The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1898-03-25
MICHIGAN soLONs IN SESSION.
Governor Gets the Machinery Started on
His Corporation Tax Scheme.

| His Corporation Tax Scheme.
Lansing. Mich, March 23.-The
Michigan Legislature assembled yes
terday afternoon, having been called
by Governor Pingree to consider the
! governors proposed measure for in
| creasing taxes upon railroad, express,
telegraph and telephone companies. In
the senate protests were entered against
Senators Covell and Preston, Republic
ans, and Senator Hughes. Democrat,
continuing in their seats. The two
former had been appointed to federal
| offices and the latter had moved from
his district. Covell and Preston are
anti Pingree Republicans. while
Hughes favors the Pingres taxation
bill. 1t is considered improbable that
the Pingree measures will pass the SEN
ate unless radically amended.
Governor Pingree read his corpora
ton taxation message to the joint ses-
sion. It's leading points were that the
trainers Of the state constitution in
tended that all taxes be based on the
cash value of the property; that taxes
should be levied upon public franchises
as well as other property that the pres
ent system of specific taxes upon rail-
way earnings is unsatisfactory and
wrong; that the tax upon Michigan
railroads has been less than a quarter
of 1 Per cent upon their own sworn
valuations, and less than one-eleventh
Of the percentage paid by other tax
payers.
The governors bill has been made
public. II proves to be unlike the al
legged bill published a few days ago
Tt is entitled simply "A bill to pro-
vide for the assessment and levy of
taxes upon the property of railroad
companies, express, telegraph and tele-
phone conn anies." 1t provides for the
creation of a state board of assessors,
consisting Of four members appointed
by the governor and the auditor gen-
eral.
This board shall assess the property
of the corporations named in the title
it shall have power to procure books
and papers, subpoena witnesses, re-
quire sworn statements from railroad
and other companies, and determine
the rate of taxes to be levied, which
rate shall be the same as the average
rate Of taxes for state, municipal and
local purposes, not including special
assessments for benefits received.
The board shall meet the first Mon
day In September in each year. and
the taxes assessed must be paid before
the first Monday of January follow
ing. Franchises of companies, 1t Is
provided, shall be considered as prop
erty and shall be assessed.
All taxes collected under the act
shall be applied to the payment of the
interest on the primary school, uni
versity and other educational funds.
For non-payment of taxes it is pro-
vided that the state may seize the prop
erty Of corporations and sell it at pub
lie auction, and If the property cannot
be sold the company shall forfeit its
corporate rights and privileges.
Several penalties are provided in the
act, and the members Of the board will
be guilty OF a misdemeanor If they
shall assess property for more or less
than it is worth. Finally. it is pro-
vided that If corporations whose prop
erty is TO be assessed either directly or
indirectly premise, offer or give to any
member any gratuity whatever the
corporations shall forfeit to the state
the sum Of $4,000.
This, in brief, is the law which Gov
for the present special tax law now on
the statute books.
New Logging Road in Michigan.
Menominee, Mich, March 23.-Ex-
Representatives. Stephenson, of MARI
nette; Daniel Wells, Jr., of Milwaukee,
and j. w. Wells, of this city, have or
ganized logging company with capital
stock of s1,0O0,000, and have purchased
docks, right-of-way and other privileges
of the I. Stephenson Lumber company
at Flint Rock, Mich, for construction of
a logging road from the mouth Of the
Esca river, sixty miles, to Republic.
Mich.
Michigan State Grange Will Help.
Lansing, Mich. March 21.-George VI.
Horton, master of the Michigan state
grange. has called special meeting OF