The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1949-02-18
The Way Out

Hindsite is better than foreste common, 5 pres
sion not true expressed but generally realistic WORD
back past events with much clearer vision than have
for the future Likewise would be better for all of
pracced looking clearly into the future
This particularly true of economic and social affairs
because these going to condition and individual
and personal affairs the days to Let's take con-
crete example.
Recently prepared Census Bureau estimates going
show that Montana has lost percent IN population since
l94o by larger or smaller percentages the same has been
found true of four five Missouri Valley states We
living in declining and in state and region
that slipping backwards This dsagreeabe fact must be
faced not CLOSED
Meantime all better roads, efficient schools,
adequate for the aged nfrm unemployed
ernmena service of dozen kinds and hundred other things
than be provided only at public There in
sufficient public income and lack of from which that
income be created by licenses taxation without danger
to business affairs nustice and the set of and
pensive devices for collection of which will
much they collect
present legislature wrees desperately with the prob
lem SO has every other Montana legislature for the past thirty
years There be precious little vision behind most
of this froh and turmoil that is being stirred and less
vceit looks like quick, easy money Others point out
that civilization built the proceeds
Of what vice going to live when conditions
decline to the point where there is little surplus purchasing
power left among the masses of people.
Many earnest minded members favor taxes
dwndng supply of natural taxes on
COAL OIL cement timber and kindred items There
of inheritance sales taxes
that be found There be, and undoubtedly
is merit in of these proposals All put together they
stagger along until the next legislative session
The psychology behind it all be that can
all make living by taking in each others washing.
it about time to put little vision into this in
souabe taxation and problem The simple basic
workable way get public to create more
wealth and income from which that be
More irrigation in the way of improved land
hydroelecrc industry jobs more
sound economic activity of kinds is the
only real base which sufficient for the
public affairs social and governmental bel
collected.
Missouri Valley development grand scale, and at
rate of fast facilities be absorbed into
production the and only final to ever
increasing problem MVA the speedest short cut
that solution 1t start creating wealth within sixty
days after it approved and The wealth will
ultimately create in Montana promises to exceed two billion
dollars.
privately portion of this wealth will pay
taxes other privately owned wealth does The properties
DAMS houses ETC. that remain ownershps
of the government will percentage of
lieu of taxes No other of develop
nent scheme this. The PckSoan Plan dealt
mortal blows in the past month"; that is out
The for MVA is OPEN little vision and lot of
public push will make it legal reality Certainly Montana
is going to supply it's share of that vision push L
JEROME G.. LOCKE Il