The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1917-02-09
OVERLAPPING INDUSTRY.


rich. They inevitably descend along
the scale and are generally shared in
some proportion by all. When Excess
sive burdens Of taxation emphasize the
competitive disadvantages of any CON-
munity for any branch or class of bust
ness that community will invariably
suffer a decrease In the Industrial de-
velopment and prosperity of all within
its boundaries.
In many sections Of the country re-
ports show that Industry Is often sub
jected to continuous and unreasonable
burdens of taxes In one form or an
other. This condition is due in part at
least to mistaken public attitude to-
ward industrial operations or a preju-
diced, ignorant or Indifferent opinion
on the part Of public officers and politi-
clans. The history Of industrial com.
munities where such burdens are i'm.
posed, however, Is the best evidence of
whether such policy pays anybody.
Two manufacturers in similar lines
OF business, one operating a plant In
Massachusetts, and the other located In
Connecticut, were recently comparing
notes. They discovered that for every
500 In taxes which the Connecticut
plant pays per annum the Massachu.
sets plant was paying $1,000, or ten
times as much. The answer to this sit
uation Is that Massachusetts, has been
falling behind In the percentage Of
growth as an Industrial state compared
with some of her neighboring commu-
mites where industry Is not so often
aimed at by burdensome, unnecessary
and unreasonable laws.
The following open letter by j. w.
Powell, president Of the Fore River
(Mass.) Shipbuilding Corporation, ad-
dressed to the employees of that com.
pany in a recent issue Of their family
magazine" The Fore Rivcr Log, pre-
sents In a fair way the average bust
ness mans view on excessive taxation
of industrial plants:
"What is good for Fore River is good
for Quincy, and what is good for Quin-
cy is good for Fore River.
1.-THE officers and employees Of this
company and their families make up
more than a quarter Of the population
of the city. Their interests are the
same as the interest Of Quincy and of
the Fore River Shipbuilding Corpora
ton.
'This company's business is building
ships. which brings us into competi-
ton with companies building ships In
other States. Anything that Fore River
must do in this community that other
companies do not have to
do in their cities will. in the long run.
hurt us.
To-day there are more ships to be
built than there are yards to build
them. When the war Is over there will
be more shipyards than there are
ships to build. Then the yard that
builds the cheapest will take the con-
tracts, and the yard whose costs are
highest will discharge its men.
"The other big shipyards do not pay
big taxes. Some Of them pay no taxes
at all. II you own house and rent It
you add your taxes into the rent. II
you rent house you pay the taxes
when you pay your rent. SO the COM
pany must add its taxes when 1t sells q
ship.
"Such an assessment and such taxes as
have been levied against this company
this year in Quincy. which Is as much
as the combined cost Of its new hos
pital and club, hurt 1t and will hurt
you. 1t Is not fair to increase this COM
pany's assessment 90 per cent and to
Increase its taxes nearly 90 per cent
this year as against year ago.
"You know that a great part of the
money spent In improve
hents has been spent to make Fore
River better place to work. There
IRE still many departments needing
new buildings. new Mushrooms, new
locker rooms, and many other improve
ments to make this yard the kind of a
yard YOU and WE both want it to be.
"We expect to pay fair tax, but
will not pay an exorbitant one. This
matter Is of interest TO You. Think 1t
over.
"(Signed) ]. w. POWELL,
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