The true northerner., 1885-05-14


stopped Wants an Advisory board.
Fro1 Our Own Correspondent
LANSING. Nav A, 1885.
II began 10 dawn upon the people OF
Michigan ten or dozen years ago that the
existing laws for the collection Of taxes were
sadly out of joint, and so each subsequent
Legislature tried to make better one. un-
I'll, failing in that, the Legislature of 1881
provided for the appointment of q tax COM
mission. This commission. composed Of
Hon. John Moore. one of the ablest law
yers Of East Saginaw; Hon. ii. III. Hatch,
since Congressman from Bay City; G. A.
Kent, an able constitutional lawyer of De-
troit, and for years one of the law lecturers
of the State University; E. o. Groveror, ON
able business man of Jonesville, and for
mer State officer; and VIM. Chamberlain, q
merchant and farmer of Three Oaks, spent
the summer Of 1881 in perfecting bill that
was supposed to be perfection itself. The
Legislature was convened in extra session
in 1852, and after long struggle passed the
bill as presented by the commission. with
some amendments, it Is true, but in all of
which the commission concur ed. The
State, through the Auditor General and
several County Treasurers as its agents,
opened shop and began at once to
do business under the supposed
law which, it now seems. wasn't
law ut all. At least the recent test
case that came up from Detroit found the
Supreme Court tie as to its constitution
ality, Judges Cooley and Champlain decid-
ing it constitutional, and Judges Campbell
and Sherwood saying as strongly that it
isn't Thus by failing to either decide for
or against the test case. the law is left to
be construed as either of the twenty eight
Circuit Judges cares to c0nstrue it for his
own locality. In other words, law that
isn't good alike in all parts of the State
isn't good i'll any, and is therefore prac-
tically unconstitutional.
When this fact became known the special
joint committee on taxation, composed of
Senators Hubbell, G. A. Smith, and Pulver,
and Representatives Campbell, Post.
Coomer, Hankerd. and Ford, was enlarged
by the addition of Senator Carveth and
Representatives Estee and o. N. Case
Senator G.. A. Smith had introduced a
general tax bill. while numberless other
bills to amend certain sections of the law
of 1882, had been introduced; but no
action had been taken toward completing
or passing any or either of them, but after
the decisions Senator Carveth prepared,
and on April 81 offered, long bill as pro-
posed substitute for all bills in the commit
tees hands. 1t was at once ordered print
ed, and makes over forty pages of printed
matter. 1t Is said by its author and others
to be the best and most complete bill of
The sort ever introduced in the Michigan
Legislature and will be given due and careful
consideration by the committee at once. IL
is understood to be quite largely copied
from the existing law of Wisconsin. so far
as that can be made applicable to Michigan
and her more varied interests. At the first
meeting of the committee since its enlarge
ment (on the evening of April 30) the bill
was somewhat discussed, but not by any
means finished but proposition to at once
report bill as curative act" for 1884 was
seriously considered. If the law hasn't
been good since 1852, the question arises as
TO why such an act isn't needed to cure the
work done under the 1852 law during the
years 1852 and 1883 as WELL Certain il is
that the judicial decision has opened
up the greatest subject of the session,
and one that will surely extend the other
wise inevitably long session TO nearly OF
quite July.
LAND SALES STOPPED.
Realizing that something must be done
to stop the sales advertised by numerous
County Treasurers for May 4th, and imme-
diately following, both houses passed, on
the 29th of April, joint resolution the
title of which had before bcen introduced
and the Governor promptly signed it on the
same day. 1t reads:
WHEREAS, BY an equal division of the
Supreme Court in two cases brought before
said court, grave doubt is thrown upon the
constitutionality of tax sales made under
the tax law of 1882, so called; and
D.. -
large amount Of litigation and expense will
be likely to arise should further sales be
made under such law; therefore
Resolred. by the Senate of the State OF
Michigan (the House of Representatives
concurring therein), that the Auditor Gen
eral be and he is hereby authorized and in
structed to suspend the sale of delinquent
taxes of 1882, now advertised to take place
on Monday, May A, 1885, until such time as
the Legislature may otherwise direct, either
by resolution or the enactment of statute
bearing upon the subject.
Gov. Alger, on the 1st inst, sent the fol-
lowing message to the two houses, and
it was Mt once referred to the Judiciary
Committees of the two bodies:
EXECUTIVE OFFICE MICHIGAN,
LANSING, April 30, 1855.
Permit me to again call your attention to the
matter of "Pardoning Board"
Since my inaugural, and after further inveeti-
CATION, have changed my views somewhat,
and now recommend that board consisting OF
four, two from each of the dominant political
parties, with such compensatory az will secure
able talent, be appointed as an Advisory Board,
whose duty shall be to investigate the cases OF
such convicts in our State prison and House OF
Correction as may apply, and report TO the Ex-
ecutive, with such recommendations as in their
judgment seem best, either as TO pardons. COM
mutations or non action. After a full examina-
tion of each case is made, the recommend alton
so made to be acted upon by the Executive as
he in his judgment shall deem best.
~ il a notorious fact that sentences of crimi-
nails from different circuits in the State. for the
same offense, are widely different and frequent
ly so from the same court. Hhere are now in
Jackson State Prison. am inf0f 0fmed, two men
serving from the same county. one for the term
OF eight years for stealing an old horse and
wagon, which he claims he took for a labor debt
OF about $40, and which he sold for that amount
and the other for term OF ten years for stealing
nearly $lO0,OOO.
Very many cases are reported. which. II ut al
as described, should be investigated. both as "a
the offense and term of sentence, and also as to
the character OF the offender previous TO the
ccmnis ion OF the crime. and his conduct in
prison since being sentenced. This work Is &C
great that IL il simply impos ible for the execu-
tive attend to IL thOrOuChly and prOperly