The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-02-06
ST. LOUIS COgNTY'S KICK.
1t Wants Local Home Rule on Mine
Taxes.

The Reeves BILL providing for the
assessment of the valuation of the
mining properties in the state by the
state board of equalization, came I'D
last night before the meeting Of the
axes and tax laws committee Of the
house, and, although not much progress
has been made, it is clear that the
committee will not be unanimous when
it comes to report back to the house.
If the sentiment Of the delegation from
the head of the lakes can be taken as q
criterion, the people of st. Louis coun
ty are satisfied with the present condi-
tlons under which the mining proper
ties are taxed, just as any other real
property.
The Reeves bill will change this by
delegating power to the state board
which the citizens of St Louis believe
should be left with the local board of
equalization.
Representative George R. Laybourn
appeared before the committee, Of
which he Is member and said he be-
lieved his people considered the gen.
eral principle of the bill, that of taxa
ton on assessed valuation, was all
right. He further believed in that
part of the bill providing for afffdayits
from mine owners and managers as
TO number of Mines ore in sight ore
shipped annually, selling price, cost of
transportation, extent and Vaule of
improvements, machinery, ETC., aus be-
ing both necessary and valuable for the
purpose of arriving at the proper val
uatton for assessment. But he did not
approve that provision Of the bill which
places the entire matter of assessment
with the state board Of equalization.
and wholly ignores the county board
and county officials, as being an inIus
tlce to the county and entirely unWar-
rsnted. 1t was alleged, he said on
the other hand, that the state board
would be best qualified to do this work.
owing to the fact that the local men
would be likely to favor home tnstitu-
lions, and, moreover, that county Off
Gals and town officials would come
more directly under the influence Of
the powerful mining corporations. All
this Mr.. Laybourn strenuously objects
to-, and cites that local assessors are
likely to be more competent. because
OH the ground, are obliged to answer
directly to the people Of the county.
and that no exception should be mads
to the rule in all other branches of
taxation, where the county action gets
to the state board before finally opera
tive. The point was made that st.
Louis county would see to 1t that the
taxation Of the mining properties would
be equitably made. for the very reason
the nine-tenths Of the tax levied goes
to the various county funds. while but
one-tenth goes direct to the state.
John Owens, clerk of the district court
In st. Louis county for many years
and prominent resident Of one Of the
ranges, came down from Duluth to ap-
pear before the committee.
Mr.. Owens spoke along the same
general line as did Mr.. Layborun, and
his remarks were made on knowledge
gained from close acquaintance with
the conditions surrounding the de-
velopment of the mines He pointed
out that as last year was the first
when mines were assessed and taxed
under the present plan since the repeal
of the tonnage tax plan. 1t was rather
difficult to arrive at an accurate vaiua-