Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1910-08-18
ADDRESS Of HON. PATRICK /. KELLEY
Delivered at Alma. Friday, August 5th From the East
Porch of the Wright House-Mr Kelley is Michi
gan's Present Lieutenant Governor

| The same questions arose III Mime
sofa as are now being considered III
Michigan. The state of Minnesota
authorized the state tax commission Of
! that state to make an expert appraisal
of the mines of northern Minnesota
The mining companies were required
to show how much ore was taken
from the ground annually They
were required TO show, also, the cost
of production, and the price received
when sold upon the market. From
these facts and from other informa-
ton required the commission was
enabled to fix, within reasonable
limits, from the mines, the value of
] the mining property of Minnesota. AS
result of this appraisal and reas-
sessment by the state tax commissi III,
the valuation of the mines of thar
state was increased from $69,0OO.O0)
to $l94,000,OOO, thus bringing into the
treasury of the state of Minnesota
almost three times the revenue for
merly paid by the mines of that state
The appraisal of mining properties
has been highly satisfactory to the
state of Minnesota and, in my Judg
ment, would be equally as satisfactory
to the people of Michigan.
The state ought to know, at the
earliest possible moment the value
| of our mines.
For many years we CROPPED IN the
! dark as to the valuation OF our rail
road properties but finally an expert
appraisal was had by the state tax
commission, assisted by Professor
Cooley of the University, and now
our railroads are assessed at Us
100000 and pay in taxes between two
and three millions more annually tnan
was paid by railroad property before
the appraisal was made.
! The state tax commission, within
the last few months, completed an APP
praisal of the telegraph, telephone and
express properties OF the state, and
as a result of this appraisal, this class
of property now will contribute IN
the neighborhood of 100000 annually
more than it formerly paid.
We have appraised the railroads, The
telegraph, telephone and express cow
panies with most gratifying results.
An appraisal OF our mining properly
gives promise of being equally graft
tying and important.
Now, am not advocating one policy
here in lower Michigan, where there
are no mines, and something entirely
different in the Upper Peninsula,
where these mines are located. |
have recently visited all the mining
sections of the Upper Peninsula and
at Crystal Falls, Ironwood, Houghton,
Hancock and other mining centers, |
told the people that the time had
come when it was necessary for the
state to know whether or not the min
ing districts are bearing their full
!, share of the expenses OF our state
, government | said to them up there
, that if nominated and elected gov.
ernor, | should set the Wheels in
: motion to find out what the mines are
!, worth BY means OF an expert appraisal
: and that if such an appraisal SHOWED
+ that the mines were under assessel
: it was absolutely certain thai the vaIu
alton of their property would be in
! creased.
| Now, what has this to do with he
present campaign If this wor< /, lC
4 he undertaken, it must be done by the
state tax commission. The state taN
r commission is composed of three men
One of these three retires from the
office the first day OF January. One OF
the others will serve for two years
: and the other for four years. Two
? of the present commissioners, there
fore, will be on the board when this
, work is undertaken. Both of these
men are honest, capable officials. Cue
OF them, however, lives in the very
heart OF this mining district. Ills
+ business is there, his closest friends
, are there, he is mining man, the
p environment of a lifetime has been
mining and it is only natural II as
l sumo that his sympathies may be with
: that region.
! The other member of the commits
! sion comes from one of the agficnl-
: tural counties of the state.
: The next governor, therefore, will
have the appointment OF the thlro
; man on the state tax commission ano
= he will hold the balance of power.
' The Upper Peninsula has candi-
! date for the governorship and it is
5 claimed by him that he is to receive
r the solid support of the entire mining
| district. His candidacy has been en-
: dorsed by the board of supervisors OF
Houghton county, a large percentage
= of the membership of which are
= officers and employees of the mines OF
;, that county Under such conditions
! in the event of his nomination and
5 election. the state might wake up later
/ on to find that not only one member
e but perhaps two members of the state
2 tax commission had leanings toward
the mines. And this, too, at a time
Y when it is the purpose of the state
r to determine the value of the mining
e property of that region. leave it tc
e you TO say whether or not such &
E course would be wise or prudent
= Now, one thing more, Michigan i:
e great and prosperous largely because