The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1902-10-10
TAXPAYERS SAVE MONEY.

TAXPAYERS SAVE MONEY.
Secretary Warmers Showing for the
Administration.
From the Detroit Journal.
Secretary of State Fred Nj. Warner,
talking to The Journal today, referred
to the state tax apportioned to his own
county (Oakland) and said "They are,
in round numbers, s61, 900 this year as
against $50, 900 year ago and $70 900
in 1900. They are $40, 900 less than they
were in 1890 and only three thousand
dollars greater than in 1898, notwith-
standing the four years growth of the
state and county. Another thing that
is OF especial interest to our taxpayers
is that owing to the fact that much
property which has heretofore escaped
taxation, is now on the rolls, the rate of
taxation will be considered lower in
Oakland county this year than for many
years before, Notwithstanding the new
equalization is thirtyfour millions, in
stead of thirty millions, as it was be-
fore"
"This showing" continued the Sec
rotary of state, lis not peculiar to Oak
land county. The people of the whole
state are beneficiaries Of the republican
Legislation of recent years and the
economical, business-like and honest
administration of the affairs of
Michigan's government by republican
officials"
This is state ISSUE" asserted Mr..
Warner, that appeals to the intelli-
gence and the pocketbook of every tax
payer, democrat and republican. The
state tax levy this year is one million
dollars less than it was year ago; the
equalized valuation of property, real
and personal, is higher than before,
because much property is now on the
rolls that the assessors had before
omitted; so that to 80 of every hundred
taxpayers everywhere in the state the
burden of taxation will be lower in rate
and lighter in dollars and cents than it
has been for many years.
u
What about railroad taxation?" he
was asked
''The showing is no less favorable to
the people," said Mr.. Warner The
gross amount of taxes paid by the rail.
roads of Michigan Jan. l. 1890, was
$757, 234.94. This amount has increased
steadily, except for the years 1S93-4-5,
when the whole country was suffering
from the stagnation in business. A
little later came republican legislation
raising the rate of taxation on railroads
and the gross amount paid by those
corporations jumped, first to one million
dollars, then to million and quarter,
and on Jan. of this year the amount
was 81, 4S3, 9O6.S4, nearly double what it
was 10 years ago. During this ten
years the taxation per mile increased
from $113.32 to S167.S5. The benefit of
this increase in railroad taxation,
brought about by the republican party,
is felt by every taxpayer in every school
district in Michigan. The specific tax
paid by railroad corporations goes into
what is popularity called the primary
school fund and is distributed among
the districts according to the number
of children, In 1891 the total amount
thus distributed was 1915, 5S7 50, being
ST. AZ per capita. In 1899, as con-
sequence of republican legislation, the
amount was S1,053, 050.5 the next year
about the same, while last year the
school districts of the state received
nearly million and half dollars, the
exact figures being 81, AGA, 013.30 This
was O5 for every person of school age
in Michigan. haven't the figures at
hand showing the gross amount of the
primary school fund for 1902, but it is
largely increased over teat of a year ago,
the per capita amount being $3.50, as
against SLAP in 1884,"
This is state issue of some con-
sequence. 1t isn't imaginary, nor is it
guesswork. In very many school dis
tricts, yes, in majority of the counties,
the primary school moneys paid back to
the people to help them maintain their
public schools exceeds the entire amount
Of state taxes levied in such districts
and counties.
Here are some more figures that
have direct bearing on state issues:
Jan. I, 1891
State Treasury revenue balance. -. .s5o4, 426ia
Jan, I, 1903
State Treasury revenue balance. a.. .S237, 04666
THE first date marks the time when
the democrats assumed full control in
the second date marks the
end of their administration. During |
that two years the United States gov
eminent paid into the state treasury
s42O, s65.66. If this opportune payment |
had not been received the treasury |
holo t. /