St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-04-16
A TAN REVOLUTION.
The La Due Bill to Get at Hidden
Property

properly.
Senator La Due had the honor and
pleasure of seeing his bill correcting
and strengthening the assessment laws
OF the state go through the senate by
handsome majority yesterday afternoon.
This bill, which is closely patterned
after similar laws in West Virginia and
other states, has for its object the UNI
covering of the hidden wealth of the
state. 1T has been very successful in
other states, and it is predicted that
under this law, if passed, at least $50,
100000 Will be added to the assessed
wealth of the state next year. Under
the provisions Of the La Due bill man
who is suspected of giving all incorrect
list of his personal property can be
summoned before the district court and
there make his statement under oath.
Penalties are provided for perjury. The
house should take this bill up at once
and pass 1t. The bill follows:
The bill amends chapter II, General Stat
utes of 1875; first by striking out the words
verified by his OATH in section Il, chap. IL.
Section II is made TO read as follows:
Ser. II. Whenever the assessor or any
member of the town, or county board of
equalization i'll said assessors district Shall
be OF the opinion that the person listing
property for himself, or for any other person,
company Or corporation. has not made a full,
fair and complete list of such property such
assessor or any member of the town or
county board of equalization of such district
shall make his affidavit before the clerk OF
the district court of that distinct and county
in which the person listing property resides
or has returned such list, setting forth the
grounds for such opinion, and shall file the
said affidavit i'll the Office of such clerk of
the district court, and such clerk of the court
shall Issue summons against the person
SInh affidavit
mons shall be under the seal OF the said dis
tTict court and shall summon and command
such person complaine / of to appear before
said district cOurt on the first dav of the next
general term thereof at the opening of said
ouTt(proyided such next general term of said
district court shall be called to sit III such
county before the third Monday after the
third Monday of July and in case such court
shall not be called to sit i'll such
county before the third Monday aft
er the third Monday in July, then such
summons shall be made returnable before
the judge of said district court at the
court house in said county, or be-
fore the court commissioner of said district
court of said county, on some day prior to the
said third Monday after the third Monday IN
july. there to answer all questions which
may be put to him by the said court or dis
trict judge, or a referee appointed by said
court OF district judge for such purpose, or
by said court commissioner, concerning all
the personal property in his possession or
W
of this act he is required TO list for taxation,
either as owner or holder thereof. or as
guardian, parent. husband, trustee. executor,
administrator, receiver or accounting officer,
partner, agent or factor 1t shall be the duty
OF the county attorney to appear and conduct
the examination herein provided for on be-
half and at the request OF the assessor or per
son making the affidavit herein pro-
vlded for. and without charge thereof.
1t shall be the duty of said court or judge
thereof, or said court commissioner or referee.
TO cause the party so summoned to be fully
and completely examined in regard 20 all
such personal property, and TO keep record
of all testimony taken at such examination;
and this the court or court commissioner
may do i'll open court, or before referee
whom the court shall have appointed for such
purpose. The court. judge, court comms-
sioner or referee so appointed may examine
any other person whom it shall cause TO be
subpPnaed touching personal property re-
CURED by the provisions OF this act TO be
listed by the person complained of. and any
such person or witness who shall knowingly
or Willfully make false statement of any
matter material in such examination shall be
deemed thereby TO commit the crime or per-
| jury. 1t shall be the duty of such court, dis
trlct judge, court commissioner or referee to
| deliver a copy of such examination to
| the county board Of equalization on some
| day before such county board of equaliza-
| tons final adjournment four weeks after
| the third Monday of July, and the said
| county board of equalization shall change
| the assessed valuation OF the property of any
| person, which by the provisions of this act
| the person so complained OF was required by
| law to list, SO that the value thereof shall be
| in accordance with the fact which said
| board of equalization shall deem estab
! lished by the evidence returned to them by
| the court or officer holding such examina-
| ton, and it shall be the duty of said board of
| equalization to assess against all property
| which was not returned to the assessor as re-
! quired by the provisions OF section 10 of this
ant fl,ap ,lort aN- hi on
assessed against such person or property,
and TO further assess against all prop
| erty which was not included in the
original list as provided by section -
| of this act, an additional tax as a
| penalty OF - per cent OF the assessed value
| of such property. The clerk shall deliver the
summons to the sheriff. who shall serve and
return the same ana such summons must be
served at least five days before the day on
which it is returnable. The affidavit herein
provided for shall, as to the duties herein
imposed upon the clerk of the court, be
deemed conclusive as TO the matter therein
stated.
See g. That section nineteen 90 of chap
ter eleven Oh of the General Statutes of
1873 be amended and it is hereby amended
by striking out from said section the words
land in all cases where deductions are
claimed from credits the assessor shall re-
quire that such deductions be verified by the
oath OF the person, officer or agent claiming
the same and the said section be also
dLiclIuGu w StI1hIlS Out tLG NOIdS 81 NtIl-
fed by affidavit
See. L That section twenty-five 29 of
said chapter eleven 11) of the General
Statutes of 1878 is hereby amended by strik-
ing ont from said section the word sworn
Sec s. That section twenty-three (23) of
chapter eleven I'D of the General Statutes
of 1878 is hereby amended by striking out
from said section the words which he shall
verify by OATH
See 6. That section thirty-four (3D of
chapter eleven Q1) of the General Statutes
of one thousand eight hundred and seventy
eight is hereby amended by striking out of
said section the words verified by OATH
Sec. Z. That section twenty-five (25) of
chapter eleven CID of the General Statutes
of one thousand eight hundred and seventy
eight is hereby amended by striking out of
said section the words verified by OATH
Sec S. That section thirty three (3}) of
chapter eleven I'D of the General Statutes
of one thousand eight hundred and seventy
eight is hereby amended by striking out of
said section the words land sworn to-
Sec Q. That section thirty-four CD Of
chapter eleven I'D of the General Statutes of
one thousand eight hundred and seventy
eight is hereby amended by striking ont the
words land verified by the oath Of" and