Charlevoix county herald., 1921-02-11

council, held It's nrSt meeting last
week. Senator Herbert Baker has
been named as chairman of this COM
mittee.
Adjourn for Conventions.
The legislature adjourned on Fri.
day until Tuesday to permit members
to attend the county conventions held
on Monday throughout the state for
the purpose OF naming delegates to
attend the Republican state conven-
ton to be held in Detroit on Febru-
AIRY II.
Taxes on terminal docks would be
turned over to the municipalities in
stead OF the primary school fund ac-
cording to q bill introduced by Rep.
Jensen, Escanaba. These properties
are now classed with transportation
properties, all taxes on which 60 to
the school fund. Rep. Walter A.
Hence, Iron Mountain, has submitted
bill providing 10 per cent tax on
all mining royalties, for local pur-
poses.
From all parts of the state. the
states lawmakers are being urged to
vote only the expenses absolutely nee
essary in the conduct OF the states
affairs. The board OF supervisors Of
Gratiot county adopted and forwarded
to the legislature a resolution which
represents the general demand.
Tax-Paying Ability Lowered.
The resolution states that, "the
prices of farm products have gone
down to less than one.half, on an aver
age, of what they were two years ago;
a great many factories are closed or
running on short time, or with reduced
force, and will not again be operated
except at greatly reduced wages
all of which greatly lowers the tax
paying ability of the state. We
earnestly urge the Legislature to keep
the state taxes down at least to the
level of two years ago. as we be-
lieve that large and steadily increas
ing taxes give encouragement to
those who preach anarchy and disre-
gard for all organized forms Of gov
eminent"
That a difficult task lays before the
legislature can easily be understood
after a comparison of the budget ap-
preparations for the past two sessions
with the proposed expenditures for
1921. In 1919 the appropriations
totaled $34,SO9, 224.0S. an increase Of
$16,O91, 664.75 over the 1917 total,
while this year the various state de-
partments, boards. institutions and
commissions are asking for appropria-
lions totaling $58,3O4 .103.11.
Real Estate Taxed Heavily.
Because of the favorable business
conditions, the large increases of the
past two years met with little protest
but with the readjustment now TAX
ing place. a crying demand for rigid
economy has arisen. Rep. Byrum,
Ingham county, believes that the in.
come Of the average Michigan farmer
will be only 60 or 20 per cent Of the
total of the past four years, while
others predict that the general run of
producers will have only about half
of the average income for the past
few years.
Governor Groesbeck in his inau-
gural message said that with the need
of additional revenue to carry on the
legitimate requirements of the state,
it would be necessary to provide other
methods of raising the money. Prac-
tically all Of the states revenue is
now being raised by taxation on real
estate. Information is now being col
lected on the different methods Of
taxation In other states.
Wants Work on Home Stopped.
Much time has elapsed since the
Legislature appropriated $4,000 fer
the erection of the Michigan State
Training School, at Okemos, a re-
formatory for women over 16 years of
age who have been convicted of
felonies. Only a heating plant and
a bridge have been built, so Rep. Jos.
E Watson, Branch county, has
introduced a bill to sell the 121 acres
acquired and to terminate all con-
tractes on the best terms possible.
Mr.. Watson declares that the state
can better AFFORD to abandon the pro-
ject and suffer a 100000 loss now
than complete the school at cost of
a million and a quarter, for the ac-
comadation of 60 of 20 women pris.
oners.
It is generally agreed that some
provision must be made for the states
women prisoners and considera-
ton will be given to the suggestion to
attach the women's training school to
either the Industrial school for Girls
at Adrian or the state reformatory at
Ionia. This would reduce the cost Of
operation to a minimum.
Mothers Aid Bill Ready.
Senator G. NJ Condor, Detroit,
chairman Of the judiciary committee.
is DESTROYS of giving all interested
women of the state hearing on the
Macarthur amendment to the present
mothers compensation bill, before