The Saint Paul globe., 1897-04-28
BOARD OF ABATEMENT WRESTLES
WITH THE ARBITRARY RAISE
OF VALUATION.
INSIDE BUSINESS PROPERTY.
COIrNTY ATJDITOR sULLIVAN's CURA-
TIVE ACT HAD A FEW LINES
ATTACHED
HE DIDN'T KNOW WE'RE THERE.
ouextton of whether Reduction Can
BE Granted Referred to
ZOIIman.

Assistant County Attorney Zollman
was engaged yesterday in. preparing
decision on an important question
which was submitted to him by the
board Of abatement. The decision or
opinion Mr.. ZoIlman did not care to
give out in advance Of it's presentation
to the board this morning, but the
facts are given herewith, and far
idea of what the decision will be can
be arrived at by perusing them.
In July. 1896, the board Of equaliza-
ton of Ramsey county, consisting OF
Mavor Doran. County Auditor Sulli-
van. County Assessor Seng, Assembly
men Krahner and Thompson, Aid.
Bigelow and Bell and County Commls-
sioners Wright, McCarrOn, Morltz ana
Ness. met under the law to equallze
the assessment rolls prepared and sub
mitted by the county assessor. The
law provides that the board shall meet
on the third Monday in July and re-
main in session four weeks. The Ram
sey county board met July 20 and helu
sessions up to and including Aug. 10.
On the last mentioned date the board
IT is alleged passed a resolution ralS-
ing the valuation Of real property on
East Seventh street, between Wabasha
and Jackson streets; Robert street, be-
tween Seventh and Fourth streets, ana
Sixth street, between Minnesota ann
Robert streets, 20 per cent. This raise
on the valuation was in the neighpor-
hood Of 100000 over the figures re-
turned by the county assessor on the
particular property. The reason Ior
this arbitrary raise in the valuation or
realty in this particular section OF the
city. it is claimed, was owing to the
board having reduced the valuation
of property in the city in the aggregate
$500, 900. Under the law the board can
not lower the total amount returned by
the assessor, but is allowed to equallze
IT. Finding that the amount was in
the neighborhood of $500, 900 less than
the figures returned by the assessor,
it is claimed the board Of equalization
picked out good district and raised
the valuation 20 per cent in order to
even the figures up.
After the adjournment Of the board
It was discovered by the property own
ers on the streets mentioned that they
had been lifted in valuation. An eA-
animation of the record of the board
brought to light the fact that this raise
had been decided upon a day or so
after the time Of the board to sit under
the law had expired. Attorney Nor
itz Helm was employed by the three
score property owners, who felt they
had been illegally raised, and applica-
tion was made to Mayor DOran to have
a meeting of the board of abatement
called and the matter adjusted by the
increased taxes being abated. County
Auditor Sullivan objected to this and
attempted to have the illegality Of the
extended session of the board of equal
ization fixed by a curative act. In
order to carry out this programme d
bill was prepared at the request Of the
county auditor and introduced in the
legislature by Senator Sheehan. The
bill, which is printed below, reads as
follows:
Be it enacted by the legislature of the
state of Minnesota:
Section 1. That all acts and proceedings
of county boards of equalization and with
respect to the equalization of the assessment
of the property in the respective counties as
contemplated by section 1852 of the Laws Of
Minnesota, 1894, be and the same are hereby
in all things ratified, confirmed and legalized,
whether said acts or proceedings were had
within the time limited and specified by said
section or not, provided, however, that the
the corrected list shall have been prepared
and filed by the county auditor of the county
by the time and as specified in section 1854
of the said statutes.
Take effect at once.
There were several meetings before
the judiciary committee of the senate,
to which the bill was referred, and it
was finally decided to recommend it
for passage. The bill passed, but the
curative act looked for by the county
auditor and the other members of the
board of equalization, was ruined, for a
copy of the bill as signed by the COVER
nor, shows the following prOvisO added:
Provided, however, that this act shall not
apply to or effect any increased amount upon
the valuation and assessment of any real
property raised and increased by such board
of eQualizations at their sessions and meet
fngs had after the expiration OF the four
weeks from the third Monday of July the time
limited by law for the sessions and meetings
of boards of equalization, and provided that
this act shall not in any way restrict the
power or jurisdiction now conferred by law
upon boards Of abatement.
Monday morning Attorney Helm,
armed with certified copy of the
curative act including the proviso,
which was not prepared by County
Auditor Sullivan, appeared before the