The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1915-01-09

some real gOvu
I'm controversy with Editor smith |
of Calumet, Editor Baldwin OF the
Escanaba journal seeks 10 sustain nis
position in former issue when we
gave utterance TO the sentiment that
those who oppoe a tonnage tax over
look one good that would result from
1t w. that # the mining companies
found the tax too Cumbersome they
might let their property revert % the
state and he says in his last issue
we happen to know OF one little
ZINE that paid over $500, 600 III
royalties within "a space OF about six
years. If the state had owned that
/ mine and had leased it 10 the operating
company the whole people would nave
] benefited from the royalties paid
Mr. Baldwin has the distinction of
being the only upper peninsula editor
who mas given the tonnage tax pro-
position any support and the revelation
which Mr.. Baldwin makes in the
above quotation makes IL easy for one
versed in conditions in the mining
country TO understand why 10 is that
he and others Of our Michigan editors
are led 60 support this tonnage tax
proposition They simply don 9 under
stand the subject of mine taxation,
mine ownership or mining practices
| We say this in spirit of kindness ana
not one of oombativeness for we believe
that if the subject was put TO them go
that they realized that they didn
know the conditions underlying the
subject they essay TO talk upon they
would at once get informed Mr..
BALDWIN is sincere IN his position and
he thinks that his deductions are cor
rect when az q matter Of fact lie didn't
commence at the proper starting
point
Admitting all that Mr Baldwin
say, about the desiraoility OF the
government owning the mineral
properties and sub-leasing them TO
the operators, the question is will a
tonnage tax bring ABOUT such con-
dition2 Most decidedly, NO
A tonnage tax would run only
against the ore mined from the pro.
Ipcrtics II no ore should be mined,
40 tonnage tax would be paid We
suppose that Mr. Baldwin had in
nina the dual taxation when he made
his statement anu figured that should
the tonnage tax make the mining of
ore Improbable and cause suspen ION
] Of operation the advalorem tax would
Z furnish thc Knockout punch that
] would influence owners to- let their
MINES 20 back 20 the stats for taxes.
The fauluness OF this line OF argu'
: ment comes from two sources first.
the mines are not owned by the mining
companies and secondly the scheme
D of taxation devised by the state taA
7 commission taxes cognizauce only Of
/. profitable mines Improbable OF
Is worked out mines pass out OF mining
S property class ana 90 into the class o.
g mineral lands OF the A, b. OF othei
n division, depending upon the pro
. liability OF understandable ore .beiul
< found upon the property.
d The $500, 900 royalty thai Mr.
e Baldwin speaks OF does not 90 10 th'
IS mining companies that money goe
:. 10 the owners Of the property who SOW
y not but never fail TO reap Thes'
e owrers are generally foreign resident
e and they are the men who are sappini
J. the country without paying any tn.
= return on their gains. II Baldwin an'
y his Grange friends would turn thei
!. talents to deyising some law that woul,
wiring from these foreign landlords
: fair tax upon their Michigan gains
n law that would not throw back th
Y burden upon the operators. they woul
y have the people Of this mining countr
D with them heart and soul. The fac
D tnat the mines are not owned 10y tn
= operators is not generally understood
Z by the members OF the grange. Almos
= All Of the IRON mines OF this pcninsul
, are owned by foreign landlords VIII
D escape scot tree from oil kinds q tax
\ alton. The leases provide that IN
! les ,ee shall pay all taxes that may y
I levied against the properties an
I those taxes are charged against tn
Y production OF the mine a' one OF ia