The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1948-05-14


and irrigation projects now definitely
planned and to be completed before
1860. If we can rely on the figures
of the Army and Reclamation serv-
ices, that number would bring the
total up to $4,000 to 100000
Our state income has more than
doubled in the last six years. In 1941
was at least $764,OOO,OOO This excep-
tionally favorable position is due to
unprecedented increases in produc-
! ton and demands for grains and cat
tie, and in the very high prices of
the same. The agricultural income of
the state last year was 84,000,O00 as
compared to a low of $46,000,OO0 in
1882. Only an extended period of in
flation, high demand, and favorable
weather conditions can hold us in this
position. In 1898 our state income
was $2S0,000,000 and in 1882, 1882
100000. We may again be in the
position to have to ask other states
to help feed our population-we hope
not
federal taxes being only % of 1 per
cent, when our total income is 81 of
per cent and the population is .35
of l per cent, we must realize that
while Montana has higher than av-
erage per capita income, the taxable
portion is low. This is due to the
fact that our incomes do not vary as
| in n4T oto
have very few high incomes on which
taxes are paid in Montana We have
no million dollar incomes, and we
have very few who pay no income
taxes whatever. For that reason, the
total exemptions are high-a person
with a $4,000 income and four depend
ents has the same exemptions as one
with a million dollar income with
four dependents. Therefore, we have
few incomes that pay taxes at the
top rates. Most of them fall in the
bottom brackets.
The following example might help
make it clear (1946 rates used):
One individual $4,000 exemption
with $1,OO0,OO0 will pay $S83,O0O fed
eral income taxes.
$50 individuals $4,000 exemption
with $4,000 incomes each, or a total
of $1,O00,OOO income, would pay $780,
600 to the federal government.
This same principle will apply to
corporations. Those with small in
comes will have proportionally higher
exemptions, and will pay lower rates.
1t appears that now the argument
pro and con for federal aid to educa-
ton has simmered down to dollars
and cents; we should use the facts
from the records in arriving at con-
illusions. That is the real American
way of doing things.
Anyone willing to face the facts
will admit that such issues as federal
control of schools, aid to non-public
schools, ETC., have been eliminated in
the present program for federal aid
TO education. Those who would still
call it partisan issue, or a religious
ssue, are simply evading the facts.
Let's look at the records to find the
and opponents.
Senators Taft Hill, Thomas, Muir
'ay, O'Mahoney, McGrath are Catho-
ic, Mormon and Protestant Some are
republicans, and some are Democrats.
)ne is a member of the Scottish Rite
Northern Jurisdiction, one a Scottish
Rite of the Southern Jurisdiction, and
It least one that | know is a knight
II Columbus member. Yet thew all
'oted for S 472. One the other hand
We find Senator Ecton, a Scottish
tie Mason and Republican, and Sen
tor O'Connor, a Catholic and Demo
rat, voting against
Nc, friends, it is neither north nor
outh, west nor east, Republican nor
Democrat, Protestant nor Catholic. 1t
5 simply shall we tax wealth where
is to educate our children where
hey are just as we tax wealth where
is to train the military men from
wherever they come, and just like we
ak wealth where it is and use it to
uild ships, tanks and planes in the
wherever they are located,
o be used by our children (qrown)
wherever they may be called upon to
erve?