St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-02-22
SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS.
Aid. Snyder Has Another System
to Offer.

TO OIcr.
Yesterday afternoon was busy day
at the city hall, the various council
committees meeting and transacting
business of more or less Importance.
The water board met, but, contrary to
expectation, took no action in the mat
ter of appointments. Aid. Snyder. who
was appointed as special committee
at previous meeting to investigate the
present system of crediting upon the
tax books the special assessments for
taxes which have been annulled, sub
mitted lengthy and exhaustive report,
which was read with much interest by
the board. aid. Snyder had made
thorough investigation of the trouble
some question, and arrived at deduc-
lions that show the necessity of some
new system. The report set forth the
following:
"In 1890 the amount OF engineers GER
tifcates issued to individuals and
passed through the regular channels
was the sum of S166, 174.65, ana the
amount of money actually paid by tax
payers and thereafter either actually
refunded to them directly OF to others
who collected it for them, the sum OF
S42, 69SS4, and in 1891 and 1892 sums
were as follows: In 1891. paid i'll en-
gineer'S certificates, S107,97S.01, and in
money, $50, 1911: i'll 1892, paid in engi-
neer'S certificates, SS4 SIC. So; in money,
$35, 23S.78. This latter sum, of course,
will be increased when the very large
amount of defaulted taxes are more fully
paid. These amounts do not include
the sum of $40. al 20, refunded during the
same period by the water works depart
ment, a division of which into refunds
of money from engineers certificates L
have not made. Considering the vast
amount of trouble which the taxpayers
have been put TO in calling into the ell
gineer'S office for these certificates, and
the still greater trouble and expense to
which they have been put by reason OF
their paying taxes which should not
have been paid, it seems as If some
means should be devised at once for the
correction of the evil. AS a present
help it is suggested that i'll case of the
annulment of any special assessment
the city engineer be Instructed to make
by such annulment, and that thereupon
the city council pass resolution direct
ing the county auditor to cancel upon
all records where the same appear such
assessments. This is authorized by
section of the city council. This system
would right wrong and remove from
taxes entries which should not be there,
thereby saving the taxpayer the trouble
of calling at the engineers office for his
individual certificate and from paying
taxes which he should not pay. The
auditor is well paid for what he does.
In 1892 the city paid him for furnishing
descriptions for the city s5,940.9l.'
Aid. Snyder further recommended
that the city council in the spring of
each year should determine upon and
order all special improvements, receiy-
ing bids therefor and letting the con-
tracts to the lowest bidder. The city
engineer could secure mis- lists as at
assess the actual costs as aScertained by
the bids against the proper property.
This would obyiate the OvereStimatng
on the cost Of improvements. In the
matter of special assessments, they
should be made payable in sixty and
ninety days, or at the option of the tag
payer, instead of going to the county
auditor for collection.
The time, however, at which these
taxes may be paid at the city treaSur-
er's Office should come prior to the time
at which the city tax list should be
made. to be returned to the county au
ditor in order that all special taxes no
paid and such as are to be paid Ill an
nual installments may be certified by
the county auditor and be paid as the
county taxes. In this way no taxes
from the city will go on the county au-
ditor's book that must not be paid, and
in addition every one will receive no.
tice from one Office of all his taxes that
remain unpaid.
This nlan oOuld undouhted1V he adOnt-
ed without raising money by bonds to
pay contractors, and the balance due
them which would not be paid by de-
linquent taxpayers for the reason that
under the present tax system there is
deficiency from year to year. This de-
ficiency could be applied to carry out
this scheme. and thereafter, the de
ticiency of the previous year being paid.
would approximately make up the de-
ficiency in the year in which the con-
tracts were let.
The whole committee formulated re-
port, to be made at the meeting of the
city council Friday night, recommend
ing the passage of resolution submit
ted by Aid. Snyder, directing the city
council to cancel certain assessments
for the construction Of water mains on
Eighth avenue north, from Penn avenue
to Russell avenue. This resolution will
be presented to the council, and is for
the purpose of making test case of the
properties mentioned. The property is
in La Mascotte addition, and includes
lots and in block ], and lots 2 and
in block 2. The assessments amount to
S354.74. and were annuiled by resolu-
ton of the council passed Jan. of this
year.