The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1942-01-08
Mohoney Gives
His Side of
Tax Debate

LII oil iftSlVleW Win lOuHLV
Commissioner James Mahoney this
week, two recent articles appear
ing in the Eureka Mirror and the
Kootenai Valley Call of Troy came
up for discussion. Both articles
discuss the present investigation be-
ing made regarding taxable valua-
tons in Lincoln county" said Mr.
Mahoney, "but the venom is so evil
dent in both of them that it is
plain there is more back of them
than merely news reporting. | was
under the impression the investi-
cations are to be a study of tax
valuations. 1t would now appear the
Mirror and the Call are using the
investigations as the basis of an at
tack on me and others, their articles
being written eviccntfy 70 STIR up
prejudice.
Both the Mirror and the Call are
supposed to be owned and edited
by E. B. Sisson, now living at
Columbia Falls, and his son.
Charles Sisson Of Troy" continued
Mr.. Mahoney. 'The articles en-
deavor to show that | am unfair
in my official duty in dealing with
the present tax matter, SissOn us
ing the expression, 'Mahoney Sup
ports the Company AS matter
Of fact, | never supported this mat
ter and never approved of it. In
evidence of this, goodly portion
of the $4,000 voted for the investi-
cation is already gone with very
little il anything to show for it.
Apparently both the Mirror and the
Call jump at the conclusion that if
| were not supporting the measure,
| was supporting the Company. APP
parently this is the full scope of
their vision. From what has already
been said, it clearly shows that
both newspapers are primed with
the idea that the $4,000 appropriat-
ed is for double-barrel shotgun
pointed and aimed at the J. Neils
Lumber Company.
ITO be fair with the other men
who serve on the Board, the ap-
preparation was, of course, not in
tanded as a means of prosecuting
anyone. However, when the $4,000
was appropriated last August to
employ a special Investigator, the
County Attorney employed an in
vestigator who spent SO much time
at the ]. Neils Lumber Company
plant Ct understand two weeks
that he was nuisance. Whereupon
Walter Neils was asked to appear at
a special meeting of the Board of
County Commissioners on Dec. Is.
The Sissons describe this session as
a stormy one, under the pressure Of
fire, birthstone, and other high ex-
plosives. Mr.. Neils, like all other
taxpayers, received courteous treat
ment from the Board. There were
no Irregularities, SO the Mirror and
Call reports are cheap gossip, lack
ing facts.
THE Sissons quote Mr. Neils as
county, there WOULD be nothing left
in the county Mo- one present at
the meeting hearg Mr.. Neils make
that statement. There is nothing in
the minutes of the meeting to show
it, And if every word spoken at
the meeting was incorporated in the
minutes, even then there would be
nothing to show such statement.
Saying there was is falsehood.
THE Great Northern Railroad
Company the Anaconda Copper
Mining Company and the j. Neils
Lumber Company pay 81 per cent
of the taxes in Lincoln county
Without them we could not main
tain county governmental, but
true. These three corporations con-
stitute the goose that lays the gold
en- egg here. Why kill the goose
that lays the golden eggs?
Il don't believe any of us will
have to think back very far to re-
member the incident where a Lin
coin county community got IN
Volved in a controversy with its
chief industry and suddenly found
itself without that industry much
Tornnaea or pace %