The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1898-10-21
EQUITABLE TAXATION
THE GREAT QUESTION NOW OF
PARAMOUNT INTEREST.
A Resume of the Provisions of the At
kinson Bill which should Interest
Every Taxpayer In Michigan and
Should Win Their support.

the Atkinson bill, which was offered
for passage at the special session Of
the Michigan Legislature held in April
last, may be Of interest to our readers.
AS Is well known, tie intention OF
the Trainer of the law was to equalize
the imposition of taxes, so that the
great corporations which have their
being and benefits from the public en-
terprise and business activity of the
people Of Michigan may properly bear
their share in the expenses and public
burdens of the State. There Is no In
tention whatever to impose upon these
wealthy corporations any unfair bur
dens, nor to fail in recognizing their
usefulness, and the convenience they
afford to the hundreds Of thousands
of Michigan people who avail them
selves thereof. But. judging by the
experience Of other States In this mat
ter, the treasury of the great State Of
Michigan is justly entitled to receive
vastly more revenue from the taxable
property included in the provisions Of
the Atkinson bill.
The bill is entitled "a bill to pro-
vide for the assessment and levy OF
taxes upon the property of railroad
companies, express companies, tele-
graph companies and telephone COM
panies and the collection thereof, and
the designation and election Of State
Board Of Assessors to make such as
sessments and levy, and defining the
duties Of such board and the cOmpen.
satiOn of its MEMBERS" and to repeal
such laws as may conflict herewith.
Section l provides for the selection
Of the State Board Of Assessors, the
board at first to be composed Of GER
tain officers Of the State, but to be
chosen by the electors Of the State at
general elections hereafter.
Section 2 provides n secretary for the
board, who shall devote his time to the
business thereof.
Section 5 provides that the members
Of said board, and the secretary, shall
take and subscribe the constitutional
oath of office, to be filed with the Sec
rotary Of State.
Section provides that the board
shall have access to all documents and
records In departments ut the capital
Of the State, to all records In county,
township and municipal Offices; also
to all Of the books, papers or accounts
Of any Incorporation, firm or Individual
coming under the provisions Of the act.
Said board shall have the right to sum-
mon witnesses when necessary. An
assessment roll of all property to be
assessed by the board shall be made
each year and filed with the Auditor
General, to be open for public inspec-
ton.
year In September to assess the prop
ns.fv "a N, NJ
companies, telegraph companies and
telephone companies now organized or
hereafter organized and doing business
In this State, under any law Of this
State or any state or country. The
board may inspect all property Of said
interests to get ut the true cost value
thereof, taking into consideration the
reports and returns made by the COM
panies. together with such other EVIL
dence as may be found.
Section g. The board shall procure
the best attainahle estimate of the ag-
gregate OF taxes raised within the State
for State, county and municipal pur-
poses, excluding special assessments.
Said board shall determine the average
rate OF State. county and municipal
taxes throughout the State by dividing
the aggregate taxes for the current
year, as ascertained .nder this section.
by an aggregate sum to be determined
by adding to the total value Of all
property assessed under this act the
equalized value of all property assess
ed in the State rs fixed by the State
Board of Equaliza ton at its last meet
ing.
Section Z. Said board shall tax the
property Of the several companies as
assessed by 1t. at the average rate Of
taxation as determined by 1t, and the
amount Of tax to be paid by each Of
said companies shall be extended up
on said assessment roll opposite the
descriptions Of their respective proper
ties, and the tax so extended shall be
paid to the State Treasurer by said
companies respectively on or before the
first Monday In January following the
assessment and levy aforesaid. which
tax when SO assessed and levied shall
be in lieu of all other taxes for State
and local purposes, not including
special assessments on property par
ticularly benefited made In any county,
city, village or township.
Sections 8, 9. 10 and IL define the
companies which shall be under the
provisions Of the act.
Section II provides for complete re-
turns to be made by the officers OF the
companies each year to the Auditor
General % the State.
Section IL. Said board shall ascer-
tain and assess the value or all prop
erty Of express companies. telegraph
and telephone companies doing busi-
ness in this State ut its true cash
valre. And in determining the prop
erty Of said companies IN this State,
to be taxed within the State and as
sesscd as herein provided, said hoard
shall be guided by the value of said
property rs determined by the entire
capital stock OF said companies. and
such other evidence rs will enable said
board to arrive at the true cash value
Of the entire property Of said CON-
panies within this State. In the proper
ton which the same bears TO the en-
tire property Of said company, as de-
termined by the value OF the capital
stock thereof and such other evidence.