St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-07-12
MEN AND MEASURES.

1t is understood that G. W. Field, of Mime
apolis, will be candidate for the appoint
ment of manager of the Minnesota exhibit at
the Chicago exposition. The selection of
Mr.. Field-if the board of managers are to be
guided by a desire for ftness-would be
singularly appropriate. For twelve years
this gentleman has made a business of expo
sition work-at Louisville. KY. Minneapolis,
st. Joseph, NO., Dallas. Tex, Jacksonville,
Fla, and elsewhere. Mr.. Field will be
remembered as the efficient assistant of
General Manager Palmer of the Minneapolis
exhibit, iR1sS7-s. He was manager ofthe st.
Joseph exposition in 1899.
1t would seem that the board could har div
do better than to secure the services of Mr..
Field, as he is the only practical exposition
man residing i'll the state whose services can
be obtained. 1t would not be out of place for
the board TO remember that they are eXpeud-
ing $4,000 of the peoples money and it is
expected that this sum will be used to the very
best advantage in the interest of the state.
Mr.. Fields past experience would be of the
greatest benefit to the board in settling de-
tails, while his wide acquaintance among ex-
position people would add materially to the
success of the exhibit The board should
consider all these facts before making the
final and definite selection.
-
II. II. Herbst contributes an interesting
phase Of the recent Porter census SANDER in
st. Paul. He says:
The people of st. Paul have grossly
wronged Mr.. Porter in the severe criticisms
heaped upon him recently. Mr.. Porter in
the kindest of spirit mas attempted to give us
rousing boom, which we in our short
sightedness, have failed to see.
Mr.. Porter has demonstrated i'll q marvel
Gus and scientific manner that a city which
has the largest expenditures in the United
States has by far the smallest tax rate in the
Union. To mathematically arrive at such q
remarkable result is an achievement which
must live forever.
1t Is of course self-evident that the only
way in which we meet our expenditures is
by taxation. The rate of taxation of St.
Paul has never been over 20 mills. The aver
age during the past ten years has been about
Is mills. But remember that this is upon an
assessed valuation of less than 80 cents per
dollar on the actual value. The assessor
aims to list property at 50 per cent of the
actual value, but he usually appraises the
value in the first instance far below what it
will bring in the market. Personal property
is rarely listed over 3J per cent of its actual
we pay 10 mills on the dollar of the actual
value of our property; it is a little less than
this.
By the way of compari son with other cities
which are assessed at full value, or nearly SO
Il copy from Ely on Taxation" for 1887
which is an average year,, we find:
Philadelphia, on full valuation, pays 1872
mills, or 81 mills on a like assessment as st.
Paul. Cincinnati is taxed 25.4 mills; Balti-
more, 20. II mills; New York, 21.6O mills. The
other cities published by Mr.. Porter are very
similar to the foregoing, varying few mills
one way or the other. III other words, if
own $1,000 worth of property, L would be taxed
$40 in st. Paul; SIS 80 in Philadelphia; S24.5
in Cincinnati; $50. n in Baltimore. and S21.60
in New York. What more does an investor or
property owner care for. The question he
asks is: How much of burden will my
property have to bear? The answer is: You
will be taxed in st. Paul about one-half of
what You will have to pay in any other city
of its size in the Union. No man who has
ever lived in st. Paul has ever had to pay
over ten mills per dollar on the actual value
OF the property which he has owned, l chal-
lenge any other city of any size to show a
similar record and the foregoing figures can
be proved by any one who wishes to take the
pains to investigate.
1t follows. then, that if our yearly expenses
are from three and half to five million dol
lars per annum, and that we pay only 10
mills tax per dollar, the actual value of our
property, that st. Paul has either the greatest
wealth per capita of any city in the United
States or that we have a population of over
100000 If Mr.. Porter's figures are true he
asy1emonstrated beyond doubt that st.
Paul is the most rpmarkahlp and most de-
sirable city for capitalists and others
to live in. If we can, with lavish hand,
scatter S., 100000 a year amongst laborers,
officials, etc., and meet this generous expense
by the payment of only ten mills of taxation.
Mr.. Porter. in demonstrating and proving
this fact deserves our heartiest gratitude.
1 have heretofore opposed heavy expendi
ture. but shall never do so again, for it has
been clearly proven that the greater the ex-
pense the less the taxes.
ST Paul Mimi. July 10 1901