The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-08-17
SIT. LOUIS COUNTY NINE OWNERS
BEAR THEIR SHARE OF
TAXES
WORK or THE STATE AUDITOR.
HIS INDUSTRY RAISED THE RE
CEIP'rs FROM $4,000 TO
100000.
THAT VESSEL TONNAGE LAW.
Mr.. Dunn Says That 1T Did Not Meet
With HIS Approval, but 1t
Passed.

State Auditor Dunn, like a great
many other people in the state, con-
dennis the act of the last legislature
releasing all vessel property, except
that engaged in commerce within the
state, from all taxation except cents
ton of the vessels registered ton
mage. Mr.. Dunn says that when the
bill was introduced in the legislature
it was regarded with disfavor by those
who believed that the state would get
all the worst of it by the enactment Of
such law. Still it was passed, and
the result is that the state gets little
or no revenue from this source, which
ought to be productive Of some assist
ance to the state at least.
Mr.. Dunn was convinced some
months ago that owners of mines In
st. Louis county were escaping from
their just share of the burden Of taxa
ton through the law of 1881, which
provided for the release from all taxa
ton except one cent ton on the ore
mined and shipped. He set about
bringing about change, and the re-
suit is that mine owners have had to
toe the scratch this year. In April Of
thls year Mr.. Dunn addressed a letter
OF inquiry to Attorney General Cnilds
setting forth the laws under which
mine owners were being taxed, and
concluded by asking the attorney gen
eral the following:
VIII you kindly inform me if In your opin
ION, chapter "a. General Laws, extra session
the constitution = -
Gen. Childs replied that it was not
IN accord with the constitution and
then Mr.. Dunn began business. He
wrote to Q. Holden, auditor Of st. Louis
county, under date of May 20, as fol-
lows:
| inclose herewith a copy of the opinion of
Attorney General Childs, in which he takes
the view that the law providing for the paw
ment or mining companies of The tax IF
cent ton In lieu OF all other taxes, is in con-
met with the constitution. You are according
~ hereby directed to place all property both
real and personal belonging to mining com
panles upon the rolls Of your county to
cash value, to be treated and regarded in
all respects the same as property of other
corporations or individuals.
The result was that the companies
were placed on the assessment rolls of
st. Louis county as valued at 1884. 575.
Mr.. Dunn, when advised of this yalu-
alton, wrote the following to Dudley
A. freeman, who is the agent of the
auditor to look after the states min
Ing interest.
note with interest the marked copies of
the range papers which I presume you for
Warded to me. l had hoped that the local
assessor would see to it that mines and min
eral property were fairly assessed just the
same as other property Is assessed but if the
papers state facts l am doomed to disan-
po1ntment. | sincerely trust that the county
BOARD OF equalization will rectify any mis-
takes made by the local assessors and local
boards of review. If any property has been
omitted from the assessment lists I hone the
county ~, Doaro VIII see that it is entered in
tme assessment lists, and any property has
Deen undervalued, I hope the county board
VIII place fair valuation upon it, If the
local board and county board fail to do their
quty' l snail certainly use, every endeavor to
nave the state board of equalization do its
duty. There is no desire on my part to do an
injustice to the owners of mineral lands I
nave no feeling whatever in the matter: my
sole desire is to see that every dollars
worth OF real and personal property IN
the mining regions and everywhere else in
tne state bears its just proportion Of the bur
uehs OF taXatlon, care not what the papers
may say, especially the Duluth papers for
they have treated me unfairly I will do INV
GUY as | understand it, no matter who is
pleased or dispieased. I wish YOU wouId nra
pare me list of the mining properties under
tions.
The result of this communication.
which Mr.. Freeman took good care was
read by those most interested was thai
the owners of mines and mining nron-
ert1es came in themselves and repOrted
the value of their property to be
$l,5Oo,OoO more than the amount the St.
Louis county assessor fixed it at or. to
pc accurate, reported that the proper
Tvs cash value was So, 422, 63S, and this
was raised ~ per cent by the county
board to the sum of $3,149,348 The re-
suit is that instead Of having to paw
70 st. Louis county ssG- taxes about
$ls,G6G as heretofore, the mine owners
this year will contribute 100000. The
state, as matter of fact, profits little
by the change, but the owners of mines
are compelled to share the taxation in
the county where they are located the
same as the owners of other nronertv