The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1911-12-16
TAX INQUIRY BOARD
MAY CHANGE FRONT
tits Said TO Be likely TO Give up Corporate
Excess Taxation Plan

Excess TAXATION ran
A Lansing dispatch says that there y
general impression that the commits
sion of tax inquiry will not directly
recommend the adoption OF a scheme
of taxing the corporation excess. So
called. for providing state revenue. but
will advise the strengthening OF the
mowers of the state hoard OF tax com
missioners 10 require the taxation OF
corporations at cash value Tor ooth
state and local support
This will not mean that the commits
sion has abandoned the principle, put
that the commission is willing TO sng
cest the thorough trial, under I'M
proyed laws and with added power. OF
the present taxation system with
view OF determining whether that can
be made efficient as well rs Tor further
consideration by the people OF the
matter Of separating state and local
taxation.
II is believed the commission VIII
inform the legislature that by taxing
the corporate excess for state purposes
sepa .ation can be brought about ana
also that the primary school tund. u
shifted TO state support, will provide
adequate revenues for the expenses OF
the state government. To this will be
attached strong recommendation the
wise ones are guessing. that the state
board OF commissioners be required 10
, value corporations and report their
figures TO local assessors for taxation
purposes,
1t is presumed that TO this will be
added data showing what the commits
5 sion believes this will yield in add
I tjopal valuation, but whether the com
D mission will urge the enactment OF 9
Q law prescribing how corporations are
: co be valued. Is not known that Is, nc
one seems to have a guess as TO whether
4 il will advise that the law require the
t separation of the tangible and intan
J. vibl. values or whether II will he
Q simple direction that these institution
Z be assessed at cash value.
In connection with the new stat
n activity relative 10 corporations Their
n has been considerable discussion Their
2 Of the ACCESSIBILITY of combining al
= state control over corporations into on
It bureau. IL is pointed out that at pre-
, sent corporation reports and articles 0
incorporation are filed with the score
tary of state supervision over corpora
tions-thst is. all lpublic service COZ
porations-is vested in the railroa
commission. while the state board
tax commissioners has supervisor
authority over the taxation OF corpor'
tions
:" The suggestion is made that all the
io matters might better be merged IN Oh
% bureau, with greater efficiently Tor u
u administrative work and less expens
'ol Mention is made of the tendency, mo
~ and more toward an exter sion OF sta
I'D control over these business oyganiz
80 tions and il is urged that with 9
'no bureau under the charge OF the Eta
DOT department. the railroad commssi
ar mr. the tag commission. there could
us better service, less expense and Il
70 duplication OF work, while all featul
z, would then be IN one department
'l3 the convenience Of the public and sta
erl At present, TO certain extent,
the railroad and tax commissions
or working together and are endeavori
ia. TO avoid useless duplication OF W.
lels relative 10 corporation matters, PAL
ms cularly the railroad and telephone c
- porations
iers MANY state officers are inclined
an believe that ultimately the primi
OF school fund will be used for state
OF penses and that the schools be suppC
ga locally, but it is not believed Z
the commission Of tax inquiry Will
'rea commend this radical change.
tue One reason advanced 10y the advoca
tne Of this plan OF separation Tor max
lern the shift in the use OF the prim
lsu- school fund is that it will red
: NO expenses for the general taxpayer.
'un- present the expense OF assessi
"a collecting and disbursing the fun'
pper borne by the general fund.
They urge that If state expenses
paid out OF this fund then that expe
'om would be added while the taxpa.
Is 80 who now toots the bill for collect
), 90 this money which is provided for
nun maintenance Of his school, wonl'
rem relieved of the expense in paying ]
taxes for the eGpport of the school
the expense OF collecting local take
ugn, TITLE compared with the amount
ana state expends annually out OF
general tax levy in collecting
ALE' distributing the primary school tn
tie.