Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1853-04-13
THE GRAND RIVER TIMES.
GRAND HAVEN, MICHIGAN,
WEDNESDAY EVENING. APRIL 10, 1853.

the new tax law. The time for making the
first assessment under this law is near at hand,
and familiarity with the provisions relating to
that matter, will greatly facilitate discharge of
the duties therein required We therefore in
sert below several sections from the law, which
should receive careful perusal from every tax
payer On or before The third Monday of this
month each taxable inhabitapt will be furnished
with blank form for the statement required in
sec IA. This statement must be made out and
sworn to within one week from that day. The
supervisor then collects the statements, and val
ues the property at its true cash value. Sec. 8
specifies what property shall be exempt from
taxation, and Sec l9 prescribes the penalty for
neglect and the mode Of proceeding in case any
person refuses to make the said statement.
We find the error still prevalent with our
readers, that the taxpayer is absolutely required
to make full expose of his indebtedness, and
this has done more probably than any thing else
to render the law Objectionable. But very
different construction Of the law now prevails.
Nothing can be found in the sections which we
have cited that requires statement OF indebt-
edness. The forms are made for the purpose
of allowing the nhabiant if he wishes to make
a statement of all his Indebtedness, and in case
he does so, it is to be deducted by the supervi-
sor from the amount Of his credits.
That the present law will prove wholly un-
exceptionable is not to be expected, but that its
provisions are of more stringent nature, and
will prove more equitable in their operation than
those of the old law does not seem to admit of
a doubt 1t should receive a fair trial, and if the
experience of the first two years of its opera
ton should discover any defects they can then
be corrected:
Sec. 5. The following property shall be ex-
empt from taxation, viz:
l. Household furniture, including stoves put
up and kept up for use in any dwelling house,
not exceeding in value two hundred dollars
2. All spinning wheels and weaving looms,
and apparatus, not exceeding in value fifty dol
lars
8. All arms and accoutrements required by
law to be kept by any person; all wearing ap-
parel OF every person or family:
A. The library and school books of every in
| ulNluudl uOI cACcCuiHS III NdiuC ohO
hundred and fifty dollars, and all family pictures
5. To each householder, ten sheep with their
1eeces, and the yarn and cloth manufactured
from the same; two COWS; five swine; and pro-
vision and fuel for the comfortable subsistence
of such householder and family for six months
6. All the property of the United States, and
of this State, except lands bid off for the State
at tax sales, except as hereinafter provided;
7. All public or corporate property of the
several counties, cities, villages, townships and
school districts in this State, used or intended
for corporate purposes:
s. The personal property of all library, be-
nevolent charitable and scientific institutions,
incorporated within this State, and such real es-
tate belonging to such institutions as shall actu-
ally be occupied by them, for the purposes for
which they were incorporated.
8. All houses of public worship with the
pews or slips and furniture therein, and rights
of burial and tombs while in use as reposito-
ries of the dead
10. The estates of Indians exempt lands
held by them by purchase, and the personal es-
tates of persons, who, by reason of nfrmity
age and poverty, may, in the opinion of the SUI
pervisor, be unable to contribute towards the
public charges.