The Glacier reporter. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1953-current, 1962-04-12
a MINUTE
WITH Nj

little in this part of the country,
other than another date on the
calendar. Light snow nurries
have been frequent since the first
day Of spring. with the sun ap-
pearing long enough during the
following day 10 melt the snow
and keep the roads muddy and
rutty. OF course. the fact that
the lawns are kept too wet to
Eske doesn't bother most OF us.
Our feathered friends seem TO
have more confidence in the
dates than we do. / saw and heard
i mesdowlark last Friday. and a
psir OF robins were investigating
the possibilities Of a domestic in
one Of the trees in our back ward
last Monday. Ducks and geese
have been wi1gi1g their way over
the reservation: some stopping
over for a good look. or. possibly
20 nest Thu sig7s are all obvious
but the weather won't cooperate
One Of the big potatoes, IL not
the hottest. will be the proposed
sales tax for Montana. Certain
groups are advocating such a tax
be enacted into law. These groups
have recommended a 2eo tax as
4 substitute for the present six
mill special levy on property,
which would be used for financ-
ing education.
Former governors AronSon and
Sutter were agsinst any sales
tax. Governor Babcock has eX-
pressed his position. stating that
he would rot endorse any such
tax unless the taxpayers voted II
al an election.
As We view II. having lived in
states where there were sales
taxes. once you get used TO it. il
isn't so bad but. II is still
snother form Of tax. and the good
Lord knows we have plenty right
new.
4 sales tax is a form of taxa
ton distributed about as evenly
- any tax could be. but again.
the retailers are forced into the
Improbable position of keeping
hoOks for the state. subjecting
themselves TO penalties for errors
and either purchasing new type |
.csrh-registers or setting up a com
pietely new set Of books . all
oE which Is not an economic move
Cor them. Then too, the state
nsusr 20 10 Ine great expense OF
setting up a new tax-checking
bureau and hiring a regiment OF
INSPECTORS and investigators.
There are always expensive
court issues where sales taxes
are concerned and more chances
for graft. The small retailer is Of
ten forced into "dnctoring his rec
nrds" in order 70 keep his doors
open. not because his intentions
are not well meant. but because
any excess taxation measure is
= natural incentive 10 cause the
t.Inaver TO overlook" certain
entries
Yes. the sales tax proposal Is.
and will long be. a real hot chest.
nut ard can only fairly be
enforced IL the taxpayers approve
t.
The bearded blackmailer Is at
II aaain. Having failed in his first
try OF last wear 10 force the U. S.
20 give him cash and tractors In
exchange for prisoners. he has
lsunched a new effort 10 collect
. So million dollars in exchange for
the1.l7e prisoners token in the
attempted invasion last year.
We are certainly in full sym
pafhv with the families Of these
patriots who were brave enough
10 attempt the rescue Of their
country. but, We ere Just as Ger
tain that a blackmsil pay-off
would oulv be the beEin7i7g OF
a long. sad and unfruitful negO-
tfation with only Castro winning,
Once q Day-off has been made.
there would be mn-o The delega-
ton fhst left for ""ba this week
TO effect a DayofF will fird that
out There is only one kind OF
pay-off Castro Is deserving OF. He
Is a bomb on our doorstep which
should have been eliminated
three years ago.
Our negotiations with him and
~ u