
II on metal mines was an important a
easure that he personally ordered b.
e bills printed, and paid the sum
$500 for the printing, giving his tt
rsonal check. Arnold informed m
-ay that his statement was de- f
,erate lie, as he knew the context
messages that had passed between a
-ay and persons in authority regard CT
g the printing Of the bill. The bill bt