The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1897-08-18


the taxes necessary to pay the expenses
Of carrying on the government Of our
state and municipalities.
Great abuses have grown up in this
matter Of taxation-the small house.
holder or farmer throughout the land
Is called upon to pay tribute for every
dollars worth of valuation which his
property possesses, while the big jobber
Of the city who has pull with the
powers that be are enabled to make
SWORN STATEMENTS that would
send many less influential citizens to
the penitentiary for perjury.
The Twin City Guardian, of St. Paul
Is making vigorous and successful at
tack upon this class Of our Best Citi-
zens by publishing list of the big
houses who never pay their just taxes
and who can take an oath even if it
be perjury with as little remorse Of
conscience as if it was a prayer.
l select one item from the Guardian
which will give our readers some idea
of the manner that this business is
carried on. Noyes Bros. & Cutler.
rated $1,OO0,O0O; insurance on stock.
1897, 100000; amount stock carried
1897, $1,OOO,O00; sworn statement re-
turned to assessor, $4,000; percentage
ior which they paid taxes on amounts
70 oR per cent of their real valuation.
NOW IN order to give this firm the bene.
tit of any doubt that this exposition
may suggest in the minds of our readers
Will say that they are considered at
tne top notch of our "best citizens."
distinguished in financial, religious, So
clal and commercial circles. Mr.. D. r
Noyes being leader in church matters
one OF the leading members and officers
or the Young Mems Christian .ssoo;,
'ioh' prominent members of the soci.
e'y OF prevention of cruelty to animals.
treasurer Of the Society of the Relief
OF the Poor, etc., etc. The glazing in.
oonslstencles of the returns of this
nrm to the assessor is but an examnle
OF what is generally done in "busIness
circles. Now as a moral To oil 49,,
matter, let us consider where the far
mer comes in on this deal.
The local board of equalization is
mace up OF citizens of the locality,
while the state board of equalization is
mace up OF citizens appointed from all
over the state. On this board YOU NAV
find some farmers. What is our RENE
dy? Let us at our Alliance convention
next winter select some good men for
this and every other board or state in
stltutlon and wait upon the governor
and ask him to appoint men represent
ing the agricultural interests of the
state
IL Will only be when this will have
become an assured fact that the civ
business interests will ever be COM
PEELED to pay its just proportion of the
taxes 5
Here Is the list of the state board of
equaIization: 80
First DISTRICT. j. Johnson, White
Rock.
Second District-C. w. .Hacket. St.
Paul (member of St. Paul Jobbers'
UniOn).
Third District. G. Lawrence. Wa
basha
Fourth District-Emerson Cole. Min.
neapolis.
Fifth District tt. S. Peck, Kasson.
Sixth District-Vacant
Seventh District-C. M. Spragua.
Sank Center.
Eighth District-L. Quackenbusch Ia
Sueur
Ninth Observation-Disclosures Anderson.
Linden.
Tenth District-Tosten johnson.
Blackhamer.
Eleventh District-J. E. Cooley, Du-
luth.
Twelfth DISTRICT. L. Filley, Lanes
boro.
Thirteenth District-A. o. Hendricks,
Adrian.
Fourteenth District-Sever S. Stad-
void, Fosston.
Fifteenth District-Warren Patten,
Aitkin.
Sixteenth District-G. C. Thorpe,
Hancock.
Seventeenth District-Alex Fiddes,
Jackson.
Eighteenth District-Vacant.
1t would be we'll for our members tt
write to your representative on this
hoard and ask him to stand firm in
seeking and raising from $4,000, 900
to 100000, 900 of taxable property with.
in the large cities of the state. OF course
we do not wish to have st. Paul sin
gled out alone. We want every dollars
worth of hidden wealth within this
state to be placed on the assessor S
roll, and have no discrimination in fav-
or of the wealthy and influential classes
in our state We will say more on this
subject later.
FROM OUR EXCHANGES.