St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-09-08
[Republished from Sundays GlObe.)
HoIsr BY rHE1R OWN pErARD.

HOIST BY THEIR OWN PETARD.
About the neatest instance of overreach-
ing is that which has been developed by the
proceedings of the State Board of Equaliza-
ton during the past two days. The GLOBE
of yesterday contained the report of Fridays
proceedings which showed the following
comparative assessments between St. Paul
and Minneapolis:
st. Paul Minneapolis.
Personal. .s14, 394,743 S14, gee 959
Real. SAG, 49S, $40 $40. 722. 40S
On Friday the state board voted not to
change the assessment of st. Paul or to re-
duce Minneapolis, but in response to ap-
peals from Minneapolis the case was re-
opened yesterday and resulted in the most
remarkable statements and admissions. A
prominent citizen of Minneapolis said that
the assessor up there had based his assess
ment upon the high figures of the ''jobbers
and.speculators in lots" and not upon its
real business value. Mr.. Bassett,
the member of the board from
Minneapolis, claimed that the business
property of that city was assessed on about
the same basis as st. Paul, but their excess
sive assessment was caused by the valua-
ton of property in the additions and out lots
where speculation had run rampant, and fic-
titious valuations had been INDUCED in as a
m cans of booming property.
These were very sad admissions to be
obliged to make, but 'open confession is good
for the soul," and it was manly to make a
clean breast of it and ''tell the TRUTH by ac-
knowledging the fraud which has been per-
petrated by these fictitious values.
There really was no reason for comparing
the two cities, as each one should stand on
its own merits, as independent as widely
separated places like Rochester and st. Cloud.
That vas the view taken by the Board on
Friday, but the consideration yesterday
seemed to be chiefly of a comparative char
acter The desperate extremity in which Min
neapolis found herself, owing to the initiation,
left no alternative but to insist on the com
parison of the two cities as a basis for Sc
curing reduction.
In view of the final action taken the re-
remarks of State Auditor Braden are espec-
tally suggestive. That there may be nc
claim of unfairness the GLOBE quotes from
a Minneapolis paper Gnstead of from its OWL
report the following statement:
State Auditor Braden stated that the total as
sessed valuation of real property in the state is
! $4,000, 900, round numbers, which by law car
be reduced in any event not to exceed pei
cent, or $4,000, 900, which would bring it dowI
TO $780,, 100000 If we reduce the Minneapoli:
valuation 20 per cent, or to $4,000, 600, roun(
! numbers, we have got to raise the balance of the
state valuation per cent. My judgment is tina
Minneapolis is assessed too high, and am will
ing under my oath as an officer to reduce her as
sessment as asked, and spread the necessary as
SeSSDeRt OCer tie remainder Of the state, but St
Paul property is assessed high enough as it is
and it would be unfair to raiseit.
The action suggested by the State Audito
was finally taken and Minneapolis valuation
was reduced 20 per cent As a consequence,
the deficit thus created is ''Spread oger the re
naGi'tder Of the state, !" in the shape of an ad
dition of five per cent. to the valuation of al
the real estate in Minnesota. The taxpayer
of Saltwater, Red Wing, Winona
Rochester, Mankato, lie Sueur
ST. Cloud, Alexandria, Brainerd
Fergus Falls, Moorhead and every othe
town in the state must pay a penalty in tn
shape of a per cent increased valuation
because Minneapolis has been running
fictitious boom in real estate. That is tn
feast spread out before the taxpayers of Min
nesota. Mr.. Braden's statement is authenti
and official, and every taxpayer as he step
up to his county treasurer to pay his take
for 1884 can feel that he is an enforced pun
chaser OF per cent. of the bogus MinneaE
oils boom.