The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1906-05-12
IS THE MOST UNJUST
REQ. caIbraith Says TAXATION OF Railroads
Is Most Unjust

"Our law. ss IL stands. for the tara.
tion of RAILROADS Is the most unjust
law in the United States" said Re-
preventative w. J. Galbraith OF
Houghton. Galbraith's name is at
tached TO the punctured equalization
bill which the supreme court has re-
Gently killed.
The state tax commission cannot
supervise local assessments. That
means that the percentage of actual
value at which property Is locally as
sessed will steadily decrease. and the
average rate TO be levied against the
railroads will proportionately and as
steadily increase. "
Then you would probably favor the
separation OF state and local taxesf"
was suggested.
by all means. And | would also
return TO the old specific system OF
taxing railroads on their gross eatn-
ings. ii Ii were left TO me More
ridiculous even than the assessment
of railroads under the present law is
the assessment OF mines on the al
vslorem system. We have properties
on the rolls in Houghron county which
have never turned out shovelful of
ore. and which are problematical
affairs entirely. sanity would tar
mines on their actual output. but that
doesn't seem TO suit ne. The Upper
Peninsula has been indicated in the
attitude IL took in the first instance In
opposition TO the ad valorem system.
The correction and readjustment of the
old system would have accomplished
the financial results the reformer,
wanted and would do 1t now.
THE United States supreme court
has decided that Michigan can collec
every cent OF revenue out or tbs rail
roads or the mines or any anything 1
chooses IL we intend to do that, le
us be manly enough to say so. and qui
this farce OF a unifom rate OF taxation
You may have a uniform rate by tn
arrangement OF arithmetical figure
but you cannot have a fair rate wit
railroad property assessed somewher
near cash value and general propert
left to shift for itself.
lone OF the greatest problems on
constitutional convention will have b,
; fore 10 will be this disposition and co
n lection of state revenues. Our who
q taxation system needs revision. III
Q separation OF state and local tax
u would certainly result in more elast
e and equitable system and incidents
IS w. would make it possible for 4
a auditor general 10 do his work wi
% about ten clerks instead Of one hundr
4 and forty.
rs The diversion Of the corporate
= taxes from the primary school inter-
fund will undoubtedly meet with sol
oe opposition. The cry will be raised II
k the teachers salary should be prote
"a ed So ii should But IL the poo
s. of Michigan appreciate the services
a school teachers they will.show it wi
rs ont waiting for the state to step
ne and take the lead. II doesn't seem
make any difference in the Low
Peninsula OF Michigan at least, IA
mucn money there is in the local sch
n fund, the teacher gets the short end
no il The teachers in the Lower ~
Nv insus Of Michigan are worse paid h
al any other class OF teachers in the w
10 tern states. How do you like that
n the pride Of Michigan
K. In my opinion, IL some OF the 10
an school districts had 10 worry lii
r. about their school funds they wol
>, probably rise to q higher appreciat
OF what good school and a z,
teacher are.