St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-09-27
A ID RAISING THEIR TAXES.
The State Board Of Equal;za-
ton Besieged by Rival
Delegations.
BOARD FINISHES ITS WORK.
In Session Three Weeks Going
Over Personal and Real r
Estate.

When the board of equalization met
yesterday morning the delegation of
Minneapolis citizens who had been
promised a hearing appeared, headed by
Mayor EuStis. Judge Shaw and ex-Attor-
ney General George Wilson were also of
the party. The delegation Endorsed the
action OF the board in reducing the
Minneapolis valuation. An opposing
delegation appeared, consisting of Mr..
Bull, a farmer OF Richtield. the presi-
dent OF the council of st. Louis Park.
and several other residents of that
suburb. who all protested against the
reduction in the city and the corre-
spending increase in the outside assess
ments. No change will be made by the
board i'll the assessing of the property
in question. The stockholders of tia
Anoka Electric Light and Water Power
company asked, through their represent
alive. c. j. Sykes, OF Minneapolis. for.
reduction in The valuation Of their
plant. He represented that the com
pany was always
Under Heavy Expenses e.
in operating the plant. He was opposed
by City Attorney Giddings, Of Anoka,
and County Auditor Putnam, of Anoka
county. The board. after reconsider
INK The matter, reduced the item under
which the property was assessed 25 per
cent. the reduction asked for being 6623s5.
II valuation on the telegraph and tel.
ephone companies remains unchanged.
The question of the method of cleo
ton OF assessors in the state came upi
TOR consideration. The method EN-.
ployed Is the election by townships in
the state and by village authorities, and
they report to village and county boards.
An opinion on the subject was asked Of
the attorney general. He stated ina
communication received by the board
yesterday as follows:
You request me to ascertain for your
Information the manner in which
assessing officers are selected In several
OF the states OF the Union. Pursuant to
such request, | have consulted 1.-The
statutes OF twelve states, and have the
II to report to yor the following
facts:
The assessing officer is elected, I'm
each Of the following-named states:
Ohio. Iowa. Wisconsin,, Michigan, Indi-
ana, California, Missouri, New York,
pennsylvania. Massachusetts, Vermont,
Illinois. In California, Missouri and
Illinois he is elected by the county at
large, and termed county assessor"
In California aud Illinois his term is
four years, while in Missouri it is two
years. In each of the other named
states. save ONO. he is elected at, .tI,e
annual town meeting and holds his
term for one year. In Ohio an assessor
Is elected for each precinct into which
a township has been divided. In Yer
mont The officer is called a ..lister," and
the electors of the town may select
three, foul or five of such officers if it
be deemed by the electors desirable so
to do.
consulted the statutes of no other
states. and am, therefore. unable to
advise you whether in any state the
Office is an app0intive one.
l am, very respectfully,
H. W. CH1LDs,
Attorney General.
No action was taken in the matter.
but 1t will probably come up for con.
slderatlOn at the next meeting of the
legislature.
The board adjourned about $3.50, all
business having been disposed of. The
members made short speeches in which
they expressed their qualification at the
way The business presented by them
had been disposed of and to the salts.
faction of the districts from which they
came. The board has been in session
for three weeks, a much longer time
than last year. This is accounted for
by the fact n a real estate is only re-
valued once in two years, and this was
the year when it all had to be gone
over.