The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1907-01-26
ise and ADJUST TO trus cash value
thcse proporttos coming within In

1urledrtlon arlSns from the fact That
the tiw limits this corrective powers
Of the board 20 the specific descrlp-
tons OF property mentioned In any
given complaint. An instance Is given
TO illustrate this difficulty, the ca9e
being brought 10 the attention VI the
board last summer A corporation
situated within d township was ~
sessel. as claimed by its rclresen1h-
tives. ut practically cash value. Suh-
sequent inquiry Demonstrated this TO
be true. A list OF fiftyfiue pieces ff
real estate In the same township wis
submitted and complaint made thai
such properties WIRE assessed far bel
low cash value. Investigation proved
the complaint 10 be wall founded. n
review was held by tho board and
testimony taken tending TO show that
the balance Of the real estate In the
township. consisting OF farms, wild
lands and timber lands assessed az
Sl0i.290 and no higher relatively than
property investigated. had not been
included I'm the complaint The board
was, therefore. powerIess 10 act or
such properties, and as no further
complaints were made II was com
PEELED 60 raise the properties com
planned OF $4,000. while the owners
OF the balance OF the properties as
capped with much less than their just
share OF the public burden.
Another Inconsistency.
An even greater inconsistency and
Injustice OF the existing law is pointed
out by the board IL Is that In case
OF complaint under this statute inves-
tigation may disclose the fact that
compiainant's assessment may be CO..
cessive only In comparison with, that
OF other taxpayers, The fact being that
hts property In asscssud at only 70 per
cent Of itB true cash value. while that
Of other taxpayers II assessed nc only
90 per ccnt of such value. The COM
piainant has lust cause for complaint.
but. the question 10 how is this In
eqmlity % be adjusts1 The section OF
the law allows the board but one
standard OF valuation, which IN cash
value. Another section limits its ac-
lion In the case cited To the complain
ants property alona Shall the board
raise complainants assessment TO 100
per cent and thus force him IN pay
SO IL per cent more taxes than before.
or shall II reduce TO 20 per cent 20 as
Co place IL ON an equitable basis with
the other property. thereby not only
disregariing thr demand OF the
statute, but setting forth In IN Of
fetal record an accup which II has
been condemnins To tho past scven
years
These inequalities and fncunsIst-
enclss. the board urges IN its report,
should be corrected Rcpr sentative
Dust OF Wayne, former member or
the state board. has introduced bill
designed To overcome these difficulties
and restore the powers possessed by
the board previous 10 the enactment OF
the law OF 1905. Although this bill
has the Endorsement OF the attorney
general. the feeling which led TO the
board being shorn OF many OF its
powers two years ago IN still so strong
that II IL doubtful II the bill VIII pass.
Nomination OF Senators.
The popularity OF the movement 20
provide for the nomination OF candi-
dates for United States senator at the
primaries. thus practically insuring
the election OF the senator by direct
vote. and also 10 reduce rniiroad pas
eenger fares in tho lower peninsula
two cents per mile n evidenced by
the introduction OF several bills Gov
erIng these points. II n plainly evil
dent that railroad legislation will cc-
cupy abe center OF the stnte this SEES
sion. IL will be recalled that I'm his
message Governor Warner mapped
out nm extensive program in this con
nectbon- and the legislators appear 10
be anxious to take hold OF the matter
vigorously.
Senator Mackay Of Wayne has In
charge n Joint resolution providing for
the appointment OF a special commits
sion 90 investigate the ear shortage
situation. This resolution contem-
plates the appointment OF commits
sion Of five members, one OF whom Is
10 be n lawyer. one nm experienced chr
service man and three representatives
Of shipping industries. Tho members
OF the commission are each tD receive
compensation az the rate or S25 per
day and their actual expenses are 70
DC paid. They are 10 have authority
to cxamlre the books OF the various
railroad companies and 30 compel the
attendance or Witnesses and the pro
ductlon Of such books az may be de-
sired. Representative Gordon OF Mar
quette has offered somewhat similar
measure Ia the house. IL Ia believed.
however, that whatever investigation
IL ordered will be made by the stand
Ing committees OF railroads.
Constitutional Convention.
The question OF making provision
for constitutional convention 10
draft n new state constitution will
have early attention. Senator Bland
Of Wayne has measure which con-
templates tho ekrtion Of n member OF
the, convention from each OF the 100
representative districts IN the state.
These members are 20 meet for organ
izatiOn May -. and the life or the