The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1911-11-27
TAX EXPERTS TO
MODIFY THE PLAN
FINAL REPORT LIKELY TO REC
OMMEND DIVERSION OF PRI.
MARY FUND TO USE
OF STATE.

Lansing, Nov. 27.-Some modinca-
tion of the plans of the expert tax
commission are to be made when the
final report of this body is presented
to the governor. The most radical
modification will be recommenda-
ton that the primary school fund
shall be divided to the general pur-
poses of the state, thus bringing
about separation of state and local
taxes.
when the commission first assem-
bled, both Patrick H. Kelly and Pro-
fessor Adams were bitterly opposed
/ to touching the primary school fund
in any manner. Mr.. Wykes favored
this plan as being the one which
would bring about absolute separa-
tion of state and local taxes, at the
same time assuring a sufficient fund
for the general expenses of the state
because this fund is more likely TO be
something like constant that almost
any other.
The corporate excess plan was the
direct result of the refusal of two
members of the commission to con-
slider any tampering with the primary
school fund. This sentiment has
changed somewhat now, however. The
change was brought about by the sur
prisng demand from every source,
even those sources in which it Mas
expected the primary school fund
would still be held sacred, To divert
it To the general expenses of the state.
Almost without execution the repre-
sentatives from the cities favored this
change but it was not until this week
that an opportunity was had to sound
the sentiment of the farmers.
lnterrogated the Grangers.
This week James w Helme and a
half dozen other. farmers represent
ing the oranges i'm their sections of
the state appeared before the commits
sion. Mr.. Kelley. as has been his GUS
tom. asked each one if he would favor
using the primary school fund for the
purpose of the state. Each granger
except one replied that he would favor
this action. The one who failed to give |
an Affirmative reply was merely doubt
full and would not give negative reply |
either.
From that time on the probable plan
of tho commission was developed /
through the questions asked. As re-
suit of this, it may be said this is a |
pretty good guess as to what the COM
mission will finally recommend.
The diversion of the primary school
fund to the general purposes of the |
state
The guarantee of say 81 per capita
for the support of schools i'm the state.
The taxation of the corporate excess
as planned i'm the tentative report ex-
copt that instead of taxing it at the
average rate, it will be taxed on a
fiat rate OF say. one per cent. The ay-
erage rate is 2.65 per cent.
One Week TO Plan.
Now it was figured by the commits
sion that under the average rate the
corporate excess would produce about
az 600 600 in revenue while the other
So OOO, 900 necessary for maintaining
the state would be raised from the in
heritance tax and the taxing of the
and public utilities ON an
ad valorem basis at the average rate
as are the steam railroads.
Now If the commission as was in
timated by the questions should guar
antee "a per capita for school pur-
poses, this would mean the state would
have To provide a little more than So I
300 900 annually since there are this
year 776,4SS pupils OF school age. II
il is the intention of the commission
as seems likely to reduce the tax on
The corporate excess TO one per cent
1bout half this guaranteed amount
would be raised from. this source and {