The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1912-01-13

ment OF any corporation the same has
been duly investigated and the prop
erty placed at cash value by the board.
Much Detail Work.
In the year 1907, In addition 10 the
regular work OF the board, a transcript
of all mortgages filed for record with
In the state, was secured and the same
classified as resident, nonresident,
bank, insurance, building and loan,
trust, etc. the total amount being over
500, 900. This i'm itself required a
very large amount OF detail work. The
object i'm obtaining this information
was To place some reliable data before
the legislature in anticipation OF a
change I'm the law relative TO the as
sessments of this class OF property.
Within the last six years the commits
sion has twice made an appraisal of
all the property in the state. The first
was made for the state board OF equal
ization of 1906. and the second for the
same board which met last year.
Very few can appreciate the vast
amount OF detail work necessary TO
make an appraisal of all the property
in the state. The last appraisal in
volved the handling of over 100000 rec
ords of real estate transfers, securing
the assessments of the same and the
Notification of considerations as far as
possible, also the examination OF per-
sonal property to such an extent as the
same could be done with the limited
1 la MI
limit. But we are free to state that as
q result of this work the last equaliza-
ton made by the state board Of equal
lzation was the most equitable in the
history of the state.
| The law extending the authority of
the board and authorizing the employ
ment of a greater number OF assist
ants went into effect August /, 1911.
Many people seem to think that under
the new law increasing the powers of
the commission, the commission has
: the right at any time to take possess
sion of the assessment rolls and adj
just valuations at once. This Is not so.
The commission has Jurisdiction only
after the board OF reviews adjourn in
June, and until the tax rolls have been
turned over to the treasurer for the
collection of taxes i'm the early fan.
and the notice must be given in every
instance to every taxpayer whose as
sessment is to be reviewed
Much Property Re-Assessed.
Notwithstanding all the details nee
essary preparatory to the holding of
n review in accordance with the law.
since that date the board has re-
assessed the city of Alpena, the coun-
ty OF Charlevoix. the townships of Lar
kin. Geneva and Warren i'm Midland
county. They have also reassessed all
the iron mining properties i'm the
counties of Marquette. Dickinson. Iron
and Gogebic, and have added to the as
sessment roll since that date the sum
OF SIS. 600, 900.
In 1899 the per cent of personal
property to real estate assessed was
14.66 per cent Through the work of
the commission, as above outlined. the
proportion of personal property as
sessed Is now % per cent. Personal
property has been increased 1872 per
cent and real estate has been increased
over 10 per cent.
Between the years 1905 and 1910.
when the hands of the commission
were practically tied. there was an in
crease in the assessed value of real
estate of $119,795.OOO and of personal
S45.4SG,OO0, or a total of $165. 2SO. 900.
Our commission is continually called
on by the different state departments
Tor information of various kinds. The
recent tax inquiry commission obtain
ed all their data from the files of our
Office, and with IL our most experienced
assistants. This item alone must have
resulted in the saving of thousands of
dollars to the state.
But the above is only n part of the
work of the commission. In addition
TO all this, as a state board of assess
ors. much time and thought and labor
must be given to the appraisal of the
lol railroad companies, 40 car loading
companies, Z express companies and
$50 telegraph and telephone compan-
les.
No Political Considerations.
Without explaining all the details of
the work required In the proper as
sessment of these properties, we will
only give the amount of taxes paid
by these various companies the year
before the commission was organized
and the amount plaid last year.
1901. 1910.
ailroad COM
panies .........$1,4ss.9o s4S4e,sn
Car loaning COM
| panleS ......... o % 900
Express compan-
| ''S .ss.sss...... 1918 3O0Se
Telephone and tel
egraph compan-
les usOS) $3.50. 1882 446.G5S
$L649.175 $4,S57. sG5.
rms represents an increase of ss.-
2OS,690.
In the employment of its help. both
In the Office and in the field. the tax
commission bases its action entirely
upon the qualifications of the person
appointed. Political considerations do
not enter into the question at all We
have now amnno. tho f.....