Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1853-01-19

press OIL OlHer Udtlcr we are uOb NDIc w give 10
at length this week and as most of our readers
will have access to it from other quarters before
our next issue we have decided not to publish
the entire message, but give n synopsis of its
contents, together with such extracts as are of
more general interest The message occupies
seven and a half columns in the State Journal,
and contains concise, accurate, and well airang-
ed body of information in regard to the present
condition Of the State, and recommends to the
consideration of the Legislature series of meas
ures that reflect great credit on the Executive.
After briefly abiding to the signal prospect
ty of the State during the past year and its rap
id growth in nearly all the elements of great
ness, the Governor says:
"The new Constitution is now the supreme law
of the State. Although it undoubtedly contains
cXceptonable features, yet it is our solemn duty to
endeayor i'm good faith, to give full and complete
effect to all its various provisions
=" A strict and rigid economy should be Observed
every act appropriating money or imposing bur-
thens upon the people, should be closely scrutini
Zed; an eXtravagant and wasteful expenditure
should be discountenanced and yet with this II
certain degree of liberality is not Incompatible
Extreme parsimony, sordidness, and every thing of
character, that detracts from the reputation and
The general laws of the State require but slight
amendment. The fewer changes made, nnless
imperatvely demanded, the better. 1t is less in.
furious, and far less veXatious, to accommodate
ourselves to small imperfections in the laws, when
discovered than to be constantly involved in that
! legal uncertainty which has heretofore tantazed
the people, Not much complaint is made against
our statutes litigation is diminishing; the laws
are more thoroughly understood, and there is not
SO much doubt as TO their true meaning and effect
as formerly. We have had too much unwise and
imprOvident legislation. 1t is time to check its
evils"
For the purpose of expeding business the
early and prompt action Of the Legislature upon
the general Appropriation bills, while more COM
pick and intricate matters are being matured, is
recommended, instead Of their postponement, as
heretofore to the close of the session.
The financial condition of the State is encour-
aging. The balance in the Treasury, Nov. 80,
1852 was $ll6407, 90. The funded and fund
able debt Of the State at that date was $2,3O7-
$50 10 having been diminished $260,4l8 "a
since Nov. 80. 1851 The expenses of the State
government for 1852 were $5S,2O7 % being
$32,69l, IL less than for the proceeding year.
The amount to be raised by direct taxation for
the ensuing year will be only one third of a mill
on the dollar of the real valuation. This estim-
ate is based on the assumption of funding sys-
TEN being established pursuant to the impera-
tive demands of the Constitution. The last leg
islature neglected TO make any provision for a
sinking fund as required by the new constitution.
1t becomes the duty Of the present Legislature
to carry this provision into effect, and sound
policy and political integrity urge and require it.
"Some defects still exist in the acts regulating
the assessment of taxable property. The constitu-
ton and the law require that it should be assessed
at its cash value, but it is not In the year 1889,
the aggregate valuation of the taxable property of
the State was S45 702 30 when the great press.
ure in monetary affairs and the depression and fl
| nancial prostraton of the country so largely de-
preciated the cash value of every kind of property
In the year 1851, the aggregate value only $780,
| 976,270 0S, when property had advanced rapidly in
price, and increased in quantity and quality nearly
four fold, and our population had doubled. The
Board of Equalization at their session i'm 1851, in
order TO correct this evil recommended the propri-
ETY. of providing by law for assessing property al
its selling value; and am inclined to think the
suggestion good one. The object is to have prop
erty assessed at its true cash value and some suit
able method should be devised for this purpose
The nonresident is perpleXed at hearing citi-
zens estimating our taxable property at one hun.
dred millions. when the assessment rolls show il to
be only about thirty millions. We know, by the
most conclusive DATA, tnat the FORMER estimate aD
proximates to the truth. The census returns OF
1850 make it about one hundred millions, and with
such wide spread prosperity as has prevailed since
there must have been large accession. The cause
of the disparity is raceabe to the fact, that for
mcrly each county paid a State tax proportionatc
to the aggregate of the assessable property of the
county: hence the lower the assessment the small
3 err the tax. The establishment of State Board OF
equalization prevents the inequality of taxation in
the different counties heretofore complained of
and there exists no longer the slightest preteXt fol
disregarding the existing enactments.
The practice, however, still prevails and some
thing should be done to correct Ii. Those gnor
ant of the facts look only to the aggregf te of the
assessments which exhibits u state of things tha
does not actually exist. This not only operates
unequally and injuriously on our own citizens Blu
disnclines and deters the emgrant in many cases
from taking up his abode amongst us. There are
few things about which those seeking new home
are more inquisitve than the rate of taxation.-
Ours appears to be quadrupe what ii really is-be
cause the tax is ostensibly levied on thirty million:
of property when il is actually assessed on abou
one hundred and twenty millions. If n fair valua
ton was made, the burthen would not be heavy in
truth, just comparison with the other States
shows that our taxes are light.
Much difficulty is experienced in collecting the
specific taxes. Corporations and others frequentl,
make imperfect returns, and i'm some cases pay
what they fit leaving the State to resort to tn,
slow process of the law to obtain what is legally
due. Why should not the same summary proceed
ing be allowed against them as in case of private
individuals The specific taxes should be careful