Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1898-10-27
EQUITABLE TAXATION
THE GREAT QUESTION NOW OF
PARAMOUNT INTEREST.
A Resume OF the Provisions M the At
kinson Bin which should Interest
Every Taxpayer In Michigan and
Should Win Their support.

r lor passage al the special session O
n the Michigan Legislature held I'm Apri
l. iast, may be Of interest TO our readers
IS AS Is well known. the intention d
/ ,he Kramer OF the law was 10 equaliz,
v the imposition of taxes, so that thu
o great corporations which have theil
II peipG ana benefits from the public EN-,
Il tcrprlse ana business activity of the
n people or Michigan may properly beai
.helr snare I'm the expenses and public
puruehs OF the State There is no in
= tchtioh Whatever TO impose upon these
, Wealthy corporations any unfair bur
uens' nor 10 ram III recognizing their
: useiuineSS, and the convenience they
,, "ioIu 10 the hundreds of thousands
, OF Michigan people who avail them
ecNes thereot. But. judging by the
experience OF other States in this mat
ter, the treasury of the great state NJ
. Michigan Is justly entitled to receive
vastly more revenue from the taxable
property Included in the provisions of
the Atkinson bill.
Inc bill Is entitled "A bill to pro-
vide for the assessment and levy of
taxes upon the property of railroad
companies, express companies, tele-
Srapn companies and telephone COM
pahles ana the collection thereof. and
lhe designation and election of n State
boaru 'ol Assessors to make such as
easements ana levy. and defining the
uulies OF such board, and the compen-
sdtloH OF ltS members" and to repeal
such laws rs may conflict Herewith.
section ] provides for the selection
! Oh the state Board Of Assessors. the
BOARD at first TO be composed of GER
taih oihcers Of the State but to be
CHOSEN ny the electors Of the State NJ
| general elections hereafter.
Section > provides a secretary for the
board who shall devote his time 70 the |
business thereof.
section ! provides that the members |
OF said board, and the secretary. shall |
take ana subscribe the constitutional |
oath OF Office, to be filed with the Sec |
rotary Of State
section provides that the board
shall nave access To all documents and
records III departments at the capital
OF the state, 10 all records I'm county.
toWnShlp ana municipal offices: also
10 all OF the books. papers or accounts
vi any incorporation. firm or individual
coming Under the provisions Of the act.
Haiu BOARD snail have the right to sum-
liion witnesses wien necessary An
"NSesSileht ron OF all property to be
assessed by the board shall be made
each year and filed with the Auditor.
nehefal, to be open for public inspec
ton.
Section provides for Il meeting each
year In September to assess the pron-
erty OF all railroad companies. EXPRESS
companies, telegraph conlpanles and
telephone companies Euw organized on. ]
hereafter organized and doing business |
III thls State, under any law of this '
,stdte or any state or country. The ;
poafd may inspect all property Of said !
'ntereStS 10 get at the true cost valu,, ,
'hereoI, taking into consideration the
reports ana returns made by the com >
lailes, together with such other owl. J.
lence as may be found. II
section u. The board shall procure =
he best attainable estimate of The ag G.
.regate OF taxes raised within the State IL IL
Ut State county and municipal pur- =
Ioses excluding special assessments u
'ald board shall determine the average
ate or State. county and municinal
axes throughout the State by dividing
he aggregate taxes for the current ~
ear, aS ascertained under this section !
y an aggregate sum to be determined 90 90
T! addlhS 10 the total value of all %
ropefty assessed under this act the "i
Iuaiized value Of all property assess :"
u III the state as fixed by the State III
oard OF Equalization ut its last meet :"
~. he
section Z. Said board shall tax the >,
Ioperty or the several companies Ms III
'Sessed by II. at the average rate of W
Aatlon as determined by it, and the VIZ
n IN OIL TAX to be paid by each of - ~
iu COMPANIES snail be extended up- -,
saiu assessment roll opposite the ,,''
o'i Ip'ioHs OF thelr respective proper ~
>, ana The tax so extended shall he oih
i'd to the State Troos,,,.,,,' I'''ii ~ ut
hlpanles respectively on or before tho
st Monday in January following thc
sessment and levy aforesaid which
x whom So osseesed "a ei ,'. n''i for
III lieu OF all other taxes for Stare sici
local purposes. not including a,
ecial assessments on property mar. nos
ularly benefited made I'm anv comfy 70
y, village or township. .nr'
sections :, 8. 10 and IL define tho mas
npanies which shall be under tbe iuS'
visions of the act. SIGN
section IL provides for complete re-
us 10 DO made by the officers of the -
hpanles each year to the Auditor. -
neral OF the State. slss
ection II. Said board shall ascer. e ',
J ana ASSESS the value Of all nron lliei'
OF express companies. telegraph sss'
telephone companies doing busi. " !,
: in this STATE al its true cash u ,
Tie. And In determining the prop. napl
be taxed within M g., .nis state desp
ed as herein provided. said hoard ".
II he guided by the value OF said for ,
perty as determined by the entire win
ltal stock OF said companies end have
other evidence as will enable said stan,
he o,. 49, az tne true cash value try
Ias ,,.i.Li's p,operlv or said com who,
y,h,o,, , n ne stare, III the proper the g
,'nD.a. ."c Sahie pears 10 the en- dead
property of said company. MS de.
lined by the value Of the copitaI III
K thereof and such other evidence con
elton ID. If the companies rail ar Stato
Sc to make proper returns tbe will
q shall inform itself In the hest ON u
1t, 80 a1i a Re
cuon 10. The companies shall have stand
IN