The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1897-01-15

M Ia using. and although some OF them
| finally lead criminal lives. very many
| of them are reformed, and all are pre-
vented from leading a life or crime
| while thew remain at the institution,
and for time afterwards. This is true
even 10 a greater extent al the Indus
| trial home for girls at Adrian, where
| the girls are now kept until they are
| 2l years OF age. and then there is noth-
| ing left TO do except TO turn them out
| on society," II they are not before mat
| time sent 10 their o IN homes, or admit
| ted to the homes of others Ihere
should be some provision whereby the
girls who refuse 10 yield to the refining
| influences Of the home could be con-
fined for at least time. Even though
they are not finally reformed. they are
prevented while there from leading
lives of crime and from polluting soci-
ETY.. Leaving out of consideration the
moral and humane aspects of the case.
there Is enough to justify the existence
Of this institution in pecuniary sense,
not only in protecting society from this
class of people, but in preventing the
reproduction of their kind TO plague So
ciety in the future. In making this
statement / realize that the farmers
and other people who own real estate
where there have been but few changes,
note that their taxes increase year by
year as the many public needs are pro-
vided for. This is looked upon as
hardship; and while in the aggregate,
the taxes of Michigan have been mod
crate, it is the desire Of every one to re-
lieve the burdens of these taxes. IT pos
sible.
More Equitable and Less Burdensome.
am of the opinion that If the state
constitution were amended so as to per-
nit specific taxes to be placed in the
general fund, an amount sufficient to
provide for the wants of the state gov
eminent we'll. could be raised In a
manner much more equitable and less
burdensome to the people than by the
present method. In the first place we
now have corporations which represent
something like 500, 100000 capital. One
mill on dollar of the capital stock of
these corporations would produce $780,
600 in revenue. One-third Of the reve-
nue. derived from the liquor traffic OF
the state which the municipalities could
well afford to surrender In view OF be-
ing excused from state taxation, would
add another 81, 900. 900 to the revenues.
The taxes now collected from insur-
ance, telegraph and telephone compan-
les could be safely transferred from the
primary school fund to the general
fund, leaving the tax on railroads to
be devoted to the support Of the pri-
mary schools. There are franchise fees
and fees derived from various other
sources which would raise a large
amount. Banks, building and loan as
socatons, and mutual benefit and fra
ternal organizations could very proper
ly contribute a small percentage for
their own supervision. and to aid in
paying general expenses. We also have
vast number of persons drawing sal
aries ranging from $500 to $4,000 per
annum, or earning by personal or pro-
fessional services like amounts, who do
not contribute anything toward the
support of the state. One drawing a
salary or earning professionally could
much easier afford to pay the same rate
of taxation on that salary or profess
sionally earning than could the owner
of real estate or personal property.
There is no doubt for very moderate
percentage. much less than now levied
on other property, from 100000 to ST.
100000 could be raised from this source.
One hundred thousand dollars could be
raised by tax of u cent per gallon on
keTOSeHe Oil. "A large dIlOuHI COulu De
raised by very small tax on evidences
of Indebtedness, without the usual dis
astrous results of taxing this class of
property.
There would be no difficulty in rails
ing from 100000 to 100000 in this
way, which would increase as the pop
ulation and property increased. This
would relieve the people of direct tax
alton, and be so collected as to be in
nowise burdensome. 1t would provide
ample revenue for the support of our
educational. penal, charitable and re-
formatory institutions, enable us to pay
fair salaries to our public servants. and
do many other things which the legis-
lature very properly refrains from now
doing on account of adding to the bur-
dens of the taxpayer.
Agitates the Public Mind.
The question of taxation of railroads
has agitated the public mind ever since
railroads have been in operation. Mich
igan has always treated her railroads
as public institutions. supported by the
whole public and the whole public
should have the benefit of their contri-
buttons towards paying the public ex-
penses. In the light of experience 1t
seems to me the present plan has many
things in its favor. Under the present
system the taxes are collected with a
very minimum of expense. They can
be increased or diminished as may seem
equitable or desirable by simply chang
ing the rate of taxation on the earn
ings. The people of the whole state.
who contribute towards the support and
maintenance of railroads, get the bene-
fits of this method, and it makes little
difference whether it all goes into the
state treasury for state purposes, or
whether it goes into the primary school
fund for the support of the schools it
practically relieves the taxpayers of so
much burden of taxation. If il Is at
tempted to assess railroads as other
property Is assessed, town that is
fortunate enough to have a railroad
running through II would get all the
benefits derived from taxation of the
property of the railroad lying in that
township, while an adjoining township.
whose residents may contribute much
more towards the maintenance of the