The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1895-02-09
THEY WON'T PAY.
Tax Payers Association Will
Fight the Assessments.
Townships and Counties Should Re-
fuse 10 be"Bluffed" and Force
Their Claims In Court.

THE DIAMOND DRILL il informed that
the charitable institution known as the
Taxpayers Association has refused to
pny its taxes for the year 1894, not
only in the county OF Iron, but in every
county in the upper peninsula in which
It's members own amy real estate.
This association is composed Of men
whe have become wealthy at the ex-
pense OF the government and the people.
Coming to the upper peninsula in nm
early day, probably ON their return to
the United states from Canada after the
war, they invested the money which
came into their possession during the
time men who loved their country fought
to maintain H. in lands rich in pine,
iron, copper and gold, and waited for
the tide Of immigration 10 carry them
safely into the harbor Of ease luxury
and wealth Lands owned 10y the gov
ernment, and held by il for actual settle
ment, their coyetous eyes beheld with
greed and wept for more; and they
secured large portion of such lands
by hiring men who we're tramping about
the country looking for work and bread
20 file upon certain tracts of this land,
paying them monthly stipend forliving
upon il, and having the same decided
over TO themselves after the applicant
had made his final proof
When these lnndsharks had stripped
the land Of all that made il valuable, a
spontaneous burst OF affection for the
state was shown by them in their refusal
TO pay the taxes assessed against il
and az matter OF course at the deln-
quent tax sale each year, these worthless
lands are bid in by the state. while other
lands that show any indication Of
tural purposes are held 10y them. Some
oi these lands are assessed ns low rs one
dollar and twenty-five an acre ;and
although you could not buy the fee for
one hundred times this amount, they
still cry ont with loud voice that they
are robbed by municipal taxation, even
while all the public improvements that
have been made throughout the different
counties increase ten-iold their earthly
possessions.
You may assess their property 80 low
that the whole tax assessed would not
be sufficient TO pay the supervisor II
dollar u day for his time while he was
spreading the figures upon the tax roll,
and still they would avoid it's payment
il they could. II they could have the
taxes set aside 10y taking the matter
into court, into court it would so. II
they could make "a more profitable
settlement for themselves by compro-
missing with the county board and the
several township boards OF the county,
say fifty per cent. or less Of the tax
assessed, then you may be sure that is
the course they would pursue.
Many mn honest, Industrious and
worthy citizen Of Iron county, seeking
home for himself aud those dependent
upon him, has made application for
some oi these lnnds upon which this tax
hNNOA w lltg ~ rultA tNAB
and who was willing and anxious TO pay
all the tax assessed upon it. was forced
to learn his rights only in the court OF
last resort.
How much longer are the people Of
Iron county TO I've compelled TO witness
this unequal and unjust fight between
capital and right. TnE DIAMOND DRILL
would urge upon the county board, and
upon each township board OF oithecounty,
TO cease this unjust practice OF rebating
taxes 90 this class uf bloatcd money
grabbcis. And IL hopes in thus express
ing itself, 10 impress upon the super
visors Of the county the necessity 81
collecting tho full amount OF tax assessed
against each individual that IL able TO
pay. II another rebate IL ever given to
anyone in Iron county, let IL he given to
some worthy citizen Of the county who
is heroIcally fighting LIES unequal battle
to save his home.