The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1899-01-07

1898 l.e35 90
School FOR the Blind 1897 5000 90
lSgS 26.67l n
Home for Feeble Minded 49,. 1887 1900 90
1898 SO.755 IS
Eastern Michigan Asylum 1897 1924 g
1895 142.0O9 II
Michigan Asylum. 1897 17O.s43 20
1898 iS7.4O9 81
Northern Michigan Asylum. 1877 ie2. isS 50
1898 1856 494 az
Asylum for u. and c. Insane 1897 e7.So2 u
u. r. Hospital for Insane. 1897 Sl,s2O ia
1898 1926 SO
In the interest OF brevity | have not at
this time made such recommendation in
detail as the Importance Of many OF our
state Institutions requires, reserving the
right TO communicate TO you at greater
length as the occasion may require.
Insurance.
More than 81 900. OoO. 900 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
so well known as 10 require no comment
here The annual saving TO the people of
the state of more than $500 coo in fire
premiums alone Is "A record TO be proud OF
The assets and reserves or insurance COM
panies ought TO be sacredly guarded by the
most stringent laws. No company should
be permitted to hold itself out 10 the pub
llc unatf raise COiOfS, nor 10 solicit DuSlnt IS
by false representations.
Building and Loan Associations.
There are about 80 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 10 many
persons OF moderate means the facilities
with which TO provide themselves homes
glf an a. has haI
tons that the state should proceed ut once
TO exercise over them the closest super
vision. There are more than 10000 mem
bers OF these associations In the state. most
OF them being persons Ia moderate circum-
stances.
I would recommend that the supervision
aud examination OF these associations be
delegated 10 the insurance department. and
not 70 any new department TO be organized
for this express purpose.
Railroads.
Michigan may Justly be proud OF her
transportation facilities. Surrounded as II
Is by the great lakes, the tonnage OF which
Increases with business. it's facilities In this
respect through competition. have ten
dency 10 keep down railroad rates 10 a
point az low those OF any other state.
Michigan has 900 miles OF railroads, the
extent having been increased during the
past year by the addition OF eco miles Eek
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 IL per
cent.
In exercising It's police power over rail-
road corporations the state has met with
a prompt obedience 10 its orders. New and
improved safety appliances for the secur-
ny OF the lives OF passengers and others
have been adopted.
The repeal OF the special charters. grant
cd 10 certain companies when the state
was new and undeyeloped. is now demand
ed I'm the interest of justice.
There has been created within this state
"A class OF corporations known az suburban
railways. which do a very profitable busi-
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 IL has over that
OF steam railroads and that they be placed
under the supervision OF the commission
~ OF railroads.
Taxation.
Equal taxation has ever been the para
mount problem involved in civil govern
ment. The best thinkers In every age have
grapplod with the question, but as yet we
are. apparently az far from perfect sys-
tenn as We were half century ago. II Is
one OF the principal objects OF government
To equalize public burdens. and both the
constitution and the law, In form. at least
contain a guarantee OF H. The question OF
equal taxation has become the most inn
portant question in this state. Thousands
OF its citizens have expressed not only their
approval OF AZ. but their disaproval OF the
present system az applied TO certain classes
81 property. The great political parties
have declared In favor OF II, public speak
crs have aided In educating the people as
to the details OF an improved method, and
indeed I may say no one has ever opposed
IT, except the lobbyist and the special i'm
terests benefited The present state adj
mnistration, by which ! mean not only
tho 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
lions that are now taxed on their earnings
on income IL about six-tenths OF one per
cent. In other words. Individual property
pays t25 upon 1900 or valuation. while the
property OF those quasi-corporations pays
six dollars upon 1900 OF actual value. A
| continuation of this inequality ~ wholly
inconsistent with the faithful discharge OF
our duty 20 the public.
The farmer aud merchant Is not asked
| whether his business is profitable when the
| tax levy Is made. He IN 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.
m the state should exercise an authority
] over n corporation IA fixing It's tolls and
throw around II other restrictions that
would make Improbable the operation OF
| the system. It's value would be thereby de-
/ creased, and II would be right To consider
| this fact I'm hxing the value OF the proper.
| IS. The state has never yet legislatcd %
| oppress bankrupt or destroy the railroad
corporations and has only used It's power "a
prohibit oppression and extortion against
| those OF its citizens. who were unable. ex.
| ccpt under the law. 60 protect themselves
| / speak now OF the methods OF taxation
There should be but one rule and one meth.
| Cd I'm order 10 create an equality before the
taxing law. There may be a difference n
II fha manner Of iafarn2iniuer The "a In. NJ Az