The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1910-09-10
TONNAGE TAX QUESTION
First instaIIment OF Statement Issued by the
Committee Appointed TO Present the
Mining Side Of the Case.

MinHtk Siue o. the case.
An effort 10 being made in this state
to create sentiment fayoring the imro-
sition OF tonnage tax for State pur
poses on the iron aud copper mines OF
the Upper Peninsula.
These mines are now taxed ON an al
valorem basis. the same as all other
classes OF property in the State The
contention OF the the advocates OF n /
tonnage tax for the iron and copper |
mines is that these properties do not
pay the proportion Of State taxation
which they should be compelled to
bear.
There ID In fact no ground for such
an assumption. An honest effort TO
ascertain the truth will convince the
unprecedented inquirer that the iron and
copper mining industries OF the Upper
Peninsula have borne. and are now
bearing. their full share and proper
ton of the expense OF State admins
tration
The following facts and arguments
accompanying them are submitted iu
the confident belief that there is no
class Of voters in the State of Michigan
who desire TO nave any particular in
dustry given special immunity from
taxation, or that IL should be overbur-
dened with an excessive or dispropor-
tionate share of the State expenditures
to meet which all interests should con
tribute equally.
We feel sure that the people of Mich
igan believe unequal taxation 10 be
unjust taxation. and that whatever
sentiment may exist in favor OF ton
mage tax for the iron and copper mines
is founded on misconception OF the
relation between the iron and copper
mining industries and industries OF the
state, and want OF knowledge re-
gsrding the extent TO which the iron
and copper mines are contributing to
he maintenance OF the State Govern
ment and our State institutions under
the present system OF taxation.
lt has been openly announced by
those who are advocating the imposi
tion of tonnage tax that it is their
purpose 10 compel the mining indus
tries OF the State to bear a larger pro-
portion, If not the whole, of the bur
den OF State taxation. and that thereby
those who are urging this plan will be
relieved from State taxes This scheme
il SO unwarrantable, and its effect
would be- SO clearly unfair, that we
feel II is not necessary TO offer to the
people of the State Of Michigan any AT.
gument against it, other than its OWL
manifest absurdity and injustice We
believe that such a sentiment can exist
only in the minds of very few citi
znvs OF the State OF Michigan. who's,
self interest and cupidity lead then
into the position OF attempting to fore,
their neighbors 70 pay for them theil
own Just obligations
The attempt to create sentiment il
favor OF tonnage tax upon the indus
tries mentioned seems TO be especiall,
directed TO the farmers OF Michigan
and the hope Of It's proponents is tina
they may be able TO enlist that elemen
Of voters OF the State In It's support
We believe that the Michigan farmer
cannot he led into any act OF iniustic
towards any particular class Of citizens
or towards ans particular Industry
and that trey will not give their SUI
port to any proposition the injustice {
which becomes apparent TO them
In pursuance Of such attempt, n
following resolution was adopted d
the annual session Of the State Grang,
held at Traverse City in December
1909
Resolved, That the Michigan Stal
Grange, in annual session convened
Traverse CITY, urge the enactment
such laws by the legislature Of Mich
gan as will result in the assessment
all copper and iron mines and mil
properties in Michigan upon the san
al valorem basis ~ at the present tin
and in addition thereto that tomas
tax lso-calIedl shall be assessed upC
all copper and iron produced and min'
in Michigan as follows
One cent per pound on copper NJ
ten cents per ton upon iron ore.
f''Such tonnage tar should be al
and payable on the first day OF Jui
! each year for all copper and iron mine
during the preceding year, and that
that time the amount OF the state u
paid upon the ad valorem assessmei
| OF the preceding year by any indi
] idual or corporation shall be deduct'
from such tonnage tax. II such ad VI
loren tax shall be less than such TOT
mage tax but IL such tonnage tax TO
paid by any individual or corporate