The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1902-12-26
FINANCE Of State
Auditor General Makes Radical
Changes in His Report.
MUCH OMITTED: SOME ADDED
Receipts Total $7,07e, 429 21-unusuaI
Satisfaction In Transactions of Tax
Division-New Tax Law Stands the
Test-Favors w. v. Telegraph.

nual report of Auditor-General Powers
submitted to Governor Bliss Tuesday,
Is document of unusual importance.
In preparing 1t the auditor-general
deemed 1t advisable to eliminate a
large number Of tables heretofore pub
lished in the annual reports Of his
department. The information was aot
Of general public interest and was
largely a matter of bookkeeping, the
details Of which are open to inspection
OF the public at any time.
There has been added to the report
q number Of tables not contained in
former reports, showing salaries and
expenses Of various boards and institL-
tions.
The receipts of the state treasury
from all sources during the year were
$7,079,429 81; disbursements for all
purposes, $6,253,141 81; balance at
close of fiscal year, $3,453,S11 IA.
Delinquent Taxes.
The transactions of the tax division
were unusually satisfactory from the
standpoint Of collection of delinquent
revenues. The amount paid into the
division during the year was $500,
5555 "a, against $407,95S 81 the previ-
Gus year. The local taxes collected
amount to $440,534 80, against $272,-
900 62 the year previous.
The tax law has passed the expert
ment stage and has proven it's value.
II any amendments are to be made
they should, in the opinion of the aud-
itor-general, be made solely for tie
purpose of perfecting the system and
not with intent to change the system
itself.
The Inheritance tax law has been
the source of considerable revenue TO
the primary school fund.- but as it now
stands it Is contradictory and cumber
some and many of it's provisions have
been variously. interpreted. This has
caused annoying delays in the settle
| ments of estates. Examinations made
Of probate files throughout the state
| by representatives Of the auditor-gen-
erals Office have resulted in gratifying
| increases in the. amount reported co..
| lected.
Specific Taxes.
A total of $1,S92,347 II in speci &c
taxes were collected during the year
from railroads, express, telegraph, tel
| ephone, insurance and other con-
| panies, the railroads paying 81 AGO.
| 434 62. The opinion Is expressed that
| the taxes collected from telegraph and
| telephone companies are not at all
commensurate with their properties
and business in the state. The amount
paid by the Western Union under the
law providing for appraisal by state
board was $15,711 40 in 1898, and In
| 1902 only $4,311 20. These companies
are, under the present law, taxed 3
per cent on their gross receipts with
in the state 1t Is observed that eth IL
the Western Union was paying an ex-
orbitant tax under the old law or that
it is not now paying anything like the
amount that should be required of il.
1t Is suggested that the law be SO
amended as to provide for the pay-
ment by telephone and telegraph COM
panies of tax equal In amount to an
| average rate upon their entire prop
| erty within this state.
Cost of Education.
Since the organization Of the state
there has been appropriated from the
support of educational institution s.,
| IJ,OIU % lOI tue SuppOIJ VI Juc III
sane, and S7,213,244 OIL for the support
of reformatory institutions and pris-
ons.
The outstanding bonded indebted
ness on account of Spanish-American
war bonds is $416,300, and the amount
of money in the state treasury avail.
able for the payment Of these bonds
is $473,311 SO. In all probability the
funding commissioners will take al.
vantage of the option contained III
the law and retire these bonds next
May.