The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1905-01-14

This tax q q continuous one and the
real amount involved, or the capital at
stake, SO ID speak, Is the sum OF money
which at interest at fixed rate. OF. say.
five per cent. would produce every year
practically $2.O00.000 as a net income.
Or In other words, the total amount at
issue In the so-called railroad state
cases now before the courts is practic-
ally $40,0O0,O00. The prosecution OF
these cases should be maintained with
the same vigor and be given the same
support that would be furnished by any
great private enterprise which had like
interests at stake.
Sleeping car companies have large
Investments In this state and enjoy large
privileges. but they have not been re-
quired to bear their just proportion Of
taxes. There is no reason why these
companies should not come under the
same general system of taxation that is
applied to other corporations OF like ma
ture; and recommend the passage OF
law which shall place the properties OF
sleeping car companies upon the gen.
eral tax rolls.
Under existing statutes the rate per
mile charged by railroad companies for
passenger transportation Is limited by
their respective passenger earnings. In
the application of these laws, it has been
found that after the earnings of some OF
the railroads have passed the limit fixed
for decrease in passenger rates, and
after demand for such decrease in
rates has been made upon such compan-
les by the proper state authority, the
companies, by reason of protracted liti-
cation, have been enabled to continue
the higher rates for long periods.
In the case of the Grand Rapids e In
diana railroad, the company continued
to collect three cents per mile for more
than three years, by holding the cases
in the courts for that length of time.
During these years the company collect
ed for passenger service at the rate OF
three cents per mile more than $4,000
per year in excess of what 1t would have
collected at two and one-half cents per
mile, the new rate as fixed by law. 1t
will thus be seen that the company made
net profit of practically $24O,0O0 by
holding the matter in the courts as long
as possible.
In the case of the Detroit, Grand
Haven & Milwaukee railroad, the ques-
ton of reduction is still pending in the
courts. 1t is now more than two years
since that railroad company was or
darad nv tho nrnper cfata authority m
reduce it's railroad fare from three to
two and one-half cents per mile. The
profit to the railroad in excess passen-
ger fares is more than $50 900 per year.
While the right of appeal to the courts
cannot and should not be denied the rail-
road companies in these matters, yet
believe that such litigation could be
practically averted, at least that 1t would
cease to be encouraged, IL a law were
enacted providing that whenever the
courts did not sustain the appeal of the
railroad companies in such cases, said
companies should return to the state
| treasury an amount equal to twice the
| excess of passenger fares collected dur
| ing the pending of the cases in court.
Manufacturers and jobbers, and ship.
pers generally, complain of unnecessary
delay in the handling of freights by the
| railroads, both in car lots and less than
car lots. These complaints are suffi-
GENTLY numerous, and the losses in
| volved are sufficiently great, to deserve
| your careful consideration. If, on in
vestigation, the charges are found to be
well-founded, legislation should follow.
Dairy and Food Department.
1t is my belief that the dairy and food
department should be so broadened in
its scope that an opportunity may be
given to foster and encourage the dairy
interests of the state. Michigan agri-
culture is in a transitory condition.
Our farmers are turning their attention
from grain growing. as the chief source
of income. to live stock husbandry,
prominent in which is dairying To my
mind our state should become a great
dairy state. There Is no branch of agri-
culture that will add more to our re-
sources, or bring greater material pros
perity to our people. Michigan has not
kept pace with her neighboring states
In tnlS Industry. WlSCOuSlH no more
favorably situated as to soil, climate or
market conditions. has to-day 1900 pub
lie creameries, compared with Michi-
gan's 23S. Wisconsin has 1,700 cheese
factories, while Michigan has only 1877.
Wisconsin produces annually nearly
| 74,000,000 pounds creamery butter;
Michigan produces less than $1,000, 900
pounds. Wisconsin produces annually
over 90.00O,000 pounds of cheese. Mich
igan little over 100000 pounds. Es-
timating these products at fair price,
the annual income to the farmers OF
Wisconsin is about $25,000,000, while
from the same sources the farmers OF
Michigan receive only $6,700,0OO. 1t is
admitted by all competent to Judge that
the factory system of making butter de-
notes progress in this industry. On the
average, butter products Of much better
quality come from the factory. and they
bring correspondingly higher prices.