The diamond drill., 1919-09-27
PLEA FOR TAX CHANGES.
lcontInued From Page one.l

had anything 70 say to the commits
sion and Supt. G. f. Lawrence and
Thomas Conlin OF Crystal Falls. adj
dressed the commission asking that
some attempt be made by the commits
sion TO study the problems presented
by the peculiar conditions existing
In the mining districts these special
conditions being first the injustice
being done non-mining property by
the annual adjustment of mineral
property without taking into consid-
/ Grafton the non-mining property de-
pendent upon II. Secondly: the par
alysis OF development OF the entire
mining district by the present theory
OF taxation which extends TO diamond
| drill hole results on unstable prop
critics the same factor that is used
ON producing properties Mr.. Conlin
explained how local property is being
/ Disseminated against in this annual
review OF one class OF property; also
how the policy Of the tax commission
has made 1t practically impossible for
man or a combination OF men OF
moderate means TO attempt explora-
tory work for the reason that the
immediate extension of the tax fig
ures to the unstable property makes
the carrying charges so heavy that
they cannot stand the strain.
Mr.. Conlin asks If il were not pos
sible for the tax commission TO so far
.1nbend its heretofore stif knee as to
call into counsel some of those af-
fected and see If plan OF procedure
cannot be devised which will do
away with this annual contention.
He pointed out that the total amount
OF valuation In controversy this year
was very small, so small that the
state could better AFFORD to pay the
tax charge involved than to pay for
the expenses OF a hearing and that
some settlement of the question that
Will do away with this contention in
the future and thus save the State
the expense would be not only one to
promote harmony, but on that will
save money TO the state as well.
Mr. Lawrence heartily seconded the
suggestion made by Mr.. Conlin and
dwelt especially upon the fact that
the development OF the mineral re-
sources OF the Michigan range has
stopped, due entirely to the policy Of
the tax commission in It's theory OF
taxation. Mr.. Lawrence pointed out
that In his explorations carried on for
his company valuation OF many
millions OF dollars had been added to
Iron county; that the policy OF the
tax commission has entirely changed
the policy OF his company so that they
have stopped all exploration.
Mr. Linton was OF the opinion that
the law which compelled the assess
ment of ALL property at ITS CASH
VALUE precluded the possibility of
the tax commission changing IT'S poll
cy except by legislation Mr. Linton
further stated that he would like to
see any community in Michigan
which was assessed at more than It's
cash value and, in reply Mr. Conlin
told him 10 turn around and look out
OF the window and he could see one
Cthe meeting was held in the super
visors' room OF the court house,, for
Crystal Falls is assessed right now al
more than its value. every piece OF
property In the city Mr. ConIin took |
Issue with Mr. Linton on his state
mcnt tina, Tie law interfered with |
anything being done towards grant
ing relief on undigestible ore proper.
ties He held that the law had moth
ing az all to do with value; that the
question OF value IS left wholly with !
the commission which Is TO say, II a
property has any value; that the ex-
tension OF the factor which Is used to |
measure property which is live
earning money and IS known 10 have
a value, TO a property that is wholly |
dead. unstable and known TO have no |
value of sale because OF its prospect |
i've value. Is a matter wholly within
the province OF the commission; that |
the commission has the right TO say |
what II shall fix as the unit of meas
ure on a prospective where such pros /
pect is wholly dissassocIated from
one OF active value; that in his opin-
ion II the commission would conde-
scend TO study this question. consult |