Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1882-02-11
NORTHERN TRIBUNE.
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY II. 1882.
The Tax Commissioners Work.


report of the commissioners appointed
to revise the tax laws, with a copy OF
the bills prepared. We have not room
to give the bills in full, but the follow
ing digest, which we take from the
Lansing Republican, will give the read
ers of the TRIBUNE an idea Of the most
important changes and of the magni-
tude of the work undertaken and ac-
complished by the commissioners. There
are 10 sections in the bill.
In the definition of personal estate for
the purposes Of taxation, the old law in
cluded all goods, chattels, moneys, cred
its, and effects, wheresoever they may
be. The new bill excerpts property ac-
tually and permanently invested in bus
mess in another state.
In exemptions the old law limited the
value of musical instruments at 800,
the new bill exempts to the amount of
$3.50.
In computing the taxable property of
insurance companies organized under
the laws of this state, the new bill says
the value of the real property on which
a company pays the taxes shall be de-
Quoted from its net assets above liabili-
ties, as determined and shown by the
last report of the commissioner Of in
surance, and the remainder shall be the
amount of personal property for which
the company shall be assessed.
In relation to hOmesteads the old law
provided that after the license had be-
come entitled to patent, and until
such time as it should be issued, they
should be taxed as personal property.
The new bill provides for taxing lands
in this condition as real estate.
The old law provided that personal
property, where no other provision Is
made, shall be assessed to the owner in
the town where he shall be an inhabi-
tant on the second Monday of May.
The new bill provides for assessing 1t
in the place where the owner shall re-
side on the second Monday of April. The
new bill also provides that all animals
kept throughout the year in some town
other than where the owner resides
shall be assessed to such owner or the
person in possession in the town where
kept. The words in italics are changes
from the old law.
The present law provides that the tax
payer may deduct from his statement of
taxable property moneys upon which he
pays interest providing he desires to
have the same deducted from his moneys
and credits. The new bill does not limit
the deduction for Indebtedness to
moneys upon which interest is paid.
The old law requires the cashier of
state or national banks when called up
on to make statement setting forth
the names and residences of all parties
owning stock in such bank, and the
number and amount of such shares own
ed by each of said parties. The new bill
provides that such statement shall be
made by the cashier on the second Mon
day of April, and by him filed in the Of
flee of the clerk of the county where the
bank is located. 1t then becomes the
duty of the county clerk to notify the
supervisor of each township of the name
of each person, if any, residing in his
township holding stock in such bank,
and of the amount thereof.
The new bill provides for new form
of statement of taxable property intend
ed to be more complete and c0mprehen-
sive than that now in use under sec. Is,
of the old law.
Sec. l6 of the new bill details the
methods by which real estate may be
described, and provides that in cases of
lands plated as town, city or village,
or addition thereto, the same may be de-
scribed by reference to such plat, and
the number of lots and blocks thereof,
whether such plat be recorded or not.
The old law limited the assessment ac-
cOrding to unrecorded plats, to cases
where one or more lots had been sold
from the plat. The present law pro-
vides that on the third Monday of May,
and the two following days, each super
visor shall be present at his Office for the
purpose of reviewing his assessment
and making, on sufficient cause being
shown, such changes in valuation as
will cause the assessment roll to appear
to him just and equal.
Sec. IL of the new bill provides that
the township board shall be board of
review, a majority to constitute quo
rum, and the majority of those present to
decide all questions. This board is re-
quired to meet on the Tuesday following
Che fourth Monday Of Mayat the Office
Of the supervisor, at which time the
supervisor shall submit to the board the
roll for the current year, as
by him. The board shall then
review it and during that week, on its
own motion, shall add names of persons,
value of personal, and description and
value of real property liable to assess
ment, but omitted from the roll by the
supervisor. They shall correct errors
as to the names of persons, descriptions
Of property and valuations, and shall
cause to be done whatever may be neces-
sary to make the roll comply with the
law. The board shall also pass upon
rs fixed by it in separate column. If
for any cause the board does not assem-
Die during the week, the roll as prepar-
ID by the supervisor shall stand as If APP
proved by the board.