The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1875-10-07

OF money when it shall be raised
Ii these taxes are levied cquitabl,
and with proper discretion as to
amount, and il the money is honest
~ AMI discrctely up. plicd fol
the improve mcnt of the coun'
try, opening up of highways
building bridges, school houses &c.
it will tend to the development and
the Improvement Of the country, to
the increasing of buSinc and
population, and the r. II. Go npanics
will be glad to GOO ,eratc with You
by prompt payment, in the localities
in which the asscssm.n MT shall be
made. You all know that it has
been too much the pra ,ticc in the
newer portions of the State, to dis
criminatc, in valuing property for
taxation, IN favor of resident and
against NONRESIDENT. Although
admitted by every one to be illegal,
yet the practice has become 50
common that it may be said to be
the rule and the contrary the en-
ccption. This practice is illegal
under the act of Congress admitting
Michigan into the Union, where it
is expressly provided that the lands
of non-residents shall never be
taxed, higher than the lands of
residents, and it is also condemned
by til. constitution of this State,
which declares that taxation shall
b. uniform AMI upon Il uniform cash
valuations.
Many other abuse. have been
practiccd in the way of taxation:
such as letting contracts for work
upon the highways AMI accepting
them before the work has been fully
performed; lcvying taxes in excess
of the amount authorized by law;
running the townships in debt with
ont lcgal authority to do so, &c, &C.,
I'LL of which practices are greatly
against the interests of the town
ships in which they are allowed, are
against the law, rendering the taxes
a scsScd upon the rolls illegal and
un' o.lcctablc. and are also greatly
dcnoralizing to the community in
VIII c'i they are INDUCED, besides
tending to rctar'l the settlement
and development Of the country.
Thc Grrm interest ~hirh Mc Rail
r"od C"mp,n;;rx tr,I mM, prosperity
Of M Honmi,y hak IN his appeal
~ yoH.
We might remain silent and avail
of the aid of the courts
to have the taxes annull 1t, but
this would be disastrous to the
country, and it seems better first
to exhaust all other means.
We ask of each of You to use
your utmost influence to prevent
continuation of the i'm proper prac-
tees herein named and all Others
not authorized by law.
We ask that the Ian l. owned
by the railroad companies may be
taxed upon the same basis as the
lands OF residents, no greater, no
less.
We ask that no moneys shall be
put into the roll but such rs in the
honest Judgment of the settlers, un-
Ter their oaths of Off 20, are nee
,SSary and authorized by liw.
We ask that no warrants shall
'c issued until the money to pay
or the same shall have been act
Tally appropriated for tl'atpurposc,
90 that the townships may not be-
,omc Illegally and oppr, ss;vcly in
lcbtch.
We ask that wien ,ntracts arc
ct, they should be let fairly, and
hat the officers should see that
hey arc honestly liv I'll up to and
lie value of the money received in
he Improvement contracted for.
ind that the utmost care should be
aiken that no illegal steps occur in
he levy of the tax. whereby any
person or company will be damaged
" will hive opportunity to escape
III or its just burden of taxation.
We ask for nothing but what
very honest man will conccdc is
'ight-noil,ing but what is for the
interest Of the townships and dis
ricts in which the lands may be
We hope and confidently expect
hat this appeal will be needed;
mt W" desire to say, that should we
ind that this management of town
" district affairs il, any case have
allen into dishonest hands, that
he l,w is diSrcgardcd in the levy
md disposition OF taxes, We shall
lccm it due to tie companies we
as well as to the town
hi ps and communities to be affect
1T thereby, to take measures to
,ring such improper and illegal
tn the attention of the
proper courts, to the end that they
nay lc cancelled and declared of
10 effect.
We shall not look for technical
nor seek to take advan-
age of nc ,idcn'al errors which
work no substantial injustice.
We agree entirely with the doc
rinc. heretofore asserted. that the
interest of railroad companies and
# the people arc Identical. In
his age M community can afford
o do without, railroad facilities, and
10 railroad can he well supported in
hostile community. We there