The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1911-01-06

believe that there are classes Of prop
erty listed as the subjects OF taxation
under our general tax law that can
never be taxed adequately or fairly, or
at all successfully, by the ad valorem
method, which might be taxed fairly.
adequately and without oppression
and to the relief OF the general tax
payer IL withdrawn from general tax
alton and subjected solely to specific
taxation.
Then the governor goes on to rec.
ommend in. detail a specific tax on
mining royalties, to be paid into the
states general fund; tonnage tax for
vessels; a fairer method Of taxing
credits, notes, securities, etc., saying,
1T might be well to abandon the at
tempt to assess credits under the gen.
eral tax law and, II necessity required,
to substitute therefor an individual In.
come tax, graduated or otherwise, &C.
cording to some reasonable specific
rate" and withdrawal of mortgages
from taxation. except a small specific
tax for recording, etc.
AS a tentative proposition, a gener.
al corporate income tax IS suggested
for all corporations, except railroads
and other public service corporations
taxed ad valorem by average rate
analogous to the federal corporate in
come tax, to bear equally upon indus
trial corporations, mining, manufacture
Ing, etc, in proportion to income, in
lieu of present state taxes.
Taxation Of Mortgages.
The present law for taxing mort
cages is declared failure. Laws OF
other states are cited, and mortgage
registration system of taxation IL
recommended.
Hazard CT Industrial Accidents.
The laws affecting fellow servant,
assumed risk and contIibutory negli:
gence, relative to rights Of the work
| Ing class, are called anachronisms
that make for cruel injustice and call
for correction. This subject is treated
at considerable length and legislation
is advised to respect the rights of both
employer and employee.
inspection of Mines.
A more stringent inspection of
mines is advised, coupled with the
suggestion that inspection of factories,
workshops and mines should be taken
Out of politics and placed in the hands
of experienced and competent men,
| a
spection Of mines is recommended
Initiative and Referendum.
An amendment to the state constitu-
ton to make 1t possible for the people
to initiate laws and constitutional
amendments by direct vote independ-
ent of the legislature is recommended,
also the right of direct recall.
The governor then takes up the liq-
uor question. saying:
Regulation of Liquor Traffic.
Temperance is matter of personal
discipline and Is more Of a moral and
social problem than political, The reg
ulation of the liquor traffic is largely
political function. The upheaval and
interest in Michigan and over the
country along these lines are, in my
opinion, aimed more at the liquor traf.
fic than at the temperate use Of alec.
holic beverages. The saloon Of today
Is social saDrophvte. Always 1t has
been a breeding place of lawlessness
and culture ground of vice. So ar
rogant had II become that government
by saloon and rule by brewery was the
practical condition.
desire for better conditions exists
|
The average man does not wish to be
fanatical or intolerant. He does not
wish to apply sumptuary laws that
ahridge personal liberty beyond the
| point Of public good But government
by saloon and brewery must go and
artificial stimulation of the traffic in
beer and whiskev must be discontin-
ued. In q degree 1t is true that the
saloon is the poor mans club. But the
rich mans club affects only the more
or less useless few, while the poor
mans club. If low in character and
deceneratinc in influence, Injuries the
useful many. Society can stand
crumbling at the top, for that is the
natural SPOT of decay, but it cannot
survive necrosis Of its foundation
masses. The local option policy is
good and out of ii can come improv.
ing conditions In communities where
saloons exist there should not be more
than one to n thousand population.
The license should be higher, but
more attention should be paid to the
character of the saloonkeeDer and the
conduct Of the saloon than to the
amount OF license.
would like 70 see The question
studied for Michigan by an honorary
commission to be composed Of some
of the most noble, courageous and IN
selfish citizens of the state
This is an age Of stimulation. The
physical tensitv of our civilization
makes for It. The quantities consumed
in this country alone OF alcohol in
various forms, opium, cocaine, tea
coffee and tobacco are startling and
transfix with horror when contemplate
ed commanding TIE interest of every
person concerned in the welfare of so
ciety. Over-stimuation is the source
Of disease, pauperism and crime. In
the long run these conditions can be
corrected only by going to the foun
dation of things. Man must not drive
man so hard. Conditions of life for
the masses must be better. Rest for
the weary. food for the underfed. en-
tertainment and respite for those whose
monotony Of life is caused by over
work must he provided, and finer hu
man fellowship must come to prevail.
For Improvement Of Courts.
To accomplish economy and facili
tate justice 7 recommend the passage
of a bill limiting or controlling ap
peals in our courts and especially pro
viding that no judgment shall be Sc,
aside or new trial granted by any
| oourf IF this ctpto In INV caco cfy;1