St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-09-09
THE ASSESSMENT STANDS.
Ramsey Jobbers Successfully Ar
que Before the Board.

When Ramsey county was reached by the
state board of equalizat ion yesterday
heated discussion arose over the fact that
the assessment of merchandise showed u
shrinkage of S227,0OO over last year Mr.
Lindeke, the ST. Paul member of the board,
made a statement as to the cause, and
had number of st. Paul iobbers
present to- supplement- his explana-
ton. Mr.. Lindeke explained that the
shrinkage occurred in Districts Nos. 1 aud s.
the wholesale district. He had County As
SCISSOR Harroun to prepare hurried state
ment showing the cause of the shrnkage.
This showed that the wholesale firms of
Frisk. Turner & Co. the Detroit Stove works
and j w. Blabon x Co., besides Il number of
retail firms, had gone out of business. This
represented shrinkage of Sl68.9l5; besides
this, one firm showed shrinkage of $4,000
more He said further that ST. Paul has
grown in other respects, but there has been
shrlnkage in merchandise. The city
showed an annual increase in its
assessable values OF Sl0.000000 a year for
ten years. making growth in ten years of
100000, 600, but ne had been satisfied that her
merchandise had not increased in taxable
value the past year. although the volume of
business may have increased.
G. w. Hackett said we are assessed for
more this year than last. but our merchandise
is not where the increase should belong. We
may have as large lines of merchandise and
do more business in mercantile line,
but there is a shrlnkage i'll values, as in the
case of sugar.
There has been falling Off of 100 retail
establishments in the past year, and business
has been taken up by department stores.
p. IL. Kelly said the shrInkage in sugar was
80 per cent. 1t now bought at four and
three-eighth cents a pound laid down in st.
Paul, aud the jobbers are turning it over to
the retailers at cost price. The shrink
age in other goods is in some
cases even greater. He also said
that jobbers do not store as big stocks of
goods as formerly, but they order from home
manufacturers as much as possible in filling
orders of customers, and therefore do not
come into actual possession OF some lines
of goods that they formerly carried in stock.
j. w. Cooper said the shrinkage in Cali
fornia goods since last year is from u cents
to cents. No grocery house in this city
carries as much stock in point Of value as It
did i'll former years because of the shrinkage
in values, although they handle larger
quantity and trade more.
ID. Il. Noyes said there has been decline
in values of 10 per cent at least He spoke
of houses similar TO his in Chicago, one of
which is assessed at S27. 900. and seven of the
A., largest houses there having an assessed val
uation of a little over 100000, whilst his
house is assessed at $685. 00 George r. Finch
also spoke of the shrinkage in values.
G.. j. Wing, of Goodhue county. Il member
of the board, spoke in favor of raising the
assessment 10 the same amount as last year.
as did also Edward Paulsen, of Brown coun-
ty. Mr.. Lindeke again explained that Ram
sey county only asked exemption for prop
erty that he clearly showed by figures does
not exist, and added that the county has
shown all actual increase in other taxable
property this year.
Gov. Merriam said it seemed clear that Mr.
Lindeke had made it plain that st. Paul is
entitled to the deduction of S227,0 900 reported
by the assessor on merchandise. Mr.
Lindeke gave notice that he would consent
to deduction of 10 per cent on liYe stock of
the farmers where reasonable grounds
should be shown, and the board good-nat-
uredv consented TO leave the merchandise
of St. Paul at the figures returned by the as
SCISSOR in view of the fact that her total as
sessment, for all purposes is about Sl,000,000
greater than last year.
L. j. Phelps, of Minneapolis was before
the board and said he wanted 70 be heard
when the board Came to the point of equaliz-
ng the assessment of bank stocks, moneys
and credits. The board made that subject
the special order for Friday at 10 a. In.