The true northerner., 1899-06-07
Gov. Pingree Grows Prolific In His
Suggestions to the State
Legislature.
he WANTS APPROPRIATIONS CUT DOWN.
Also Asks for q speciac Tax on Cop
per and Iron Ore-Threatens to
Use the Veto Power Unless His
Ideas Are Accepted-End Of the
Session Not i'm Sight.
Especial correspondence

that the bills making appropriations
for the university and central normal
schools be recalled and the appropria-
tions materially reduced and the third
advocated the immediate enactment of
a law levying a specific tax on copper
and iron ore. In support of the latter
proposition the governor submitted
official figures showing that the as
sessed valuation of the mining property
of the state is only one-seventh of its
market value. The house has refused
to make the reduction in the state
prison appropriation demanded by the
governor and the bill will be vetoed.
In a special message sent in Wednes-
day the governor threatened TO veto
all bills appropriating money for state
institutions unless the items for new
buildings and improvements not i'm
peratively necessary be cut out. He
stated that these items, which aggre-
gate approximately $1,000,000, must
await the next legislature, owing TO the
fact that the appropriations will double
those of two years ago in any event.
The friends of the institutions charge
that this is clearly bluff, inasmuch as
no objection was made to the unlimited
appropriations for beet sugar bounties
and $75O,000 to give Michigan soldiers
in the recent war additional pay, both
of which are for private purposes and
which make up the greater portion of
the increase complained of. They will
refuse TO call the bills, as suggested in
the message, but will force the gov
ernor TO veto them in their entirety, in
cluding absolutely needed items, and
then endeavor to pass them over the
veto.
Speaker Adams has prepared state
ment showing the appropriations made
in 1897 for current expenses, repairs,
new buildings, and additions of the
state institutions for 1897 and 1898, with
the amounts recommended for similar
purposes by the ways and means com
mittees this year for 1899 and 1900.
Last year the aggregate appropriations
for current expenses were 81 1872, ,976; re-
pairs, S22,617; new buildings and addi-
tions, S20S,5sS. The amounts recon-
mended this year are: For current eX-
penses, S1,634,610; repairs, 1927, $40;
new buildings and additions, S696,613.
The aggregate increase this year is
s1,095,692.
Gov. Pingree has had 10000 copies of
the war expenditure message ruled out
by Speaker Adams printed and it is be-
ing circulated broadcast.
The final end of the session cannot
yet be seen During the past few days
the house has passed a number of inn
portant tax bills and sent them to the
senate, where most of them will meet
untimely deaths. Among these bills is
an income tax measure which levies
a graduated tax of from one-fourth of
1 per cent. to 11a per cent, according 10
the proportions of the income, the
smallest amount subject to taxation be-
ing $1,000. This bill was rendered prac-
tically worthless by embodying a pro-
vision that it shall not apply to incomes
already taxed, thus leaving it to apply
simply to professional men and persons
receiving salaries.
The house also passed bills increas-
ing the tax of foreign fire insurance
companies from to per cent. on their
Michigan premiums; express COM
panies 5 per cent on their gross Michi
gan earnings; telephone and telegraph
companies 3 per cent. on their gross
Michigan earnings, an increase of about
/ per cent. The insurance bill has al
ready been recalled and the rate will
doubtless be restored TO 3 per cent,
it being generally conceded that per
cent. is excessive.
Probably the most important tax bill
agreed TO by the house is one which
doubles the tax on iron mines and in
creases the annual tax of copper min
ing companies more than 81, 900, 900, or
fully 1000 per cent. In other words,
these copper mines paid state tax last
year of 1000. Based on last years
output, their tax under the bill agreed
20 by the house Saturday would be
nearly S1,200,000. Previous to 1891 the
mining companies paid a specific tax of
so much per ton on the output of their
mines. In the year named the specific
tax law was repealed and the compa-
nies have since been taxed locally. The
result is that while the market value
Of eight of the upper peninsular mines
is to-day SIS, ,775, 900 their assessed valu
alton last year was only $2l9,200. The
copper bill, as agreed TO by the house,
makes the rate one-sixteenth of a cent
q pound on mines producing less than
100000 pounds year; one-eighth of
cent. on those producing from 5000, 900
to 100000 pounds; one-fourth of a
cent on those producing from 10000
900 to 50,OO0,00O pounds and one-half a
cent on those producing more than 5O,-
100000. 1t is estimated that about
three-fourths of the tax will under the
schedule of rates, be paid by the Calu-
met and Hecla company. The rate for
iron is two cents ton and il will pro-
duce s125,0oo a year.
The two houses are wide apart on the
proposition to create a state tax com
mission. The house has passed bill
creating a permanent commission of
three members to be appointed by the
governor, each to receive a salary of