The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1941-08-27
| new ENGLAND
c0-0PS FIGHT
TAX BILL
Discriminatory Tax Bill in
Massachusetts, Aimed at Co
operatives Is Defeated At
Least Temporarily by United
Action.
By GLADYS F. FOLEY
Secretary, New England Coop Fed

Secretary, New England Coop Fed.
| BOSTON.-A tax bill which would
have established a precedent for sin
Cling out co-operatives for discrimina
tory taxation not levied on other cor
porations and thereby open the dool
to tax Co-ops out of existence has
been put off for two years. Substi
tute House Bill No. 1896, relative to
taxation of cooperative corporations
| only which was up before the house
ways and means committee of the
state legislature, has been referred
to recess committee for further
study This committee will report to
the next legislative session in Janu-
airy, 1913.
The original bill, House No. 623,
which proposed to levy tax of one
half of one percent on annual gross
sales of Massachusetts Co-ops, in adj
dition to SO per thousand on per-
sonal property, was strongly opposed
at hearings before the committee on
taxation, last March. Consumer
groups, led by the New England Co.
operative Federation, presented the
registered protest of churches, labor,
women's clubs and civic organiza-
tions. Briefs were filed by George e.
Roewer, counsel for the Federation
and Eastern Cooperative Wholesale,
and by Waldo Noyes, attorney for the
farm Co-ops. Fifty-one legislators re-
corded protest at the first hearing,
during which 800 people damned one
of the largest rooms in the state
house and stood in the corridors.
Resultant effect upon the tax COM
mittee was the reporting of a Sub
stitute Bill, House No 1896, which, in
its original form, would have reduced
the proposed tax to one quarter of one
percent on gross sales in addition to
the personal property taxes. In re-
Spouse to further letters from coop
orators, and pressure brought to bear
by the attorneys, Tax Commissioner
Long, who introduced the original bill,
made further amendments, so that at
the time of the hearing before the
house ways and means committee, on
July End, House No. 1896 proposed to
levy tax of one-tenth of one per-
cent on annual gross sales in addi-
ton to $5 per thousand on personal
property. Although the reduction was
great, the bill was still highly dis
and was vigorously pro-
tested against by Massachusetts CO.
operators, in a crowded hearing room
on one of the hottest days in summer.
Brilliant arguments were presented
by Attorney Roewer, and by Howard
Selby, manager, United Farmers Co
operative Creamery and the attitude
of the committee seemed to be
sympathetic one.
Although Massachusetts co-opera-
.ors are pleased to have the legisla-
ion referred to a recess committee,
where many bills die natural death,
hey will continue to be on their toes
Turing the next two years taking adj
yantage of the opportunity to build up
/ stronger movement as bulwark
against further attack. Danger to
he security of their societies accom-
)lished great deal of good, effect
ng a greater solidarity and increased
in the New England Fed
sration as well as coordination OF
arm and consumer Co-ops in the in
crest of their common cause. Much
favorable publicity was another inn
,ortant result.