The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-08-05

4 BLOW AT ST. PAUL.
We have no hesitation in declaring
that the policy Of the board Of equali-
cation, including what it has done and
what it has in contemplation, in the
matter of raising the assessed valua-
ton of personal property in this city
will deliver if carried out, the most
serious blow struck for many a year
at the progress and the future of ST.
Paul. We refer, in the first instance,
to the action already taken in raising
the street railway company to $1,000
600 and that of the gas company to
81, 500, 900. These figures are the re-
suit, apparently, of a wild guess at
the value Of that intangible asset
which is included under the term
franchise" There is no desire, or
there ought to be none, in any quarter
that either of these great corporations
should escape it's proper contribution
to the public revenues. But injustice
is injustice, whether it is aimed at a
corporation or an Individual and out
of it there can flow nothing but mis-
fortune and loss. The sums named
seem to be altogether out of proportion
to the privileges enjoyed by these two
companies. The street railway COM
pany pays already a tax on it's gross
earnings, and its assessment was rails
ed last year from half a million dol
lars to over a million. The gas COM
pany was raised at the same time from
$225000 to 500, 900. These valuations
are probably neither excessive nor
greatly below what they should be in
equity. The increase proposed is out
of reason in both cases, but more par
ticularly and indefensibly so in the
case of the gas company; whose fran
chise has but nine years to run; whose
business is open to the competition Of
electric lighting, and whose assess
ment, after being almost trebled last
year, it is now proposed to increase
former
raise. This statement Of the case
seems to us to carry on its face the
proof of the essential injustice of the
decision of the board Of equalization,
We have to consider not only the ele-
ment of justice, but that of public pol
icy. On this larger and broader ground
we desire the people Of st. Paul to
awake to the fact that their interests
are directly attacked, and that this ac-
ton is but part of a general scheme
contrived for political effect; which if
carried to completion, will make grass
grow in our streets and effectively
drive away large part Of our popula-
ton and still larger share of the bust
ness interests upon which the city's ex-
istence is founded 1t is a certainty
that, If this assessment stands. the
rate of gas to consumers will be in
creased. After long agitation. gas rates
in St Paul have finally been brought
down TO the point where it is possible
for people of moderate means to mako
liberal use of this commodity for
heating and cooking, as Well as for H.
Eliminating purposes. Those rates arc
not yet as low as they should be. and
We have had substantial assurances
that they would be cut still further in
the near future. The actual facts of the
finances of the gas company, as fully
set before the public recently, show
that, in order not to earn dividends.
but to prevent a deficit or an assess
ment upon its stockholders, it would
be obliged to increase rates in order
to meet the heavy burdens of taxation
upon an increased valuation of nearly
million dollars.
The effect of this will be disastrous
In both directions. 1t will bear hard
ly upon our people who are users of
gas and who will have to pay this add
ed taxation 1t will not come OUT Of
the Golfers Of the corporation. but will
be paid by thousands of householders
throughout the city, whose living ex-
penses arc already all that they can
meet. On the other hand, it will be
bad for the gas company because it
will mean a lessening in consumption.
All experience goes to show that lower
rates mean consumption so greatly en-