The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1912-07-20
GOV. OSBORN WILL ASK FOR A RE-
HEARING or NINE AsSMTS
THE HfPING TO Be PUBLIC
Win Probably Be Held In Iron County
And All Taxpayers May Appear
Before The Commission


ably wrought up over the action OF the
state tax commission and the local
board Of review in reducing the min
eral values of this city nearly a half
million Of dollars The Diamond Drill
contained complete account of the
matter at the time and the result of
the agitation was the formation Of a
local taxpayers association which is
now in process of formation for the
purpose Of defending the rights Of local
FAX PAYERS in assessment matters
The state tax commission employees
were at work in Crystal Falls at the
time that the agitation was at its
height aud Mr.. Horton. one Of the
members Of the party. took the. matter
up with the commission az Detroit and
ne informed the leaders in the tax
payers movement upon his return here
that the entire property Of the county
would be revived sometime in Sep
tember and that at that time the board
would open again the question of the
reductions In valuation of mining
properties and also would investigate
the reductions made for ore shipped
These representations caused the
people to crop any agitation for re.
view and confine themselves simply TO
the work OF preparing for the general
review in September so no protest was
filed either with the governor nor with
the tax commission.
However. the tax commission didn't
stop at lowering the valuation on Crys-
tai Falls mines ;they took similar action
In Gogebic county and In that county
the small tax payers arose as they did
here but took different tack. They
went Immediately 10 the governor
with petition protesting against the
reductions and asked for re-review.
Then came on the Shields Osborn
hearing and the action of Governor
Osborn IN which ne removed Mr..
Shields.
The hield-Osborn controversy has
lead 10 review Of the work OF the
tax commission and the order from tine
governor for the re.review OF the
GOgebic county properties
Last Saturday the matter OF the re-
duction in the assessment on the Bris. |
tol and Great Western extension came
mp and the following regarding the
matter is taken from the Lansing cor.
respondent OF the Detroit News.
1T appears that communication
had been received from o. M. Brown,
the assessor OF Crystal Falls. asking
permission to reduce the assessment
on the Great Western extension. Later
a request for hearing was received
from the owners OF the Bristol mine
who claimed that on account OF a
decrease IN the grade of ore
in that mine, they should be allowed
a reduction in the assessed valuation.
''Mr. Shields, according to the best
information obtainable secured the
of Dr. q. X Leith.
After allowing the assessing officer
Of the township the authority TO re.
iuce these assessments, Mr.. Shields
made his report TO the state tax com.
mission and his action was approved
" the other two members of the com.
ylssion.
This makes i've mines whose assess.
mems LOCAL assessing officers were 4
given authority TO reduce and which I
aggregate more than million and
quarter dollars in reduced assessments. :
However, Gov. Osborn has succeeded i
n getting the commission to hold |
mother review In three Of the FIVE '
'ases and will undoubtedly do the O
anne In his last discovery. I
The article from which excerpts are I
quoted charges DIR. Leith with being h
N employe of the mines in which I
ir. Shields is interested. This state .
nent Is not only untrue but unjust 10 a
9th Mr. thields and DR.. Leith. Mr.. v
ihields has charge Of small explora .
ion, the Baltic Copper exploration. y
shich is practically the old Arcadian. v
,r. Lsith is.a mineral expert employ y
as Instructor In the University of
Wisconsin and has recently become as. q
ociated with the f., J. Longyuar i'm
srests who are exploring for iron ore
. this section Of the country, Dr,
eth is man whose personal in. r
'grity Is above reproAch and ho was !,
mployed by Mr.. Finlay 90 take charge !,
Z fha iron mining and of tha antraiaaf