Mr. Sawyer's Position

■ Editor Ann Arbor Courier, Dear Sir: - I have receive a communication sigued by Frank Storms, Chelsea Michigan, Secretary of the W. W. Union Farmers Clul), in which he informs me that the club desires I should use what little inflnence the people have giveu me for the following purposes : First - To prohibit the collectiou oí pay íor papers or magazines sent beyond the time oí subscription. Second- -The Kimmis bilí to abolish the county iee systeru. That all fees shall be turned over to the Couuty Treasurer. Third- Senate bilí No. 249 to suppress saloons near educational institutions. Fourth- To repeal the mortgage tax law. Fifth- To repeal the law of gathering farni statistics. I should be greatly pleased if the people of my district wlio take interest enough in any of these questions to do so, would write me their opinión in relation to them. I may say I entertain at present opinions upon these question as follows : First - As to the Kimmis bilí, I am in favor of establisliing for every county officer a salary that shall be sufficient to pay him for faithfully dischargiug the eutire duties of his office and requiring him to collect the fees now established by law and turn thein over to the.connty treasurer. I think something rnight be saved to the people in that respect, although the question is beset with great difficulty and dauger. Second - I think the law as it stands at present in relation to the collection of pay for papers and magazines, if properly enforced will give all the protection needed. At present if the subsciber to a newspaper or a periodical is being sent to him beyond the time for which he has subscribed, all he has to do is to decline to take the paper out of the post office with notice to the post master that he does uot desire to Jonger take that paper, and the United States statute then requires the post master to return the paper or periodical to the publisber without expense to tlie subscriber, with notice that the subseriber has terminated bis subacription. The subscriber is not chargeable with the cost of the paper after he has notifled the post master. I think possibly tliat it is because this part of the law is so little understood that there seems to be something of a demand for further legislation upon that subject. Third- The bill iutroduoed in the Senate Jso. 249 bas not passed the senate and I do not believe it will pass, and therefore lias never reached the position where I can vote for or against it. I doubt, however, the propriety of such a measure. There is great reason for believing that astead ot diminishing it would iucrease tlie drinking habit, forif a limit was fixed, then imrnediately beyond that limit the saloon would be open at every available point, and those inclined to drink, havine been to the trouble and expense of going so far in order to gratify tlieir appetites, would be apt to indulge to a greater extent than, they otherwise would ever think of doing. Not only so, but it would place the younger portion of the community, wlio are still somewhat under the control and influenoe of fathers and raothers and friends, beyoad tlieir immediate notice, and having escaped their influence, and become associated witli persons who are tliere simply for the purpose of indulging the drinking habit, would go farther and be more liable to fix upon theinselves a permanent habit than they would be if they were at home where the influence of the home cirele and the better fluences always prevades the precincts of drinking. Again such a law would relieve Lhe saloons from all pólice restrictions, and would permit them to remain open at all hours, and upon every day iu the week. Fourth - The repeal of the mortgage tax law would be a personal benefit to me, but in my judgraent there is no species of property that can better afFord to pay the tax and assist in supporting the government than mortgages. I am unable to see what benefit our people would derive by exempting that particular specie of property from taxation. At a rough guess in the various townships of our county the mortgagees pay from one to ten thonsand dollars of of the tax. If mortgages are exem.pt from taxation the amount of tax would not bé reduced, but the burden would be trausferred to other property, tliereby increasing the tax upou the already overbuidened huid in order to benefit property tliat can better aiford to pay a Uix than any other property in the state. I hui unable to see how the borrowing classes, at least in our district, woulil be in any way benefited by the repeal of the mortgaee tax law. Interest was never lower than it is today in our vicinity si nee I have been a resident of the state of Michigan. So far as my knowledge extends there is no general or concerted action on the part of the mortgágees requiring the mortgagors to pay the tax in addition to the interest paid. There are a few cases where such a provisión in the mortgage is iosisted upon, but the borrower need not submit to the exaction unless he jileases. Others will lend hiin the money withoi t it. Fifth - Tlie law providing for the farm statistics has already been repèaled during this session and for the repeal of tliat law I cast my vote. Theïforegoingopiuions held by me are in 110 way permanent, but are subject to revisión and change whenever I shall learn that the people of my district desire the cliange, or wlienever I shall be satisfied I am wrong, and for that reason I solicit communication from the people of my district covering these qnestions. Respectfully yours,