The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1936-07-09
Candidate For Governor
Discusses Present Issues

IVY 49, 1AJNiat Aol4IlCA NDllSI CSAllldI
from Montana and now candidate fol
the democratic nomination for COVER
nor, was in Libby Monday and de-
livered an address that evening or
Third street between California and
Mineral avenues. Mr. Ayers had an
auto equipped with loud-speaking
amplifiers and spoke in the open air
his address being easily heard by a
goodly number Of voters who had come
out to hear the congressman.
Mr.. Ayers spoke a comparatively
short time but outlined what his pro-
gram would be if elected governor. He
took up the question of the taxation OF
those companies that are gaining their
profits either from the development
and consumption of natural resources
or in the use of natural resources.
These might be listed as gas and oil,
copper gold and silver and other min
erals, electric power, etc
Il want it to be distinctly under
stood said Mr.. Ayers, that am not
against the corporations nor against a
company simply because it is big.
do not want to drive anyone or any in
dustry out of the state. We want them
here. But do believe that they should
pay greater tax for the privilege of
producing and selling the natural re-
sources of the state that in fact belong
to all the people Mr.. Ayers then ex-
pounded his theory Of taxation stating
that the corporations should not be
taxed to death but neither should they
be allowed to mako unjust profits to
be sent out of the state and back to
fatten pocketbooks in Wall street.
Attacks Insurance Law
The speaker also made a vigorous at
tack on the state insurance law. He
prefaced his remarks by saying that he
believed the state of Montana could
carry its own insurance but said in
effect, that the present working out of
the insurance law has developed into
terrible racket that would make some
of the racketeers of the cities look like
pikers. He quoted from what he said
were figures taken from the records in
the state house in Helena. These show,
said the speaker, that under the new
law rates are being paid for insurance
Of state buildings that range from $500
to $500 per $500 for three years, while
under the old arrangement the same
protection was bought in some in
stances for as low as 60 cents pei
500 for three years. This racket, as
Ayers called it, will produce severa
hundred thousands of dollars of profit
for the agency writing the insurance
and the company providing the insur-
ance. The Miller agency is the loca
agency that wrote the insurance anc
the insurance is carried by the Pear
company of London, England. Aver!
condemned in strong terms what HI
said was the robbing of the taxpayer
of the state by this set-up and said on,
of the worst things about it was tina
the business was given to a foreign
company, In one of the first countrie
to repudiate its just debts to America
Ayers gave figures to show this in
surance would cost the state severa
hundred thousand dollars. From
something over $4,000 is set aside for
permanent insurance fund for the state
sum altogether too small accordin
to his contention He also said tha
under the law, all school districts an
all counties will have to write thei
insurance under the new law at
greatly increased expense to the tax
payers. He suggested that the schot
districts and counties refuse to carr
the insurance under the new law an
fight it out in the courts.
Criticizes Liquor Management.
The liquor control board also cam
! in for bitter criticism by Ayers. He sal
lot of Irregularities had crept I'M
: liquor administration He said it hs
: grown into a tremendous business ar
. that the liquor board had created
own auditing department at heay
r expense when the state already hs
t auditing facilities in the state exanir
t ers' office. He charged the board Wi
violation of the law in creating offic
for which the law did not provide al
in paying higher salaries than the la
y stipulated. In fact, said he, the la
: said no officer should be paid ov
II $500 per year in liquor administr
: ton. They had gotten around that
II creating departments not intended
II the law and in paying salaries mu
! higher than the $500 maximum, sa
Ayoro uo cr;t;cirnd their nkkeo