Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1891-01-23
The Weekly ExpOSitO!.
1T MUST BE REMEDIED.

This week we publish the second eX-
position of the action of the Board Of
Supervisors by which the population of
the rural districts have been uniustly
aggrieyed. Our complaint is simple.
1t is simply this. There has
been an evident and unfair discrimina-
ton by the Committee on Equalization
in favor of the cities and at the ex-
pense of the country. In money $1,000
more is being paid by the rural districts
in taxes they owe; while the cities pay
about $1,000 less than is their just due.
The condition Of the ease is plain; and
what is m)re, it il most dangerous
state of affairs 1t thrusts the Com
mittee on Equalization into dilemma
WITH only two alternatives of egress.
Either the assessments were universal
ly unjust in the townships and in ac-
cordance with law, or, if they were law
full, they placed all the additional tax,
as we have seen, upon the towns and
villages without any just right. In
either case the taxes as levied are not
legal and can not be collected. We
have good authority for the assertion
that the State Supreme Court has de-
clared the whole assessment absolutely
null and void.
This places rs in most alarming po-
sition. BY the laundering work of our
n,arJ ,F .snnor,;s,.,. ,,,. to.-os ,o,, NOT
be collected bylaw. Peaceable citizens,
however, will, or have paid their taxes
rather than undergo any trouble in re-
gard to the matter, But land specula-
tors will totally disregard the assess
mant, as they may by law, and viii es-
cape taxation.
1t is understood that the excuse is
made in the ease of Our own town that
the valuation Of the township is not
raised over that OF last year. This
word raised" may cause some trouble
by the very reason Of its different in
depreciation. The truth is that raising
the assessment by making individual
discounts is unknown. All that is done
is by adding to or Subtracting from the
aggregate valuation as entered by the
assessor. There can be no excuse
made in this way. For the harm which
we, as inhabitants of the country, have
sustained, more plausible answer
must be given.
The usual hedge has been for all
abuses that the city members FREEDOM
mated and managed to suit their own
Will The ease seems difrer2c1 this time.
1t looks very much as if the country
Supervisors, who constitute the Coai-
mittee on Equalization had either
themselves placed this burden upon the
villages or allowed themselves to be
forced into this by the city delega, ,ons.
At any rate it is evident that tho are
not a match for the represent" yes
from the city.
We are in hearty sympathy with The
movement, lately placed on foot, to
petition the legislature for q law which
shall allow a representative on the
Board from the Incorporated villages.
They have q distinct claim for this as
a just representation. Their interests
are neither those OF the country nor
city. They are distinct from each and
should be voiced on the Board which
controls their material welfare, The
fairness Of the case, rs explained else
where, as far as mo notary qualification
is concerned can not be disputed
And the iueXcusaOle injury which we
have suffered because Of this very state
of affairs, must appeal to every person
as being the final abuse which will gen
crate a reform. 70 these men who are
laboring for the undivided interest of
their townsmen we have hearty sym
pathy, and believe that success must
crown the effort. The circumstances
are alarming and demand Il remedy.