The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-05-19
OUTLOOK PROMISING
Fer Deadlock Between the Sen.
ste and House.
TAXES OF RAILWAYS THE CAUSE.

VI Oh DOne Dy
the House Governor Pingree and the
Merriam Bill - Another Appointee
Turned Down by the Senate.
Lansing, Mich, May 1S.-The chances
for deadlock between the senate and
house and a row with the governor In
consequence are most promising. 1t is
all due to the important developments
OF the past week in the line OF legisla-
ton increasing the taxes paid by rail-
roads. In my last letter / referred to
the passage by thesenate of the Merriam
bill increasing the specific tax rate so
as to make an aggregate annualincrease
of about $1S0,O00 in the taxes paid by the
railroad companies operating in this
state, and at the same time stated that
the house would probably see the senate
and go it considerably better. The
house did just this thing, and did it with
a vengeance, too. The contest was
most exciting one and showed good gem
eralship both on the part of the Pingree
forces and the railroad people.
The battle opened up with the consid-
Grafton of the Stoneman bill providing
that railroad property shall be taxed To-
cally just as other property is taxed. Aft
er amending this bill by taking the pow
er of assessing railroad property from
the supervisors and requiring that all of
ii shall be done by the board of state au-
ditors, who shall apportion the assessment
among the various townships and cities
in xkrhf Ih he. arfxy 10 cd ~
further providing that all the revenue
derived therefrom shall be used for the
support of the public schools just as the
revenue from specific taxation is now
used, the. bill was agreed to in commit
tee Of the whole. This done, the Pingree
leader, Colonel Atkinson. called up his
bill providing for a fiat 2-cent passenger
rate on all roads in the state and sue
ceeded in having that agreed to also.
Merriam Specific Tax Bill.
While all this was going on the Mer
riam specific tax bill, which had passed
the senate as above noted, was in the
hands of the railroad committee of the
house, which had set hearing on it for
several days hence. The railroad men
rallied over night after the action on the
local taxation and 2-cent fare bills. and
succeeded in having the hearing aban-
doned and the bill reported out
bright and early the next morn
ing and placed at the head
OF the special order so that it would be
the first measure considered. Their OBJ
ject was TO rush it through ahead of the
other two bills, which they feared more
Ia, nd L. off fol
it was not possible that all would pass.
On the other hand, the Pingree forces
used the action on the two bills as a club
with which to force an increase in the
rates of specific taxation made by the
senate. 1t was a case of dog eat dog
and both sides claim to have secured an
ample mouthful.
The present rates of taxation are as fol-
lows: On earnings of $4,000 per mile or
less, 2 per cent. 81, 600 to 81. 000 21s per
per cent from 81, 900 to $4,000, 3 per
cent; from $4,000 to 5000, 3k per cent;
over $4,000, per cent. AS fixed by the
house the rates are as follows: On earn
ing of $4,000 or less, 21a per cent. from
81, 900 to $4,000, 4 per cent; from $4,000
to $4,000, 6 per cent. over $4,000, 10 per
cent. A careful computation of the
dIlOuHl VI ItNtHut tllt Stdtt NOuiu iN-
ceive under the Merriam bill as ii passed
the house shows that ii would be $1,246,-
1893 annually, the computation being on
the earnings of last year This is an in
crease of 1904, 7S4. "a over the revenue re-
ceived last year. as against the increase
of $3.50, 900 provided by the senate.
senator Changed His Mind.
When the bill was sent back to the
senate it was laid on the table without
discussion, it being the purpose of Sena-
tor Merriam not to call it up until this
week. The senator changed his mind,
however, and on Friday morning had
the bill taken from the table. On his
motion the house amendments were not
concurred in, but five votes being cast in
favor Of concurrence, while nineteen
were cast against the motion. This de-
cisive vote renders it practically certain
that the senate will never agree to the
increase made by the house. 1t is posi-
BILE that a compromise figure may be
agreed to, but the indications are that
II must hover very close to the raise
made by the senate IL this Is done. When
the Inconvenience of the senate was
officially announced In the house, Rep
resentative Chamberlain moved that a
conference committee OF I'VE Oh
the part Of the house be
appointed to concur with like
committee from the senate with view
to settling the differences between the
two houses. This committee was author
lied and both houses will appoint them
today The result Of their deliberations
will be awaited with interest.
While the Pingree leaders were
doubtless sincere in thcir advocacy
of the local taxation ard c-ce1t fare
bills, the fact that they cid not hope
to pass them end merely used
them as a club with which 10 force
up the specific tax rate' became
apparent as seen as the Merriam BIZ
passed the mouse. Cclcrel Atkinson at
once had the local taTc'.cr bill sent Z
the committee cn judiciary, although
there was rothirg to sord II there for
Later in the day the 2-tert fare bin cams
up on third reading ard was defeated
by a vote Of "a to SO. No attempt was
made at that time to reconsider the bill
and save II for another trial. but after
the senate tabled the Merriam bill this
was done so that there will still be plen-