The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-03-27
Application Of the Gas Light
Company and Edison
Company for COnsidera-
tiOn Approved by the
Same Men Who Raised
Other Property 20 Per
Cent State Auditor Dunn
Refused to IndOrse the
Action.

The announcement in the Globe
yesterday that seventy of the property
owners of real estate on Seventh, Sixth
and Robert streets would make a fight
on the action of the board of euualiza-
ton In raising the assessed valuation
OF their property 20 per cent, or $780,
600, caused considerable comment.
County Auditor Sullivan admitted
that the facts as stated in the ODE
were correct, although he was very
anxious to have it understood that the
records of the proceedings of the board
which are kept in his office, were open
to public inspection at all times and
could be seen by any one who desired
to.
THE whole thing boiled down in a
nutshell" said Auditor Sullivan, "is
that the board of equalization were in
session a day longer than the time
specified in the laws for the board to
sit. Rather than have any action TAX
en- which might affect or have the ap-
pearance Of affecting the entire levy for
1896, l had the bill, published in the
G o e yesterday introduced in the
senate. The bill simply provided for
the legalizing of The acts of the board
which, it is said, were illegal from the
fact that it's sessions were continued
one day longer than specified under the
law. 1t was simply curative act, and
cne which would prevent any litigation
from arising should parties seek TO
invalidate the assessment The claim
state auditor was not furnished with
or that the report made by me to that
official did not include a copy of the
resolution passed by the board raising
the valuation in a particular section
of the city 20 per cent amounts to
nothing. AS auditor, l am obliged to
transmit to the state auditor an alb
stract showing the valuation of prop
erty as returned by the assessor and
equalized by the board of equalization.
L am going to appear before the Judi
ciary committee of the senate tomorrow
and explain the facts, and / feel conf
dent the bill will be recommended for
passage. and by this means all trou-
BILE averted."
Mayor Doran, who is chairman Of the
board which passed the resolution
raising the property on the particular
streets 20 per cent said the auditor had
informed him that the board Of euuali-
ZatiOn had been in session a day or so
too long, but that this had been done
through an error of one Of the clerks
or deputies in the office. The board.
the mayor said, had reached the time
limit set by the law and found a large
amount Of business still on hand On
the same principle that congress turn
ed back the hand of the clock in the
house the members of the board had
simply adjourned their session in order
to complete the business before them.
One or two adjournments had been
taken that way but the clerk in writing
up the proceedings had, instead of call
ing it an adjourned session, had dated
the proceedings as of the date when
they were had. Owing to this an ar
tempt had been made by the property
owners whose property had been
eQualized by the board to secure an
abatement. He had been called on
and requested to call a meeting of the
board Of abatement. He had informed
the gentlemen who made the request
that this was the duty of the county
auditor and while he would willingly
attend such meeting had neither the
power or desire to call it. From what
he had learned Of the matter the mayor
said he was not in favor Of making any
concessions on the ground that If these
were not made the levy would be at
tackled His idea was that if an error
had been made it would be much bet
ter to stand by 1t than to grant con-
cessions on the theory that If this was
done there would be no trouble or liti-
cation. He understood from the coun-
ty auditor that a meeting of the board
of abatement would be held the first
part of next week and it was probable
that the application Of the property
owners who had raised the objections
to the action Of the board Of equaliza-
ton, would be considered at that time
along with other matters which would
be brought up.
Aid. BigeloW who was a member Of
the board Of equalization last summer
said there was no doubt but that the
resolution increasing the assessed valu-
alton of real property along the streets
mentioned had been passed by the
board. He remembered the resolution
distinctly, owing to the fact that he
voted against the passage Of the same.
Whether it was incorporated in the
proceedings of the board he was not
prepared to say. AS to the legality
or the point raised that the board had
transacted this and other business
after the time which the law said il
should sit, was something he did nor
care to discuss.
Aid Bell, also a member Of the DOard
said he saw no reason why the board
of abatement should take up the mat
ter Whether the abatement was made
or not the state auditor had the last
say and it was very probable that this.
official would not approve of the abate-
ment, even if 1t was granted.
The point raised as to, the illegciity
of the raise in the assessed valuation
Of the real property by the board OF
equalization, owing to the board holsf-
4,~.~ l. l.