Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1891-01-30
1T DEEPENS.
Past Records Show a Systematic Course
of swindling.

The ExPosIToR has taken the trouble
to compare the Equalization Lists
since 1888. The result has proven
thoroughly astonishing. The abuse of
which complaint is now made is not
the result of unfortunate Circumstance
es. The burden of taxation has always
been shifted upon the rural districts,
as a careful consideration of the fol-
lowing figures will show. The figures
always refer to real estate as it is more
convenient: In 1888 the cities were as
sessed GA real estate at 1855 800, and
eQualized at S3.730, 800. a raise of but
$4,000 The townships were assessed
at $S, 4,942 and equalized at S0,72S,-
$50, raise of $5S3,5SS. In 1884 the
cities were assessed at $3,690,900, and
equaliZed at SO, ,I9l ,430, a raise of but
Sl0l $50; the townships were assessed
at IS, ,349, ,765. and equallZed at S9,7Oo,-
775, raise of Sl,3o6,0l0, pro rata
raise fully 40 per cent higher for the
csuntry than for the cities. In 1885
the cities were assessed at $3S26 060
and equaliZed at S3,S88,64S, u raise of
S62 2,5SS; the townships were assessed
at $8. .3S2, ,956 and equalized at $685.
22S, a raise of 81 .49o,272. In 1887 the
cities were assessed at $3,S43,35l and
eQualiZed at S4,Ol7 ,492, a raise of Sl74,-
al; the townships were assessed at
SO S,6S0,347 and equaliZed at S9,9S6,730, a
raise of 81 .206,3S3. 1t has been impos-
sible To secure the records for 1856 or
1888. In 1889 the cities were assessed
on real estate, as in each previous case,
S4 .847 800 and equaliZed at "a, ,I2l .49s,
All apparant lowering of $l26.2l0: while
the townships were assessed at 81, ,9o7y
40 and equaliZed at S9,090,497. a raise
in the townships of 81, l32, 1877. 1t must
be bourne in mind that in this assess
ment Marine City was first classed as a
city, which accounts for the slight
raise in assessment for the cities. On
1890 again, the cities were assessed at
81, ,78g,050 and equaliZed at S4,37i, liz, a
lowering of S4l7S73. The townships
were assessed at $7,693,S20 and equal
lied at Sa,190,5l5, Taising their tax roll
81 ,496.695.
Considered from another standpoint
this manner of equalization will ap-
pear even more ediOus. 1t should be
bourne in mind ia the meantime that
Equalization is intended principally
to correct unfabIness in assessments.
Port Huron was assessed on real estate
in 1883, SO 028 ,515, and in 1890, $685.
800. a raise in the value of real estate
in that city duBlng seven years of but
$780, 725. The figures tell their own
grim absurdity. 1t is an open boast in
that city that real estate has at least
threbled in value within the past Eve
years. Still in the face of this evident
dishonesty on the part of the assessor.
the Committee on Equalization lowered
those tax-rolls 1885. .450 at their last ses-
sion. TO say the least it is a brazen an
suit to the townships.
Why this unfairness should have
grown so immensely within the past
few years may be a matter of inquiry
from some. 1t was the natural result
of organized effort on the part of eg-
gressive cities against the less shrewd
and unOrganiZed forces of the country.
Some two years ago Port Huron and
SSt. Clair both secured amendments ito
their charters granting to their Mayors.
Comptrollers and City Attorneys votes
apon the Board of Supervisors, in aa-
dition to their representatives from the
several wards and one at large. Ne
opposition came to it from the county
for its people did not realize what the
measure meant This has given the
cities clear majority on the Board,
and an opportunity to follow their own
Wills in regard to taxation. Hence the
result we are feeling so sadly has nat
urally ensued.
And not only does this give the cities
a voting majority on the Board but it
is without property qualification. By
their own assessments the cities have
one representative on the Board for
about every $200,000; while the town.
ships have one representative for every
100000. The Discrepancy is startling.
1t is with this i'm view that revision
in the representation is required.