St. Paul daily globe., 1893-08-12
EQUALIZERS EXCITED.
SOME RED-HoT EXCHANGES occur
BETWEEN MEMBERS.
AUDITOR sURNs THE CAUSE.

Messrs. I4ayaIlee and Warren Take
Decided Exceptions to Meth
DDS Pursued = Burns Stands
for "Going Down the Line"
but Suddenly Changes front
Notes Of Action Taken.
Tine meeting of the board of euuaiiza-
ton was attended yesterday by a large
collection of citizens, who had been
cited to appear and show cause whv
their personal property valuations
should not be largely Increased. After
waiting some time in vain for the as
SCISSOR To appear in response to the les
o ution of the board Oh the previous
day, the meeting proceeded to business
with Aid. Van Slyke in the chair.
Neither the mayor nor assessor put in
aUpearance, although the board was in
session uutl after o'clock.
The session was quite animated, and
tieIe Was considerable friction among
tue members, started by the auditor
VINO made several statements to the
crowded room to the effect that he
could not see why certain persons were
summoned before the board while the
JObberS and others were not called up
for examination as to assessments. He
wanted the board to 20 clear down the
line.
Mr Lavallee replied rather tartiy that
1t Is his purpose TO get at all that are
assessed too low, and that all could not
be taken up at once.
Mr.. Warren and others called atten
tion to the fact that hundreds had been
summoned before the board and that
the effort was to make no d:scrimina-
ton.
AT the instance of the auditor NUM-
Der of those present who had made
sworn returns were excused from being
questioned as to the amount of prop
erty owned.
Vigorous Protest
TO this course was made by Mr.. LayaIlee
ana others, who recalled instances of
some or those excused to having ad-
mitted to owning much more property
than was returned. This was a matter
OF considerable contention during the
meeting, and TO the reiteratiUns of the
auditor to the effect that certain ones
should not be called up and others let
go, the answer was made that The audi
tor had the same right thai other mein-
bers have TO call attention to persons
that are assessed too low, and urging
him to exercise his righ
a tho pnH nf inn
Burns moved reconsideration of the
vote which excused those who had made
returns from being questioned as to the
Same. He was severely taken TO task
by Messrs. Lavallee and Warren as to
his course, and was asked to explain
why he then went back on his very
ardent platform, announced when the
loom was crowded with people.
The auditor made motion that d. C.
Shepard be cited To appear and show
cause why his assessment should not b
increased to Sl0O,000. Other members
added a long list of names of capitalists
TO this and the motion carried, and the
men will be called before the boaru this
morning.
Fun Ahead To-day.
Today will be all important one in the
meetings of the board. 1t is probable
that forenoon and AFTERNOON sessions
Will be held III order to wind up the
business. A great many persons have
been cited tn appear, among them being
several corporations that are asked to
show cause why they should not be
taxed on their capital stock. Prominent
amUng these is the Northwestern Fuel
Company. The county and city at
ham End far
on this point. 1t was stated by County
Attorney Butler last night that the city
attorney and himself had prepared a
written opinion TO the effect that the
Northwestern Fuel company is liable TO
taxation OH its capital stock of S400, 600,
subject to credits for the amount of Real
estate owned and the debts incurred by
permanent iir'"rovemeniS elsewhere
aud other legi IN e debts.
Notes ii Changes
At yesterdays meeting number of
persons were heard relative to their
property, and after warm debates in
some Instances conclusions were
reached as noted below:
The assessment of the West Publish
ing company was left at S33,OOO as
placed by the assessor, which was $500
less than reported by the jobbrrs' union.
The Minnesota Soap company was
assessed at $4,000; ID. j. HennesSy was
assessed at $4,000; WiiburTibblts was
raised from $500 to $1,000; the assess
ment of Frederick DGsScoll was raised
to $1,000; S. S. Eaton was raised 10
$500: j. A. Wheelock was raised to
5000: Snow. Church d Co. were al
lowed to stand according 10 returns
previously made of $3.50; Browning.
King d Co. were fixed at S1S,0 ,010; the
Plymouth and J. l.. Hudson clothing
houses at $32. 900 each. The retur of
James Giliillan was allowed to stand.
The Golden Rule was left at the sworn
return of $4,000. YerXa Bros assess
ment was raised to $4,000. The North
western C0rdage works were assessed at
5000. The Singer manufacturing con-
pany was allowed to stand as shown by
the sworn return. The Drake Mantel
and Desk company was allowed to
stand at $1,000.
Messrs. Lavallee, Warran and Frank
lin reported list OF lots and blocks
leased by the Milwaukee Railroad CON-
pany and the Northern Pacific railroad
company to firms for warehouse pur-
poses. which the auditor was instructed
to put on the tax books for the reason
that they are not used for railroad pur-
poses.
E. j. Hodgson protested against the
Security Trust company being raised by
the assessor to 5000, 600 when the st. Paul
Trust company, which. he said, has
stock worth twice as much. was reduced
to Sl5S,000. Mr.. Hodgson said he
i thought he saw woodchuck in the
woodpile when new company is made
to bear greater burden than an old