The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1877-01-12
GOV. CROSWELI,S MESSAGE.

GOV. CROSWELIIS MESSAGE.
The Views and Recomme ndatiOns of the
New Executive.
We present below the main points of Gov
Croswell's inaugural message:
Gentlemen OF the Senate and the House Of Repre-
sentatives:
in the front rank of the States OF the American
Union. With great natural resources developed by
enterprise and culture with the necessities of life
ABUNDANT, and Its luxures easily attainable, with
government emanating from the people and rest
ing upon their confidence for support with learn
lug generally diffused, industry fostered, and
ligon neither fettered nor endowed, with the
largest liberty for all consistent with security for
person and property, the State teens with intel
lec;ual and business activity, and steadily ad-
in all the elements that constitute the high
est civilization.
Representing such commonwealth, you have
come from your homes and your occupations at
the advent OF the year, to frame new laws and
modify old ones, to note such changes time and
the public welfare may seem to require. / welcome
You to the Capitol, and am confident that, with
fidelity and faithfulness, You will give your best
energies to the proper accomplishment of the i'm
portant work devolved upon you.
At such time 1t seems fitting and proper that
we should make devout acknowledgment of our
gratitude to Almighty God for the growth and
prosperity Of the State the health and peace of the
people, and the blessings both public and private
which have been so freely vouchsafed to US.
FISANcEs.
The public debt of the State is comparatively
light, and provision is made through the sinking
fund for its extinguishment faster than II falls
due. Within the past two years the debt has been
reduced S178,0 900, and repeated efforts have been
made to purchase and retire more of the outstand-
Ing bonds. The attempt, however, has been un-
successful, the holders preferrng to part with
the securities even at premium. This fact
demonstrates the high credit which the State
wisdom of u well-constltuted sinking fund-gather-
ing steadily. and without pressure, means for the
complete payment Of the State debt.
In this connection desire to call your attention
TO the fact that by act of the Legislature of 1875
s4Gi 82S. 40 transferred from the sinking fund
to the general fund.- aud, in consequence. no taxa
ton for the current expenses of the State Govern
ment was levied for the years 1856. As the
amount thus withdrawn from the sinking fund IL
nearly exhausted. and "a no further money can be
diverted from that fund at the present time with
ont plain violation of the constitution, that in
strnment expressly applying the moneys now in
such fund to the payment OF the principal and in
terest of the State debt until the extnguishment
thereof, it will be incumbent you to make pro-
vision by taxation for the general expenses of the
| state Government. allude to this also that yon
may understand that the reduction Of taxes for
| two years past was simply temporary and for
| the purpose of absorbing surplus OF
Incorporated moneys that had accumulated in
| the sinking fund from legislation and not from
| constitutional requirement. You will also observe
that the receipts OF the treasury for the same time
| from sources other than taxes have been sensiby
| diminished This IN occasioned by large falling
Of in the sales of public lands and to a consider
able reduction made by the Leg stature of two years
ago in the specific tax imposed upon foreign insur
ance companies doing business in this State, as
well as to the stringency of the times and to other
causes.
| With this diminution in revenue and the neces-
return to direct taxation for general purposes
tits, plain that you should exercise strict economy
in appropriations and avoid all extravagant and ex-
| ces-ive expenditures Of the public money. Orgi-
nal schemes of any nature involving large outlays
should be avoided, and the State, without narrow
ness or parsimony, should exemplify in every de-
parfment such prudence the circumstances of
| the times seem to demand.
am advised that large balance now remains in
the state treasury to the credit Of certain special
appropriations heretofore made from time to time
| by the Legislature for various objects. Some of
these appropriations were made several years ago,
and the money now on hand il a remainder left
after the object of the apr opriaton had been ac
complished and paid for. As the law now stands
this money cannot be drawn from the treasury, not
even for the object for which il designed, with
out some legislation for that purpose. therefore
recommend the passage of an act transferring this
money where IL may be made available.
also suggest for your consideration the propriety
of enacting law fixing time when appropriations
of this character or any part thereof if not drawn,
| shall by due course Of law be transferred to the
| fnnd from whence they came.
ASSESSMENT AND TAXATION.
The constitution prescribes q uniform rate Of
assessment and taxation on property ut its cash
valile This applies to all property except such as
pays SPECIFIC tax or is exempted from taxation by
| law. The design Of this provision is clear and
plain. 1t means that taxation snail rest upon prop
erty equally and that all shall bear it's fair and
just proportion of the expense of carrying on the
Government. The theory Is correct, but the prac-
tice does not conform to it. The inequality OF as
sessment Ia q common complaint Lands adj Join
ing each other of about the value but situated
in different counties, often listed for taxation
on the assessment rels at rates not at all similar
There is pretensehat any property is assessed
the constitution requires at its cash valve;
| you are informed that Assess ors assess
property for taxation at only about one-quarter or
one-third OF its money value. am advised that In
some localities where real estate has doubled and
tpebled the assessments from year to year, In
| stead Of corresponding with the enhanced price.
have actually been reduced, and the property rated
for assessment at less sum than 1t was previous
to its rise. Personal property isseasily concealed
| and the most Of 1t escapes taxation. II is esti-
mated that not one-tenth Of this kind Of property
pays any taxes whatever. In addition to THE, our
system of specific taxes has the effect to virtually
release large property interests from nearly one
half Of the amount they should pay,
| lease other classes of property from bearing
any part of the public burden whatever. The
result of all is that property amounting to mill
| ions OF dollars Is partly or wholly relieved from
taxation, and thus great discrimination il made
| against that class of employments and industries
whose effects visible and taxable, and they, in
| consequence, pay very much more than their fair
proportion Of the public dues The rule Of justice
| and the fundamental law both set aside and
taxstion Is distributed most unequally and unfairly
anu conscious that II is quite impossible to devise
any system that will fully equslize the weight OF
| this burden; 1 also sensible that we should
| carefully guard against injudicous proceedings
tending TO drive capital from the State, but GER
taiIly some measures should be Immediately in
| sugurated to better enforce the provisions of the
constitution and to correct this growing inequality
| TAX sALFs AND TAX DEEDS.
| am also Of the opinion that our laws for the
sale Of lands delinquent for taxes might, in many
respec 8, be simplifed and improved Now, II for
any cause NONRESIDENT land is returned as delin-
| quent for even single tax, no matter how small
It NAV be, the State in one year advertises and sells
the land. and at the expiration Of another year, II
ayfnent Of the tax is not made, issues deed Of
| the premises which psrports TO convey the title
| absolutely to the purchaser. Thousands Of these
| tax deeds are made every year, and by far the
anger proportion of them when tested in the
courts are set aside and declared void.
| They make uncertain titles, breed ftiga-
| ton, and often lead to expensive and vexstious
| suits. submit to you whether some plan cannot
| be devised to remedy this system Of flooding the
State with uncertain deeds Of this character. A
lien upon such lands in favor of the purchaser TOT
the amount of the tax with large rate OF interest,
| with power through the courts to enforce the nen
by sale of the premises after lapse OF such te
rs would render IL probable that the failure 70 pay
was not the consequence OF mere inadvertence ..
| other like cause, IL seems to me, would ne muor
more Just TO all parties and save much OF tne "ofh
and expense incident 10 our present system.
coNvEYAScEs AND THE REcohps THEhkoY.
Your atte ntion IL slao requested " the laws ~
Qarinp the convey anoe OF lands and the record OF
| conyeyances No subject In more important; the
| A Oft cOnrarned TO the eN-