The producers news., 1927-06-10

ton" law in the sum of thousands of dollars; tne
difference between the revenue produced by the
state levy on the base formed by using percent
age of the full value of their property, instead OF
the full value as the Constitution provides.
They were the ones that proposed this law and
furnished the influence that put it over.
The representatives of these people told the
farmers that it would reduce their taxes and be
good thing for them-yes it saved the farmers
about two three dollars each, while it saved
millions of dollars to the larger corporations
The writer supported bill to repeal this pro
perty classification" act in 1928. He introduced
the measure in the Senate in 1925 and again in
1927.
There were several reasons why it did not pass
They were:
First-The Great Northern Railroad, one of the
biggest tax dodgers in the State;
Second-The Northern Pacific Railroad, the
biggest tax dodger in the state;
Third-The Chicago, Milwaukee Railroad an
other big tax dodger
Fourth-The Mountain State Bell Telephone
Company brazen tax dodger;
Fifth-The Montana Power Company who
pays taxes on valuation and dividends on
another;
Sixth-The Anaconda Mining Company, who
]
! Seventh-The Telegraph Companies; and per
haps others that have slipped our minds
Now, for instance, the Great Northern railroad
paid taxes, say for example, on $10O,0O0,OO0 m-
der the old system at the rate of mills for
state purposes: which amounted to 100000 net.
But under the property classification law the
Great Northern pays mills on only 40 per cent
of the suggested valuation of S1OOOOO,OOO, or 2
I,ooi1Ic xULi
600, making a saving to the Great Northern OF
$4,000 in the amount of taxes paid into the
State treasury.
What is true of the Great Northern is true Of
all of the other railroads and corporation taz
dodgers.
1t is needless to say that this measure for The
repeal of the property classification" law wa;
smothered in committee Attorney Parker Vez!
and Attorney Gum saw to that-the railroads ar,
pampered darlings in this state, and have Away
been-no legislation is ever passed injurious t.
their interests.
If the property classification law was repealed
and the full valuations of property was restore
as the basis of the tax levy, the road and bridg
fund.- which is the product of levy fixed by lay
would be increased three times. The amount 0
bonds that could be issued would be increase
two and one-half times
This would mean 3 times as much road work
it would mean that could build a court hous
: and County High School in Sheridan County
: it would mean that school districts could max
= needed Improvements and engagements; it woul
. mean water works and sewer extensions;
: : would mean the payment of the State debts whiC
: must be paid sometime, and the saving of $4,000
per year in interest alone it would mean suff
!. cient revenues to adequately support the high
- educational institutions of the State,
= It would solve many of the difficulties now Co
y fronting us.
. But the only way this vicious law can be repea
: ed, and the idea of the Constitution restored, W
be by initiative action. A law should be drawn
once, and circulated among the people, in ord
- that it can be voted upon at the next general ee
- tion.