Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1898-03-31


resentative Adams precipitated hot de-
bate by attempting to introduce bin on
general taxation. He was declared out
Of order. Afterward he introduced res
olution asking the Governor to send q spe-
cial message to the Legislature on the
subject of .equalizing assessments on all
classes OF property. Col. Atkinson, with
his eyes strained for Africans in the
wood pile" saw in this resolution an at
tempt to sidetrack the Governors bill for
the taxation Of railroads by taking up the
time of the session with other subjects.
Several members spoke for and against
the resolution, but 1t was finally defeated
by decisive vote. In the afternoon Mr..
Lawrence introduced resolution in the
Senate similar to that of Mr.. Adams in
the House. Senator Barnard moved to
refer the resolution, and a sharp passage
Of words ensued, in which Mr.. Barnard's
motion was lost by vote Of IA yeas to
10 nays.
A huge petition, containing SO, 250 sigma
lures of citizens who favor the passage OF
the Pingree railroad tax bill, was present
ed in the House on Wednesday. These
petitions come from every county in the
State and have been collected by the Gov
ernor since his call for special session
WIS issued.
The Governor having ascertained that
the power to call elections to fill vacancies
in either house was vested in the execu-
tive; that if the elections were called on
that day the voters might choose Senators
to succeed Messrs. Covell, Preston and
Hughes, against whom protests are lodged
and are now being investigated by Sem
ate committee, personally appeared upon
the floor of the Senate on Thursday and
through Senator Moore had a motion
made to discharge the investigating COM
mittee and have the contested senator
ships made vacant at once. Senators
Covell and Preston are anti-Pingree Sen
ators, and il an election were now to be
held their districts would probably select
men favorable to the Governors bill. The
Governors proposition reused all the ami
mostly of the Senate, and after an acri-
monious debate between Senators Moore,
Thompson and Mason, the proposition of
the Governor to take the investigation
from the committee was lost by a vote of
IA to IA, the rules of the Senate holding
tie vote to mean the failure of the mo-
ton. The days session was otherwise
uneventful. Resolutions were adopted in
both branches expressing sympathy with
the Cubans in their struggle for indepen-
dence and pledging the support of the peo-
pie of Michigan to President Mckinley
in whatever action he may take for the
relief of the suffering island. In the even
ing the committees of the two houses to
whom the Governors bill was referred
gave a joint hearing in representative hall.
rhx,. Il. N,.sI do .s.6t I.
Gov. Pingree's bill for the taxation Of
the property of railroad, telegraph, ex-
press and telephone companies at its mar
ket value is as good as dead. The Michi-
gan Central is the company that it is most
desired to reach, but Fred A. Baker,
chairman of the Democratic State COM
mittee, who went to Lansing on Gov. Pin
gree's invitation, Advised the legislators
in an argument made Friday morning that
unless that company's special charter
were first repealed the passage of the Pin.
gree bill would not affect the company
particle, but would simply make matters
worse for its weaker competitors. He fur
thermore said the bill was unconstitu-
tional in certain particulars, and his argu-
ment has had the effect to dispose of the
bill in its present form.
The Governors bill is entitled simply
"a bill to provide for the assessment and
levy of taxes upon the property of rail
road companies, express, telegraph and
telephone companies" 1t provides for the
creation Of a State board of assessors, con-
sisting of four members appointed by the
Governor and the Auditor General. This
beard shall assess the property of the cor
porations named in the title; ii shall have
power to procure books and papers, sub
poena witnesses, require sworn state
ments 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, mu-
nicipal and local purposes, not including
special assessments for benefits received.
The board shall meet the first Monday in
September in each year, and the taxes as
sessed must be paid before the first Mon
day OF January following" Franchises of
companies, it is provided, shall be consid-
cred as property and shall be assessed.
All taxes collected under the act shall be
applied to the payment of the interest on
the primary school, university and other
educational funds. For non-payment Of
taxes it is provided that the State may
seize the property of corporations and sell
it ut public auction, and if the property
cannot be sold the company shall forfeit
its corporate rights and privileges. Sew
eral penalties are provided in the act, and
the members of the board will be guilty
of misdemeanor il they shall assess
property for more or less than it is worth
Finally, it is provided that if corporations
whose property is to be assessed either d.
rectly or indirectly promise, offer or give
to any member any gratuity whatever the
corporations shall forfeit to the State the
sum of $4,000.
State Items of Interest.
Twenty-Five free men will be required