The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1949-06-03
Mining City
Continued from Page Onel


ever must have had some knowledge
of the letter as shortly afterwards
values on water rights were not in
cluded in the Butte Water Com
pany's annual reports to the Board
of Equalization or the Public Service
Commission. A water right valued
at over a million dollars, could not
fly out the window, neither could it
fall in the river and drown, so we
must conclude that the water COM
pany's neglect in including the value
of these water rights in their an
nual reports, was a deliberate at
tempt to evade extra tax, due the
City of Butte and School District
No. 1.
In the case of the Federal Power
Commission VS.. the Montana Power
Company, heard in the federal court
in Butte in 1913, Mr.. Kelly, chair
man of the board of the Anaconda
Copper Mining Company, when testi-
flying as a witness for the Montana
Power Company, stated that water
rights never decreased in value, but
on the contrary values always in
creased, due to the fact that the de-
mand for water rights, greatly ex-
ceeded the supply.
May Have To Put Heat On
Board of Equalization
1t will possibly be necessary for
your august body to apply to the
supreme court for writ of man
damus, compelling the Board of
EQUALIZATION to set a value on the
water rights that are the property
of the Butte Water Company. Due
diligence should be given to see that
the proper valuation is placed there
on. If these water rights had a
value of over a million dollars IN
1892, according to Mr.. Kelly they
have a greater value now than they
had at that time.
In regards to the collection of the
back taxes due, this can be taken
care of in due time, or as soon as
the proper valuation is set. Il
I am enclosing printed copy of
a letter l wrote Mr.. Kelly about
year ago relative to these taxes, as
believe it will give you a clearer
picture of the facts in this case than
I have been able to transmit to you
in this letter. II
| know our county officials have
the ability and the integrity to ham II
die this tax situation in a manner II
fair and equitable to all concerned H
and any threat to withhold taxes H
now due, is entirely out of reason II
and should not be considered. H
Officers Must Be Aware of H
Delinquencies H
Several articles have been pub II
Iished, regarding the non-payment of H
these taxes by the Butte Water Com H
pany, and it is almost a certainty II
that our county officials are aware
Of this delinquency, so why should H
they crack down on an individual II
who is trying to make an honest liv- II
ing in a dishonest world, when the II
largest corporation in the state has
been evading the payment of a part II
Of their taxes for over forty years. II
In times past some of our people III
have set up our two largest corpora III
tons as some kind of Gods, and III
would bestow on them the right to ii
rule all of US, but times have changed u
and the day is passed when large II
and even royalty, are HI
held immune to the rules, regulations III
and conditions that govern the So III
called common people. HI
Hoping this communication will in III
some manner help in solving this III
yery annoying tax problem, | am HI
sincerely, PAT c. SULLIVAN. HI
Copies to Montana Standard, Butte HI
Daily Post, Montana Labor News, HI
The Peoples Voice. HI