The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1912-04-26
BOARD OF REVIEW AGAIN
RULES MORTGAGES MUST
GO ON ASSESSMENT ROLLS
Denies Petition of Big Insur-
ance Companies Asking
Exemption
PARSoNAGES ESCAPE TA6
Residences of Bishops Williams
and Foley Exempt-Board To
Finish Work Saturday

Representatives OF the principal
life, fire and marine insurance COM
panies incorporated under the laws or
Michigan. appeared before the board
OF review, Thursday morning, with the
petition that they be exempted from
taxation on s3,500,00 worth or mort
cages on which the specific tax OF one
half of one per cent had been paid.
The board refused the petition as
they did in the case of the trust cont
panies and formal report will be made
to the council, Tuesday night, so that
legal action may be begun, il the COM
panies do desire, TO test the right OF
the assessors in the matter.
III the mortgages can be legally
! placed on the assessment rolls the
mortgage tax law may be declared un.
constitutional by the supreme court,
as it would provide for double taxa
ton on mortgages and land con-
tracts. Assistant Corporation Coun-
sci Barlow, who upholds the position
OF the assessors, has stated in an in
formal manner TO the board that he
does not think the mortgage tax law
constitutional.
Among the companies represented
were the Detroit Life Insurance Co.,
the Northern Assurance society. the
National Casualty Co., the Detroit
Fire & Marine Insurance Co., and
Peninsular Insurance Co. Lawton T.
Hemans, railroad commissioner, ap-
peared as attorney for the last named
company.
The committee refused to grant the
petition of the owners of the McGraw
building to reduce the present assess
ment of 100000. Assessor Nagel stat
ed that he had already reduced last
years assessment on the building by
|, SIS, 700.
Mrs. Maria A. Thomas petitioned
the board to have the personal proper
ty assessment of $4,000 against her
cancelled, making affidavit that her
legal residence is not Detroit but Sea
Breeze, Fla. Mr.. Nagel stated that
the assessors had written to the off,
Gals Of Sea Breeze and had been in
formed that no such person as Mrs.
Maria A. Thomas lived there and that
not dollar in taxes was paid the city
by Mrs. Thomas. The members OF
the board smiled as they turned down
the petition.
The board granted Bishop Williams
request that the assessment against
| his residence at Woodward.ave. and
Stimpson-pl. be cancelled. Mr.. Bar.
low read a decision OF the supreme
court in 1898. exempting from taxa
ton all houses of public worship and
their parsonages. The assessment
~ a
has been paid in the past will be can
lcelled.
A petition was considered to ex.
empt from taxation the land at Wood
ward-ave. and Pingreest.. donated to
1 the Woodward-ave. Presbyterian
church by Mrs. Tracy McGregor. The
land was donated to be used for play
ground purposes until needed for a
church building. The question was
referred to the corporation counsels
Office.
Ernest O'Brien appeared before the
board and had cancelled the assess
ment OF $4,000 standing against the
Detroit university on the building and
land opposite the university building
on Jefferson-ave. The building. is
used for engineering class rooms.
Chairman Field announced that the
board will meet at 10 o'clock Satur-
day morning to discuss the entire
assessment roll" The board will
complete its work with that session
and an effort may be made to have
uniform reduction made on all the
down town real estate, as pointed out
in The Times. Mr.. Field stated that
the board of state tax commission
ers would be present to aid the COM
mittee.