The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1911-11-25
TAX COMMISSION
OUTLINES PLANS
lNFORMATIONB SNOW BEING GATHER.
ED ON WHICH TO BAsE ACTION
Mr.. SHIELDS WRITES A LETTER
,ays That the Local Assessing Officers viii
be Given Opportunity to do the
Right Thing.

Property owners ia Iron county have
been interested in the report that there
Is at work in Marouette county mum
Der OF employees of the state tax com-
mission. Some OF the men are ia the
woods making estimates Of timber and
mineral values; some are getting data
from the records and others going over
the tax rolls
IL was surmised that these men were
the advanced guard Of the commission
and that that body intends coming TO
the iron counties as soon az possible TO
make complete valuation OF All the
property in the several counties.
In letter. written by Commissioner
Shields 10 the Marquette Mining
Journal. the information is conveyed
that IL is the intention of the commits
sion TO visit the said counties only in
case the local assessing officers do not
do the right thing in their assessments
next spring The commission en-
ployes are at work now so that the
commission may have data by which
it can Judge il the assessments 10 be
made next spring are right.
comparison of the rolls with this
Information will quickly tell the com.
mission II such is The case.
Mr.. Shields letter is self explana-
tory. IL follows:
IN regard to the work now being
done In Marquette county by our com
mission, ! would say that we are sim.
ply trying to get correct information
as TO how the general property is as
sessed' there. You will remember that
there were fled with the tax commits.
sion afiidavits showing inat the general
property was assessed at one third its
cash value We want to SEQ ii this Is
So and we had 10 investigate.
The work we are doing il further
20 assist the local assessing officers so
That all property may be properly as-
sessed, and thus avoid general review
oy the TAX commission next year. The
mines are at cash value. practically.
anu III is only fair to Them thar all
o'her property should be similarly as
sesseu. IL the assessing officers do the
iair thing there will be no need of the
TAX commission holding reviews there
In regard 10 the review called for
the Richmond mine property would
say that an error made in the original
report TO Finlay by the company was
discovered after the hearing al Mar
quette and as 10 would result in a very
great injustice TO the company we de.
cided To correct the assessment. The
error was simply clerical
Mr.. Shields letter makes IL clear
that there is no reason why the com.
nittee appointed by the Marquette
council A. H. Palmer. William
Mesra and John obertson-sbouId
not go right ahead with their work of
'eyaluing Marquette property, in pre-.
'aration Tor making new roll. one i'm
Vhich the same rule OF value will be
'pplied to all Marquette property saws
he Journal.
" Was suggested after the agents of
he tax commission made their appear.
nee IN Marquette that II il was the
'urposs of the commission 10 make a
omplete roll for Marquette city there
would be NO good purpose served In
aving the plan outlined by the coun.
u carried out, for sne valuaitons fixed
y the commission wonld have 10 stand
y three years ami the commissions
Dll would have precedenoe over tina
no prepared by the Marquette men.
ar. Shields letter shows. said a
~ official 10 whom it was shown
that II we make roll that appeals 10
~ commission. on the basis of the
iowiedge they have obtained of local
nditions. ~ being fair one n win
accepted by that body without any
view. Mr.. Shieldes also makes Il
'ai that tho roll will be expected 10
ow true cash values. This Is what
council has planned. 70 40.
It bas realized that there 4 nothing
DO gained by temphrizing tith this
uation any longer, and ihA Mar
ette might ~ welt prepare a tFne
N value roll yolununtariIy As to
~ and see the comnisson come In
do tho work. The Marquette com.
ttee should be able. because Of ita
trough knowledge Of local condi-
ne. 10 make even 4 more equitable
that the commission bases ls wary