Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1905-01-12
TWO MESSAGES
Gov. Warner Incoming
Gov. Bliss OUTGOING.
Both Favor Primary Reform the Local Option
Flan-.-EConony is One of the Appeals
Made to the Legislature.

requirements, will ask not less than
100000.
The Taxes.
We have, therefore. confronting us
| the problem of tax levy for the two
years amounting to not less than $S,-
| 100000, of which at least Sl.000,000 is
desired for the erection of new build
ings, the extension of present build
ingS, or for other special eXpendi-
| lures.
do not know to what extent fur
Their economy can be judiciously prac-
| ticed i'm the matters of maintenance
and current expense on the part Of the
superintendent and boards of our
state institutions, but it is quite prob
able that Il generous decrease can be
permitted from the large sums they
have thought advisable TO suggest for
extension and new building purposes
Expenditures in this direction have
increased more rapidly than the popu-
lation Of our state, and even beyond
the demands which increased attend
ance at our educational institutions.
or the larger demands upon our asy-
lums and prisons might seem TO ne
ceSsitate.
Our economy should not proceed to
the extent of penuriouSneSs. but as
representatives of the people we must
keep in mind our promise. made in
good faith, that we should conduct
the affairs Of this state along con
sentative business lines. We must
and should act i'm accordance with
what we know to be an existing desire
in the directions which | have sug-
gested. As representatives of the peo-
pie you are bound to he able TO iusti-
fy and explain every item of eXpen-
diture passed upon by you.
Commission's Power.
After many years Of strenuous con
fiict. in which every phase of the
question of taxation was discussed.
il was decided. and popularity decided,
that this great problem should be
worked out through Il state tax COM
mission. 1t would be unwise ut this
time to abandon a work so well adj
vanced and yet SO far from compile
ton. More time and more money
would be required To institute a new
system, with no certainty Of better
results. 7 do believe, however, that
the expense of the present system
should be greatly reduced and that
this could he best brought about and
better results obtained by the reduc-
ton Of the number Of commissioners
from five TO three.
| recommend that the powers Of the
tax commission he curtailed i'm some
respects. With the fixing of the ag-
gregate assessment of the realty OF
the township or other legal subdivis-
ion. the work of the commission
should cease, and the spreading Of
that assessment over the township or
other legal subdivision should be done
by the local assessing officer. 1t is
impossible for any commission or its
employees satisfactorily to examine
every piece OF realty in the state,
and. again. any attempt to make spe
cific assessments or Ia raise or lower
on a percentage or other basis the
property of a township or other legal
subdivision. must of necessity be in
exact and unjust. Numerous instances
of the injustice Of this method Of
procedure are to be cited in the work
Of the commission in the rural dis
hicts of this state during the past
year.
Railroad Taxes.
The faxes assessed by the state Of
Michigan upon the railroads OF the
state. for the last seven years. as
shown by the records in the auditor
generals office, are as follows:
1898 .................... STO.521.90
1890 1890 ..........a..... LODI .126.30
l'W' ........................ l.24O 3D.
1901 ...#..=.............. l,3o6.SoI.o6
1902 OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. | .4S3 9O6.9S
1903 .................. 3.2SS, 1906
1904 Observation-Disclosures. 3,7jG. 1912
The railroads. contending that the
taxes for 1903 and 1904 are grossly eX-
ceSSive. have begun injunction pro-
ceedingS in the federal courts To re.
strain the state from collecting them.
If the contention of the state shall be
upheld by the courts. there will be
collected, in addition to what has al
ready been paid under the old law,
S3.575, 74G.G0.
This tax is a continuous one and the
real amount involved. or the capital
at stake. SO to speak. is the sum OF
money which at interest at n fixed
rate, Of say , per cent. would produce
every year practically two million dol
lars as net income Or i'm other
words the total amount at issue in the
so-called railroad state cases now be-
for the courts is practically $40000,0OO |
The prosecution Of these eases |
should be maintained with the same
vigor and may be given the same sup
port that would be furnished by any
great private enterprise which had /
like interests at stake.
Sleeping car companies have large !
i'm this state and enjoy /
large privileges. but they have not I
been required TO bear their just pro !
FIND MAN BURNED AND FROZEN I
UPsets Hot Stove and Then Lies