The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1924-10-01
GOVERNOR DIXON GIVES FACTS
CONCERNING States FINANCES

How Mines Are Taxed
AS an Illustration of how the pres
ent tax system works out, the COVER
nor cited the case of the Davis-Daly
mine at Butte, which was recently
sold for $3,OOO,O 900 cash. This prop
erty's total assessed valuation for tax
purposes was $4O,12O and it actually
paid taxes in the amount of $2,549,
he said.
He pointed out the fact that the
same investment in farm lands would
pay $4,000 in taxes, or approximate
ly % times as much, and that S3,O0O,-
900 worth Of livestock would pay
taxes amounting to over SCI 900, or
"a times as much. He compared the
taxes paid on this mine with those
assessed against the various Business
buildings in Bozeman, calling atten-
ton to the fact that the Commercial
National bank pays $6,473 on it's
banking house, or nearly 212 times
as much as the $4,000, 900 mining
property above referred to.
The Anaconda Copper mining
company publishes figures show
ing the large sums they pay in
taxes, leaving it to be inferred
that this is assessed against their
mining property" he said. But
it must be remembered that this
company owns practically all the
standing timber in Montana, as
well as ranches, newspapers.
stores and other enterprises, and
that the tax figures which are
cited V all this prOperty-Of
which the Butte mines constitute
only about One-seventh."
Referring to charges that he is
maintaining a huge political machine
and that the highway commission and
state game commission are used for
this purpose, the governor called at
%tentiOn to the fact that a number Of
Democrats were appointed by him on
both of these boards, making the op-
positions charges absurd on their
face.
He also declared that none of the
states elective officers are provided
with free automobiles and told ex-
actly where the states cars are and
what they are used for.
Judge Erickson has been fur
nished with figures p~urpOrting to
show that state officials have
spent 100000 in the past three
years travelling about the state
he said. Il do not believe that
the Judge knows the facts or that
he would knowingly be a party
to the attempt being made to
misIead the people of the state
with these figures.
1T must be borne in mind. tina
this includes mileage Of not only stat
officials and employees but of sheriff
on trips to the prison and other in
situations, the heads of the stat
schools when on official business an
! many other items which are neve
mentioned when these figures &.
t cited.
NO n wants to see the great
mining and waterpOwer Interests
l in Montana crippled. But SO per
s cent of their stockholders live in
E other states or in foreign coua-
tries. All ! ask is that these
absentee owners pay the same
percentage of taxes as do the
g people who live and own prop
n erty here in the state.
Major FOOte was nominated for ?
s torney-general without the aid or c..
: sent of these interests. His is a ven
Q important office, especially 50 in vie
n Of the fact that the state is no
seeking to collect nearly half a mi
lion dollars from tie Montana Pow,
company in protested taxes.
would be easy for an attorney ger
eral not in sympathy with the De
pies interests to Quietly dismiss tn
case.
Charlie Was There"
Charlie Carlson, Democratic ca,
didate for this office, played with Il
copper crowd in the legislature.
don't know when they ever rang Il
gong that Charlie didn't answer Wi
bells on.
Regardless of the noise being
made about other matters. the
n big issue this year is the con-
troll of the Montana tar commits
sion for the next six years. The
incoming governor will appoint
two members of the commission
who will serve two years after
his term ends.