The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-04-27
HELME WOULD
ABOLISH STATE TAX
Lenawee- Statesman Tells How Ex-
penses Could Be Cut and
Revenue Boosted.

A few plain. unvarnished truths
about the state of Michigan. hot ones
right on the bat. were passed out by
the honorable Jim Helme. Lenawee
statesman, lawyer. editor. banker and
farmer. In an address on THE Tax
specter,' before the Detroit Credit
Mems association. in the Pontonar-
train. Tuesday night. lie advocated
the abolition Of the state tax and told
how he would accomplish it.
This year we have several candi-
dates for governor" said he. They
are going around the state telling you
what ails Michigan, and promising to
remedy her Ills in the event OF their
election But they don't tell you how
New. I'm not candidate. SO ! am
free to tell YOU how | would go about
1t.
II believe the state tax ought to
he abolished entirely. Other states
have done IL. and II could be done
here. The situation resolves itself
into two very simple business pro-
positions: Where can We cut down
expenses? and How can we increase
our revenues?
Tine present state tax is about So
30 per cent, or about SS6S. 1888. Now.
taking up the first proposition, where
can be cut down expenses? In 1908
The state appropriated sl55,s0O for
military purposes. The state was
amply protected in 1900 with an APP
preparation of $50 .665. and | believe
$50 900 could be cut from the sum
asked this year without injury to the
states interests.
The agricultural college appropria-
tion could be cut $4,000. For many
years this college did not draw dol
lar from the state and got along very
nicely with the federal appropriation
ana he income IL derives from land
donated by the government For the
University OF Michigan. $663.2S7 was
appropriated in 1908. Out OF 5000
students in the university. 2.230 ~
them come from other states and for
eign countries Why2 Because the
University OF Michigan charges them
4 tuition fee OF only $50 as against
$3.50 charged by other institutions OF
the same standing.
II Is a grand philanthropy for the
state OF Michigan to undertake 10 edu-
cate the whole world. but it Is not
good business. don't believe We can
afford To bid $95 head for the priv
elege OF educating Japs and Chinese
at the expense Of the people OF the
state. The appropriation for the
state college OF mines could also be
cut $4,000.
Next | would abolish lot OF use
less Offices | would abolish the OF
fee oi commissioner of mines. which
was created as sort of compliment
TO the Upper Peninsula when IL saved
the DAY Tor Gov Alger on one occa-
siap,-l would abolish the state oil and
salt inspection departments and the
fire wardens. The oil inspectors were
created years ago. when gasoline was
waste product and the tendency was
TO mix gasoline with kerosene, Since
then the auto has come and We are
pa !ing a lot OF inspectors fat salaries
To climb upon oil wagons TO see that
John ID. Rockefeller is not mixing g.
cent gasoline with lj-cent kerosene.
Salt inspection is farce. and the ire
wardens are useless.
Eow. BY the means | have outlined
we could raise $500 600 OF our S4,-
600 900 taX We could easily make mp
the balance by increasing the fran
chIse fees Of corporations, increasing
the tax on life insurance companies.
BY ,evyine a specific tax on the output
of our mines and by consolidating the
boards Of control of our elemoysonary
institutions | would also tax the pro
fessions. There are lot of useless
laSyeFs for instance. Let them con
tribute SIS To 500 apiece 10 the state.
An interesting discussion followed
Nh. Helme's talk which made de
cided nit with the credit men.
The association authorized the ex-
ecutive committee TO select delegates
to attend the national convention in
New Orleans in May and the delega-
ion was authorized TO invite the con
vention 10 come to Detroit in 1911