Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1899-12-21

/ clearly defined. The question was thor
ournly d 5cussed and debated in speeches
and In the press i'm every part OF the
state.
Your rejection at this session of the
Joint resolution for the submission to the
people Of the nstltutional amendment
would he taptamount 70 declaration that
the people are incapable or UNDER t0ndm9
the question Of taxation, even after thor
ough ST idv and discussion IN other
words. il would be Cun.Va's1t 10 con-
fes sion that government ny the people,
through their representatives,. Is a far
Ure.
paying taxes upon value, the same as all
others.
has rever been made by pubic officials.
Sufficient statistics. however, have been
pr 1duced 10 clearly demonstrate that
such corporations are escaping taxation
To a largo extent.
"'Tho following is n table showing in the
first column the number OF miles or rail-
road IN each OF the states of Indiana,
Minnesota. Ohio and Wisconsin; in the
second column the assessed value of rail-
road property in each of those states,
which nearly resembles Michigan in pop
ulation and development; and in the third
column the value mt which Michigan S
railroad property would he assessed II "
were worth as much -er mile as Sucn
property is in the other states mentioned;
III the fourth column the population OF
each Of these states:
There are ISIS miles OF railroad In
Michigan. and the rail- Dads now pay spe-
cihc taxes amounting TO $1036 775 O6.
The population Of Michigan at the
last census was 2,093SS9.
"The average rate of taxation upon all
property In he state. except that paying
specific taxes Is over Der cent.
IF Michigan railroad property is worth
as much per mile rs raHr0 td property .i
Indiana $2ii23 per raile. assessed value),
and If 1t We're taxed upon such basis Of
value at Der cent. the railroads in this
SSH. 500 So; upon the Minnesota basis Of
assessed value ts42 02i per mile) they
would pay $65GJ, 191 6S taxes; upon the
Ohio basis OF assessed value $40. 3o5 per
milo. %.1H1357 so taxes and upon the
Wisconsin basis Of assessed value Si6,
ia per mile). s75o2S32 as taxes.
but even admitting that such Stats
tics are misleading. AMI granting that as
sessment uncu actual cash value should
result in TIE payment by ihh corporations
In question of less taxes than they now
pay. / would esteem 1t a privilege TO be
the first ore to protest against a return
t. specific taxes dpon earnings for the
reason that IL IS not the correct and
jest theory of taxation.
I'm the heat 81 the contest for equal
t9Xation ! have been accused of an un-
reasoning desire 20 make corporation
pay more than their share of taxes.
ut Is not equal taxation to force the
richest corporation 70 pay higher rate
Of taxes than the poorest individual up
on the actual cash value Of their proper
~.
Equal taxation is a matter Of princi-
Ole ana there - no Justice or equity i'm
taxing ore class of property specifically
Upor its earnings ana another class upon
IFS value when DrOpcrtY belongiug 10
both classes an be seen and appraised
end assessed at its actual cash value
You have bccn censured for increasing
taxes by the appropriations passed at the
last session. Without discussing the J:s.
tiCe of such conSurC. IL must be plain 10
YOU that railroads and oth1c corporations
paving specific taxes. pay no part OF that
Increase. Tile rate Of their taxes is fixed
As the burdens of supporting the gov
eminent grow. they contribute nothing 70
the increased EXPENSE For Illustration
railroads now pay no share of extra tax
alton made necessary by the recent war
at is we'll for yOu To remember that
there are only three 90 states i'm the un-
ion i'm which railroads pay the taxes upon
eernings. Respectfully submitted,
III 5. PINGREE.
''GOVgrpor