The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1899-01-14


Home for Feeb!e-afinded. -. 1881 1900 q
1898 S0.755 s.
Eastern Michigan Asylum. 1881 1921 S,
Michigan Asylum...............Is 1887 I70s43 I.
Northern Michigan Asylum. 1881 1872 1888 SC
Asylum for d. and C. Insane 1881 67,3O2 /.
u. p. Hospital for Insane. . 1897 $500 il
In the interest OF brevity / have not at
this time made such recommendations In
detail as the Importance OF many OF our
state institutions requires, reserving the
right 10 communicate TO you at greater
length as the occasion may require.
.. Insurance.
More than $1.GC0. 600. goo OF insurance is
carried upon the lives and property OF
Michigan citizens. Twelve millions OF dol
lars are paid annually In premiums
The work OF the insurance department
of the state during the last two years is
80 well known as to require no comment
here. The annual saving to the people OF
the state OF more than 100000 In fire
premiums alone Is a record to be proud of
The assets and reserves OF insurance COM
panies ought TO be sacredly guarded by the
most stringent laws. No company should
be permitted TO hold itself out TO the pub
lie under false colors. nor 10 solicit business
by false representations.
Building and Lonn Associations.
There are about 50 building and loan as
sociations doing business In this state and
all but two or three of them are organized
under the laws of Michigan. While these
associations have been instrumental in do
ing much good and have furnished TO many
persons OF moderate means the facilities
with which to provide themselves homes,
yet so extensive have become their opera
tons that the state should proceed at once
to exercise over them the closest super
vision. There are more than 10000 men,
bers of these assocla ions in the 81 &c ost
of them being persons IN moderate ciPtums'
stances.
i would recommend that the supervision
and examination OF these associations be
delegated to the insurance department. and
not TO any new department to be organized
for this express purpose.
Railroads.
Michigan may Justly be proud OF her
transportation facilities. Surrounded as 1t
is by the great lakes. the tonnage of which
increases with business. its facilities in this
respect. through competition. have ten
dcncy to keep down railroad rates to
point as low as those of any other state.
Michigan has 1900 miles of railroads, the
extent having been increased during the
past year by the addition of 200 miles. En-
tensions of main lines and branches are
constantly being made. progress in this
direction being as great as that of any state
in the union. Railroad earnings have in
creased over those OF last year fully 10 per
cent
In exercising its police power over rail-
road corporations the state has met with
n prompt obedience to Its orders New and
improved safety appliances for the secur-
tty or the lives OF passengers and others
have been adopted.
The repeal of the special charters, grant
ed TO certain companies when the state
was new and undeveloped. is now demand
ed in the interest of justice.
There has been created within this state
a class of corporations known as suburban
railways. which do a very BILE bust
ness. Regulations for the safety of per-
sons and property carried by them have
not been adopted by the state therefore
urgently recommend that the state have
the same supervisory control over the con-
duct of their business that 1t has over that
OF steam railroads. and that they be placed
under the supervision of the commission
ell OF railroads.
Taxation.
Equal taxation has ever been the para
mount problem involved In civil govern
ment The best thinkers in every age have
grappled with the question. but as yet we
are, apparently, as far from q perfect sys-
tenn as we were half century ago. 1t IL
one of the principal objects of government
20 equaiiZe public burdens, and both the
constitution and the law. In FORM at least,
contain a guarantee OF IT.. The question OF
equal taxation has become the most i'm
portant question in this state. Thousands
of its citizens have expressed not only their
approval of it, but their disaproval of the
present system as applied to certain classes
of property. The great political parties
have declared in favor of It, public speak
ers have aided in educating the people Is
to the details >sf an improved method, and
indeed l may say no one has ever opposed
IL, except the lobbyist and the special in
terests benefited. The present state adj
ministration, by which l mean not only
the state officers, but also the legislative
branch of the government. has been placed
In power with the express understanding
that some action looking to an equitable
system of taxation be taken at once.
The average rate of taxation for all pur-
poses In this state. exclusive OF the special
Improvement tax. Is not far from two and
one-half per cent. on the dollar. The most
careful research that can be made develops
the fact that the rate paid by the corpora
tons that are now taxed on their earnings
or income is about slX-tenths of one per
cent In other words. individual property
pays $25 upon 81. 000 of valuation, while the
property OF those quasi-corporations pays
six dollars upon 81 600 of actual value. a
continuation of this inequality Is wholly
inconsistent with the faithful discharge OF
our duty TO the public
The farmer and merchant is not asked
whether h.J business Is profitable when the
tax levy Is made. He Is confronted simply
with the statement of the states need. ac-
companied by the states demand for
money. The argument that a different
rule should apply TO corporation property
Is the argument OF the lobbyist and those
specially interested.
If the state should exercise an authority
over corporation In fixing its tolls and
throw around II other restrictions that
would make Improbable the operation OF
the system, its value would be thereby de-
creased. and 1t would be right 10 consider
this fact in fixing the value of the proper
~. The state has never yet legislated to
Cypress. bankrupt or destroy the railroad
corporations and has only used it's power to
prohibit oppression and extortion against
those of It's citizens. who we're unable, ex-
cept under the law. to protect themselves.
1 speak now OF the methods OF taxation.
There SHOULD be but one rule and one meth
Cd In order 10 create an equality before the
taxing law. There may be n difference in
the manner OF determining the value OF DIFF
ferent kinds of property. When that ques-
ton Is reached. 1t can be solved by the
proper authorities, but the rule of taxa
ton should be simple one and applied to
all alike.
The right to tax Is one OF the sovereign
powers OF the state. The right to regulate
tolls IL a police power and Incident to It's
existence. The state IL charged with the
duty OF exercising ite sovereignty justly
under the constitution. The exercise OF po-