davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1953-12-06
Beer

HistOry-Although the Alco-
holic Beverage Control Act was
adopted here in 1884, beer re-
mained untaxed until 1888 when
a 50-cents-a-barrel fee was
levied. The first full fiscal year
following showed $164,170 in
receipts. The only other in
crease occurred in 1949, when
the tax was doubled. Revenues
jumped, as a result of this in
crease, from $299,476 in fiscal
1949 to $525,946 in fiscal 1850.
While receipts hovered around
$601 900 in both fiscal 1851 and
1852, a drop of $4,000 was
shown in fiscal 1853 ending last
June 80. District officials have
Evening star., 1953-12-06

in city revenues. On the other
hand, officials foresee a down.
ward trend in the valuation Of
vehicles. Whereas, if the present
system were continued, lower
valuations would result in lower
personal property tax receipts,
under the proposed fat-fee setup
the fee would remain constant
regardless of lower vehicle valua-
ton. The expectation of an ulti-
mate, though gradual, revenue
increase presupposes that Dis
trict residents will own as many
or more cars as the present 203,-
900. Car ownership has in
creased steadily, if only slightly,
over the years. tax officials
point out.
Evening star., 1953-12-06

ness property. The city has long
urged wiping the property levy
off the books, since it is too
troublesome for the amount OF
revenue it produces. Nonethe-
less, its absence would be felt
at the outset by the loss OF
about $850,000 revenue. Local
tax authorities have repeatedly
said, however, that freeing staff
ers from enforcing the house.
hold goods levy will mean stricter
enforcement of the property tax
on businesses which will mean
more income from this source.
From the individual taxpay-
er's standpoint, the abolition Of
the tax on household goods. jew
elry and other personal items
would Offset the increased in
come tax rates.
Rate COmparisiOn-The Dis
trict would still have rates
lower than Maryland and
Virginia, especially considering
that nearby Virginians must pay
q personal property tax of $3.50
per 500 valuation in Arlington;
$40 per 500 in Falls Church;
SO per 500 in Alexandria, and
$2.70 to $3.50 per 500 in Fairfax
County. The basic income tax
rate in Maryland is 2 per cent.
In Virginia it ranges from 2 per
cent on income up to $4,000, 8
per cent from $4,000 to $4,000
and 5 per cent on $4,000 up. Dis
trict taxpayers get a better break
on exemptions.
Estimated revenue increase
$1.6 million annually, without
taking into account the expected
$3.50, 900 loss through ending the
personal property tax.
Evening star., 1953-12-06
Insurance

HistOry-ThiS tax now applies
to insurance companies which
cover risks in the District. When
first imposed in 1901, the rate was
2 per cent on the net premium
receipts of all but mutual fire
insurance companies. A 1911
amendment lowered the tax rate
to per cent. In 1884 passage of
the so-called life insurance act
raised the fee to is per cent on
all but mutual and fraternal
companies. The tax jumped to
Evening star., 1953-12-06

Revenue paid in by $4,000 tax
payers in fiscal 1948 totaled
$4.1 million.
Present rates-The $4,000 in
individual exemption went into
effect in 1850, joint returns were
abolished and the rates rose S
per cent IN each income cate
CORY of $4,000 multiples to a
maximum 3 per cent tax on in
come $4,000 or more. The big
exemption cut the number of
taxpayers to $4,000 and the reve-
nue. to $3.5 million fiscal 1851.
Receipts in fiscal 1853 were $4.2
million, paid by about $4,000
residents.
The 1850 income tax structure
was set up as part Of the 1949
revenue bill which also made
such sweeping alterations as i'm
posing the sales tax, the cigaret
tax, the automobile excise tax
and the gas and electricity sales
tax, and raising the beer and
liquor taxes. This was the bill
needed to meet increased govern
ment expenses without going into
the red that year. The higher
exemption on personal income
was part Of a compromise de-
manded by legislators opposed to
the sales tax.
In the same act, the word
resident" was REDEEMED to cut
down the number of persons ex-
empt from paying District in
come taxes. These are legislators
and their employees (if the en-
ployes are domiciled in their
employers State) and preSiden-
TALLY appointed officials whose
appointment must be confirmed
by the Senate. All these indi-
Evening star., 1953-12-06

tremely low" The city. in fact,
is widely regarded as a "low-
priced buying spot" With this
in mind, they have concluded
that this is one of the revenue
sources that can best stand
heavier taxation. One top execu-
tive pointed out recently that the
proposed rate increases would re-
suit in the consumer paying only
5 cents more for a fifth of Ii
quor. and about a penny a fifth
more for wine and champagne
assuming dealers pass the tax
hikes along.
Estimated revenue increase
Sill million annually,
Evening star., 1953-12-06
Individual Income

History-This tax started in
1889. with l per cent levy on
$4,000 or less income, scaled up
ward an additional 5 per cent
on each additional $4,000 of in
come to a cutoff total of 3 per
cent tax on $4,000 or more Of
income. Exemptions were 81 1000
for individual, $4,000 for a mar
ried couple or head of family"
and $400 for each dependent. In
fiscal 1910. $4,000 taxpayers
produced SIS million through
this levy.
The head of family" exemp-
ton was abolished and the mar
ried couple exemption reduced to
$4,000 in 1947. otherwise the
structure remained unchanged.
Evening star., 1953-12-06
runsit

History-Tax on mileage trav.
eled by buses was first i'm
posed in 1882. Rate unchanged
over years. A sample year, 1934-5,
showed total revenue to Dis
trict from all bus companies.
$50, 1903. of which three-fifths paid
by Capital Transit Co. For year
ending last october 80, total
yield was about $176, 900, Capital
Transit paying more than $145,-
600.
Capital Transit, as the only
street railway firm here, also has
paid a gross receipts tax on its
rail operations since the horse
drawn 1880s. This source real.
ized $465, 1896 last year.
Present rates-Bus mileage
tax: .008 cents a mile; gross
receipts tax on rail operations:
3 per cent.
Proposed rates-Increase bus
mileage levy to 2 cents a mile
on companies operating buses
only. Consolidate the Capital
Transit tax so that the company
any company operating both
streetcars and buses-would pay
Evening star., 1953-12-06

forth so far are that the 2-cent
tax would still be well under"
the national average, and that
cigarets are a luxury type of
item that lends itself to increase
in preference to other sources.
Estimated revenue Increase
$75O, 900 annually.
Evening star., 1953-12-06

number of jurisdictions that levy
taxes between 2 and 8 per cent
and even as high as 4 per cent.
depending on the type Of insur-
ance.e
Estimated revenue increase
$500. 900 annually.
Evening star., 1953-12-06
Your Income
How Tuxes Have
Increased Since 1910

How has the District in
come tax burden been shared
by individual residents in the
14-year history of the tax?
The following table gives an
idea:
Evening star., 1953-12-06
Communications

HistOry-A 2 per cent levy on
the sales Of telephone and tele-
graph services would be brand
new here. AS far as utilities gen.
orally are concerned. however,
Evening star., 1953-12-06
The Works Program
WHAT 1T WOULD PROVIDE:


Highways and Bridges
New routes to link East Capitol Street Bridge with
downtown and with Baltimore Washington parkway
and Annapolis freeway inner-belt route skirting
downtown area; central area bridge the
Potomac; improving radal streets between downtown
and outlying crosstown route through Soldiers
Home access route to Deanewood Cost $119 million.
Water Supply and Distribution
Increased filtration and other publication facilities at
Daecarlia filter plant additional storage and pump
ing facilities elsewhere in the system reinforcement
and extension of watermainS to handle increased
consumption Cost: 1868 million.
Sanitary Sewage
New lines to meet housing development needs;
replace supplement of the many obsoescent
sewers expand the treatment plant to reduce
river pollution. Cost $27.8 million.
General Building Construction
Schools Fifty projects to be constructed includ
ing new buildings additional cassrooms, gym
nasiums cafeteras and auditoriums. Cost: $347
million.
Recreation: Ground development at 50 locations in
Guiding Is Fairgrounds and improvement of an
other 13; two year-'round swimming pools; 81
shelter buildings four community field houses Cost
81 million.
Health District General Hospital would get 800 bed
tuberculosis building, psychatric building operating
suite, 200bed dormtory for resident internes utility
service building obstetrics and genecology building
conversion of present psychiatric building to
valescent home The tuberculosis sanitarium at Glenn
Dale would get utility and storage building. Also
four health clinics would be built in the CITY,
Cost: $14 million.
Corrections: Dormtory hospital addition, dairy barn.
administrations education building at the workhouse
Maximum security building, two dormitories, admin
stration building and chapel at the Women's Re-
formatory. Housing expansion at the District Jail
and complete youth center for housing and training
youthful offenders separate from hardened criminals
Cost: $85 million.
Sanitation: High temperature ncinerator to reduce
open dump trash burning transfer station for gar
bage disposal Toulouse and motor vehicle garage
construction; remodel existing ncnerator. Cost:
$34 million
Welfare Housing and training facilities at District
Training School, Laurel, well additional school
and utility building there; additions to Receiving
Home; one-story dormtories at Home for Aged Cost:
$9.6 million.
Library: Construction of six branch libraries
Cost: $23 million
Fire Department. Three engine houses, and
relocation of two others; training school building;
new repair shop. Cost: $23 million.
Police Department: New Womens Bureau building;
storage facilities for impounded automobiles; addition
to central radio station. Cost: SIS million.
Miscellaneous: New central garage and warehouse;
relocation of dog pound; relief and replacement
stormwater sewers Cost: $48.9 million.
Evening star., 1953-12-06
THE COST AND WHO WOULD PAY:

District Toxpoyer- ..sr...
$40 million In additional rates and taxes an
nually for at least 10 years. about half Of that
an increase water rates and imposition Of new
sewer service charge, and the other half in nine
miscellaneous" taxes These are detailed elsewhere
this page
Uncle SON.
SO million annual increase the present $11
million share in District expenses for the next 10
years; full payment for metered water consumption
by Government agencies expected to bring in about
100000 more per year than the present 81 million
lump-sum water payment; full payment for Govern
ment sewer service, estimated at 100000 annually
interest-bearing notes totang 500 million, amortza-
ton of which begin year after issuance OF each
loan.
The Glacier reporter. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1953-current, 1953-08-28

cept on real and personal prop.
erty, and the American Indian
population is increasing rather
than decreasing. ~
According to our figures in
the Bureau of Indian Affairs says
says Miss Selene Clifford, assist
ant commissioner of the Bureau,
there were about $4,000 Indians
in the United States in 1910, and
about 100000 in $780,.
1t is true, Miss Clifford says,
that in Columbus time there
were between 100000 and 100000
Indians. For some years there
was a decline in their numbers.
However, the annual death rate
has been reported cut in half.
Arizona, Oklahoma, and New
Mexico account for about half of
our Indian population, with about
one-sixth credited to Oklahoma.
Other large groups live in Cali
fornia, Washington, Minnesota,
Montana, North and South Dako-
ia, South Carolina and Wisconsin.
The American Indian is now on
new upgrade of health, says
Miss Clifford. There has been a
decided reduction in death rates
from those diseases in which vac
ination is effective. Today, 68
per cent of all Indian children
are born in hospitals. During
the last two years, thousands of
Indian school children have been
tested for tuberculosis.
Aiding the Indians consider
ably is the Bureau of Indian AT
fairs. 1t operates 1927 day and
boarding schools and supervises
the education of Indians who at
tend public schools. The Bureau
also operates 81 hospitals, pro-
vides a field health service, and
arranges for the treatment of
Indians in non-Indian facilities
when necessary.
The original Americans are
now living a better life than they
have for years.
The Glacier reporter. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1953-current, 1953-08-28
LIQUOR ON RESERVATION

During the past two or three
weeks speculation has been rife
here and elsewhere as to what
will come from recent enactment
of the national Congress in re-
pealing the century-old prohibit
ton of sale of Intoxicating liquor
to Indians.
Up to the present time much
confusion exists as to what in
depreciation of the new law will
finally be made, and what, if
any, changes will occur in handl-
ing this troublesome problem on
the Blackfeet reservation.
Officials having to do with So
called enforcement of the state
liquor regulations are uncertain
as to what may, or can happen.
The state liquor control board
is accepting applications for re-
tail liquor licenses in Browning
but with the explanation that
the acceptance. of such license
application in no way binds the
state board to any specific action.
In fact, certain state officials have
made it clear that until the new
federal law, and provisions of the
state law, are clarified, it is not
The Glacier reporter. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1953-current, 1953-08-28

to be expected that any change
from the present system may be
expected.
The last session of the state
legislature removed any prohibit
ton against Indians buying liquor
at bars or at the state dispensar-
les. AS a result Indian people can
now procure liquor legally, the
same as other citizens, but both
federal and state statutes failed
to remove certain restrictions as
to possession of liquor on Indian
lands, or in Indian homes.
Opinion is divided as to the ad-
visibility of permitting open sale
and possession of liquor to and
by Indian people on this reserva-
ton. Those opposed to the use
of liquor, by both Indian and non
Indians, are unequivocally op-
posed to any change which they
think would tend to let down the
bars to drinking by Indian people.
Others argue that the situation at
present could not be worsened,
and might even be improved, if
Indian people, as well as non
Indians, were permitted to buy
liquor on even terms with their
neighborS.
AS it is at present Indian peo-
pie can go to state liquor stores
in Cut Bank, Dupuyer, or any of
the other towns near the reserva-
ton and buy any kind of liquor
they have the money to pay for
They can also go to bars near
the reservation, and buy without
restrictions.
Liquor has been an old-age
curse to Indian people, as we'll
as to a large percentage of other
drinkers. Indian people are more
susceptible to the effects of alco-
hol than their non-Indian neigh
bors. From the earliest times
when Indians first came into con-
tact with the white race, poison
Gus liquor was means used by
many INSCRIPTIONS whites to
swindle the Indian in the fur
trading activities, melting them to
war, and in many, many other
ways to the disadvantage of the
then primitive and uncivilized
red men. This practice has never
been entirely done away with by
these people whose only interest
in Indian welfare was to rob and
swindle them in every possible
way.
Equal rights and education to
the terrible effects of the use of
alcohol in all its variations is
undoubtedly the only effective
and permanent method of meet
ing the problem. Restrictive reg
ulations, observed more in the
breach than in observance. has
proven futile, and it may be that
in the long run the new order
may prove more effective.
The Glacier reporter. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1953-current, 1953-08-28
INDIAN HISTORY

The history of the American
Indian is reviewed in a recent is
sue of nationally circulated
magazine which shows that the
population, nationally, of that
race is on the increase, contrary
to the popular belief to the con-
trary.
The article also reveals many
other interesting facts concern,
ing Indians, including the approx
innate number of Indians on the
entire continent at the time Col
bus discovered America in 1892,
when the red men had the run of
the whole area. The figures Civ,
en- for the population guess at
that early date did not include
the area now embraced in Alaska
and Mexico.
In addition to the population
estimates of both periods, paS
and present, the article contains
many other interesting statistics
and general facts concerning the
present status of the Indians
throughout the country. The
story is in part as follows:
Indians are citizens, and have
been since 1924; all Indians do
not rate check from the gov
eminent; Indians pay taxes ex.
The Glacier reporter. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1953-current, 1953-08-28
SPECIAL SUBSCRIPTION OFFER

Due to the heavy initial investment in assembling the
equipment capable of producing credtabe and
the high cost of materials supplies and few if
throughout the country able to
the old prewar subscription basis and for this will
be necessary for this publication to its subscription
rates.
Until such time the organization further advanced
and better and extended possible, will
accept subscriptions at the old of dollars
However this will apply only subscriptions and those
paying up any arrearages on previous accounts.
For the weeks will accept subscriptions on
the basis outlined and the period subscription may
extended far in advance desired Thus material
saving be affected by paying for three many
years in advance desired
Newspapers required to from their mailing
list subscription than three months This
rule will of necessity have be observed there will
this, too is against postal regulations.
The Browning Chief has had abnormaly large sale
single copies which works to the derment of the building
of sound bona fide circulation Advertising value which
the chief stock trade of based paid
circulation not single sales Furthermore single copy
losing proposition for the publisher when sold five
copy After the selling paid the usual
mission leaves the net return to the publisher much less
than the regular subscription price, at the low two
dollar price
If the Browning and reservation be provided
greatly increase the paid circulation first
major objective of the publisher First pro-
vide local service worthy support
that support will have to be forthcoming if the service
be maintained.
We solicit your cooperation At very considerable
ducng credabe newspaper for the community, and the
establishment and continuance of acceptable
future will depend entirely the support
given us by the community.
The Glacier reporter. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1953-current, 1953-08-28
Mrs. Anna Schmidt
Answers Summons

Mrs. Anna Schmidt, mother of
Don Schmidt of the Glacier
Studios, passed away at the
Memorial Hospital in Cut Bank
on Wednesday of this week,
August 26th, following linger-
ing illness.
In 1916, Mrs. Schmidt came to
Browning, which has been her
nome since.
In May of this year she was
taken with illness which led to
disqualification in Cut Bank I'M
til her passing on August 26.
Mrs. Schmidt was born in Iowa
on February 10, 1878. where she
resided with her parents, MIR.
and Mrs. Simon johnson, until
they moved to Brookings, S. D.
After Geo. Schmidt's death in
1923, she made her home in
Bookings, S. D., where she was
employed by the Security Ma
tional Bank until her retirement
in 1915.
She was married to Geo. A.
Schmidt in 1909, and she and her
husband made their home in
Dazney, N. D., where he was en-
ployed by the Northern Pacific
Railway.
She is survived by her son D.
]. Schmidt, three grandchildren
Eleanor, Edward and James of
Browning, and two sisters, Mrs.
]. A. Lunden and Mrs. l. B. John
son of Brookings, S. D.
Funeral services will be held
Friday afternoon of this week in
the Methodist church in Brown
ing, with Rev. Edgar B. Smith
conducting the services. Follow
ing the funeral here, the remains
will be taken to Brookings, South
Dakota, for burial.
The Glacier reporter. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1953-current, 1953-08-28
WE Believe:

=. That Browning and the Reser-
walton area has a great future,
and will enjoy steady growth
in the near future.
J. This belief is based on several
self-evident facts: The pres
ent governmental policy of
putting the Indian population
on more just economic basis,
permitting the development of
the livestock and agricultural
possibilities of one of the best,
and largest, undeveloped areas
in the northwest.
!. That the present trend of oil
development along the noun
tain front will result in this
area becoming one of the chief
oil and gas producing areas in
Montana.
/. That in further developing
and attracting the vast vol
ume of the tourist traffic, bus
mess can be vastly expanded.
Greater emphasis on the prem
Use that Browning is in reality
the eastern gateway to Glacier
Park, backed by the Chamber
of Commerce and Lions Club
and all other civic-minded cit
liens and organizations, can
greatly increase the business
that can be developed from
this prolific source.
j. That a spirit of cooperation
and energetic pulling together
by all segments of the local
population can work wonders
in improving and extending
the material advantages that
will accrue to the community
as a whole and to each indi-
vidual.
). That any possible petty diff
ferenceS or jealOusies should
be submerged and genuine
community advancement spir-
it will do the job.
I. That a creditable newspaper
service can play an important
part in bringing about ad-
vancements along these and
other lines is possible. To such
a program, that can be eX-
tended and varied as condi-
tionS warrant. we dedicate The
Glacier Reporter.