The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1910-09-23
Democratic Candidate Hemans
Says They are Assessed at
Only 0ne-Fifth Their
Value
DtlIvIRS KEYNOTE SPEECH
Opposes Tonnage Tax, But Mining
Taxation Will be Made an Issue.
Attacks Osborn and Cries
"Extravagance."

Grand Rapids. Mich, Sept. 2S'-
Lawton IT. Hemans. Democratic nom
inee for governor, opened his cam
paign here Wednesday with a lengthy
address I'm which he outlined his views
and indicated the course he would
nursue during the state canvass. Mr..
Heman's general platform is an at
tack on the Republican party Tor
state extravaganza and general IN
competency In affairs. His cure-all Is
the election of the Democratic NOM
inees this fall.
In his speech Mr.. Hemans says that
two years ago he was mild critic
of Governor Warner, but, that he mas
been shocked at the abandon WIN
which my opponent (Chase ;. OSBORN
has used his vocabulary in descrlp-
ing the governors shortcomings" In
two of the main features OF Mr.. os-
horns platform Mr.. Hemans voices
his concurrence. opposing the tonnage
tax as an unfair means of taxation
and supporting his position with rei-
orence 10 a workmen's liability law'
Instead of advocating tonnage tax
Mr.. Hemans urged that mining prop
erty should be assessed by board Oh
experts. and In leading up to this ne
produced striking figures showing that
the assessed valuation of the minins
properties of the state is not more
than 90 per cent of their actual vaiue'
He showed that the assessed Vaiua-
ton OF the mines Is now S9O'soo'S''
and that the annual product is worth
SS2,62l.s47, while the mines pay less
than s250.000 taxes.
For the purpose of bringing out the
undervaluation OF mining property ne
made a taxation comparison betWee"
the mines and the railroads. Al the
present average rate the railroads are
assessed i'm round numbers on vaiu-
alton of s211, 100000. have a gross
revenue of s57,S25,O 900 and pay In tax
es $4,377,S73. The mining property o'
the state Is assessed on Valuation
of $4,000, 900, its product is Wor''
$50. 600. 900 and II it is paid the aver
age rate now paid by the railroads the
state would get $1,S77, ,15S, whereas II
fact the state gets less pan SzoV'ooV
Reluctant to Accept Nomination
Mr. Hemans voiced his reiuctaho'
at accepting the Democratic nomiha
ton for governor this year, saying
was with a feeling of depression '""
he saw his friends and party asso
ciates take steps requiring him 10 taN
the leadership. He then devoted hin
self to warnerism, assertin ina, u,
cry has now been made to enter az
political evils in Fred M. warner T.
He then attacks Mr.. Osborn on tn
ground that "Warnerism" is coh"'
ton that existed when he was gam
warden under Governor Rich ana h''
run all the way through the b''s
and Warner administrations as wei
and also on the ground that MT. os
born's campaign manager W.
Knox was the head of the -Warhe
literary bureau two years ago.
In his protest against Increased 60
travagance in state affairs MT H'
mans said that "at the close OF ro'
Rich's administration I'm 1885, ever
son of Michigan could point 10 u
achievements OF so years which wei
accomplished MT a total tax levy
$40 O441 ,5ss.55. This sum mas pe'
more than duplicated within the 'e
years that have just passed. Appro'
imateiy s27,OOO.O0O of this sum II.
been the exaction of the last 81
years." In the explanation of this u
crease he said that the number
employees in the senate had increas'
from thirty to sixty and In the hou'
from thirty five and forty TO sixty al
seventy-two.
Took Up Taxation.
Taxation was the burden OF M
Heman.s serious talk. He charge
that from 1897 to 1896 the total tax
raised in Michigan amounted TO ss'
44t.bs9.b5. while from 1900 to 1910 q
taxes raised amounted to S40,4e4'oil
~, and approximately s21oOo'ooo
this sum was raised in the last
years.
Mr.. Hemans said that the Michlg
legislature assembled for its first sc
sion In the present capitol In 1879 a
for the first ten years the number
employees at the capitol was 80 In
senate and s5 to 40 in the house.
the session of 1907 there were e'
ployed 62 In the senate and from
to 72 In the house. He said that
janitors. clerks, etc, drew sS2.ooo