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

port of the Warden and board furnishes full details
of the operations Of the past year. The convict
So 1875, were s2Os04 This In addition 10 the
labor State property, roads, sewers, land, etc.
is very credtable showing.
The net earnings for the two years ending Sept
80, 1885, were over $4,000 In view OF the depros-
sion In business that has so generally affected all
manufacturing industries. and none more seriously
tnsn prison worx, the result mas agreeably
surprised the prison officials. There Is hardly a
prison In the country that has paid expenses, and
In many Of them no labor ut all can be procured
for the convicts The establishment OF the State
shop, In which the manufacture of brooms is con-
Quoted, has been OF the greatest possible good. Its
earnings have not been large. but 1t has furnished
smplo, ment to the halt, lame and blind, to sckly
and short-term oouvicts, and relieved the prison.
yard OF its idlers that were formerly 80 numerous
and troublesome. Its effect upon the value OF
prison labor has been most marked.
The number Of convicis Sept 80, 1876 was S35 ;
n 1875, 1888 In 1874, 703. or the prisoners re-
ceiyed In 1876, thirty had served term in the
House of Correction, eighteen in the Reform
School, and eleven In other prisons Eightv-nvo
per cent. of the convicts we're committed for the
first time. Seventy.seven per cent. were intem-
Is not the cause Of the increase OF crime shown
by these statistics to be found in this large per
cent. Of Incorporate idlers?
STATE POOR.
The public expense Of caring for the poor of the
State in 1878 $572,U00 OF this amount S207,0,0
was for maintaining the poor-houses. The amount
OF investment in poor-houses was $722.00O. For
this expenditure, and as a return for the invest
ment the value Of paupers labor in 1875 was esti-
mated at 81, 900.
This financial exhibit, the increase of tramps and
able-boded paupers, the condition OF our poor
houses, as described by the State Board of Chari-
ties, aud many other reasons, induced the County
Superintendents of the Poor, at their last annual
meeting, to adopt by unanimous vote resolution in
favor Of district poor warehouses; That this system
would decrease pauperism and save money cannot
be doubted. Would II not be wise TO provide by
enactment that any number of counties may be
empowered to unite for the purpose of erecting and
conducting district poor-house or work house? IL
would enable some of the new counties that have
not yet built their poor-houses to make the expert
ment.
NEW CAPITOL.
The work upon the new Capitol IL not 30 ia adj
vanced as the Board of Commissioners wished and
expected. The delay is from various causes, but
chiefly from the change in the cornice, steps ETC.,
ordered by the Legislature. The brick and stone
work on the building itself IS completed, leaving
only the portcos, steps, and west boiler house 20 be
finished. There ia no prospect of the building be-
ing completed at the time contemplated, and the
work will need to be hastened to have II ready at
the assembling of the next Legislature. The quality
of the material and work s excellent and does
credit to the contractors, Superintendent, and
board During the past two years contracts have
been entered into for the tin roof, stone cornice,
steam heating, ventilating, and the electric work.
The total payments to Sept. 80, 1876, have been
$S19, 852.7S.
RAILROADS.
We have in the State IS railroad companies, oper-
ating 531l miles Of road, 3,346 miles OF which are
in the State costing 1854 1872 66572 and represent
ed by $50 945 % of debt sat "a OF stock per
mile of road. The large proportion of the debt
shows that railroads, like municipalities and ndi-
viduals, maintain their fashionable character. The
gross railroad earnings in this State for 1875 were
$l7,y52 292, which amount was not SUFFICIENT to pay
expenses, interests and rents. Four roads paid no
interest on their Indebtedness in 1875; nine paid a
portion only, and report 81 1880 unpaid for the
year. Two have been sold under foreclosure, and
! four in the hands of receivers One company
only paid dividend during 1876. in cash, of per
cent, and one stock dividend of 10 per cent This
condition of 40 great and important an interest,
employing so large a capital IL very unsatisfactory,
but 1t cannot be attributed to unfriendly legisla-
ton so far as Michigan is concerned The roads
have only themselves TO blame, and the remedy Is
! In their own hands.
Our roads and equipment are in good condition.
OF 1O,716,227 passengers transported in 1875 not
| one killed, and only six were injured from
causes beyond their own control.
Twenty-three per cent of the accidents we're
caused by trespassers on the tracks. 1t would
seem that some steps should be taken to prevent
this large loss of life and limb. There "A num-
Der of bridges the roads of the State, which
not of sufficient height to allow the safe passage
under them of men at work on the trains. Five
persons have been killed and three injured by these
bridges in the past three years. The Commissioners
should be authorized to compel the roads to raise
all bridges to height OF IS feet and to prevent the
erection in the future Of any lower than this and
| respectfully recommend the passage Of such law.
SPECIFIC TAXATION.
The assessment of specific taxes for 1878 was
1857 $685. for 1876 S573 $685. decrease for this year
of $64 462. OF this decrease 5000 was in the tax
life insurance companies, reduced by the Legis-
ature in 1875, and $34 900 in the decreased earn
ings OF railroads. Specific taxation on real proper
ty for State purposes Ia system that combines in
it more injustice to the people, more inequalities
and irregularities, than any other system that was
| ever devised. 1t is unrepublican, because it di-
| ydes the community into classes for purposes OF
taxation because it is always and invariably lower
than general taxation, because being in lieu of all
other taxes IL deprives our municipalities of their
| s,.l -
tenn in this State shows disparity in the amount
of taxes paid by those taxed under it, and other
parties, that is simply astonishing The total value
of the taxable property OF the State, fixed by the
State Board of Equalization, Is $780, 900, 900. The
total taxation levied in the State for all purposes
about $15 o0O, 23S per cent. the valuation
| though believe our taxation is really about pei
cent
hundred dollars in bank stock, farms, houses
| lands or mechanical industry pays in Michigan s.
| taxes the telegraph property in Michigan pays
20 cents on the hundred dollars the street railroad
| property pays IS cents on the hundred dollars
other railroads pay ~ cents the hundred dollars
taking their own valuation basis The telegraph
lines in the State worth 81 900 900, and pay
annual tax Of 81 $685. the street railroads cost $685.,
406 AZ, and nay an annual tax of 81 42l; the rail-
roads of the State worth Sl50000,000, and pay
paid the same tax that other property does, they
| would pay over S2.000,000 annually, instead OF
100000. can see no reason for this great differ
| ence. Arguments may be made that this tina,
business does not pay. but this ia cause for
| emption or decrease of taxation. A farm may be
unproductive store or a mousse may be without
tenant, manufacturer may not make penny, but
the taxation these investments remains the
| same. There IL no system Of taxation that Ia fair
| Just, and equitable, except that which taxes al
property exactly alike. Specific taxation should
only apply to foreign corporations who. earning
money in the State, have no property In the State
such as insurance companies and the like. Occa
| sional exceptions, temporary in their character
may be made to this rule for the purpose OF build
| ing up some new enterprise, or developing some
new industry, but the well-governed community \
that where the burden of taxation, be IL heavy OF
light, rests equally upon all property and its own
| ers.
| INSURANCE..
In the creation of insurance bureau, the State
recognized the fact that tha business OF insurance
| was of such public nature that II demanded tn,
supervision OF the State that its citizens might mo-
be wronged. Under the faithful management Of
| our Commissioner, the fire companies doing bust
ness in this State have been carefully welded out
and believe no losses have fallen upon our people
| from the failure :of fire insurance company, II
In the matter OF life insurance. The recent faiur
of the Continental Life Insurance Company OF New
York city, IN which our citizens hold policie
| amounting to $2,700,000, upon which they hav'
| probably paid $500,0O0 In premiums, ought to at
tract the Attention of Lawmakers TO our presen
legislation upon the subject Of life insurance. WI
have the power of examination and of prohibition
from doing business in the State and that is abou
all, and the Commissioner informs me that the ex
animation of life insurance company is the worl
of months.
Thirty-three companies of other States arr
authorized to do business in this State. Thes