The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1924-10-17

ernar's 1921 message to the legisla-
ture as follows:
81 do not wish to give the i'm
preston that it is easy to deter
mine whether the present system
of mine taxation casts upon that
industry its fair share of the
burden, nor to doubt that the
mining interests are sincere in
their belief that they are paying
UrODortiOnately as much as the
owners of other classes of pro-
perty.
81 do not believe that under
our present system OF taxing the
net proceeds" our metalIlferOus
mining industry bears its right
full burden of government in Mon
tana. How to adjust it, frankly
confess is a difficult problem"
Referring to the states finances
Mr.. Edwards charged Governor Dixon
with using to many dates from which
he made computations, and declared
that the most satisfactory solution at
this time would be by way of present
ing the totals.
"On page four of Mr. Dixon's 1923
message" the speaker said, ''the gov
ernor presented figures showing the
net deficit to have been On January 1,
1921, the day hsswent into office, the
sum of 81 SOP ,08425.
"This sum included the unpaid
claims against the state.
"There appears to be no dispute as
to the overdraft or Indebtedness on
June 30, 1924, which was 1885, $685.
46. This sum did not include unpaid
claims nor the expense for the month
Of June.)
"This shows an increase of the IN
debtedness from $1,602,08425, to IS,
595, 55S.46, or an increase CT the debt
in three and a half years in the sum
Of 81 ,992, 474.21.
Gin an addition to the creation Of
this outstanding warrant Indebtedness
there was collected for the general
fund from taxes and transfers from
other funds the sum of $1,536,612 %
more than was collected during q
corresponding period of time under
the Stewart administration.
"Were it not for the fact that !un-
der Dixon there had been collected
for general fund the sum Of 1885,
612.23 more than was collected fo1
the same fund under Governor Ste
wart. the increase of the debt under
I the Dixon managementwOuld have
been the sum of $3,550,086.44, instead
! of 81 ,998, 474.21."
Connecting Governor Dixon witt
the railways, the speaker gave his
audience an outline Of the political
connections which caused the Cover
nor, as a member of the board equall-
cation, to favor a reduction IN then
! assessed valuation, he said:
"The Northern Pacific wants DlXoT
and Walsh retained or returned to Of
fee The Northern Pacific IS the
greatest tax-dodger in Montana anC
is furnished by this state with the
schedule of its highest freight rates
"The land grant of the Northern
Pacific is again under investigation a
Washington.
"The effort of the Northern Pacifit
to gain possession of additional timber
land in this state is meeting inqulr!
and now engages the attention OF IN
vestigatOrs.
"The Northern Pacizc has lost near
ly every United States senator on thu
line of its railroad.
"The Northern Pacific pays take
in Montana at the rate of 5000 pc
mile of road. Outside of Montana
this railroad pays tax at the rate o
S1,574 per mile of road
''Twenty-three and a half per cen
of the Northern Pacific system pro
duces to- the Narthern Pacific Rail-
way company So per cent of the ne
earnings of the entire system. Hurral
for Dixon and Walsh.
Montana could stand for the in
; competency and extravaganza of Dix
on if in return, Dixon would curtai
the power of the Northern Pacific an
thereby provide a measure of cppor
tunity and prosperity for our people.