The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-09-16
RAMSEY GETS A RAISE
ON THE RETURNS OF ASSESSMENT
FOR GOODS AND MER-
CHANDISE
OTHER COUNTIES CATCH 1T
Five Per Cent Added to the County
Figures - Street Railway Com
pany's Attorney and NORTH Helm
VIII Be Given n Special Hearing
by the Board of EquaIizatiOn-
Lake City Files n Complaint.

A special hearing will be granted the
Twin City Rapid Transit company be-
fore the state board Of equalization
next Wednesday afternoon, in the mat
ter of the adjustment Of the city rail-
way Company's assessment The at
torneys for the railway company, and
Morltz Helm, who filed with the board
on tuesday communication protest
ing against the present low figures at
which the railway company is assessed,
will be heard.
The policy of the board since it's first
session in committee of the whole has
been to raise the assessment of the
country counties whenever it was pos
sible to do so, and, if the board upon
inquiry finds that Mr.. Helms state
ments are correct, a considerable in
crease in the company S assessment
may be ordered.
When the board convened yesterday
morning 1t started on the classification
franchises" The list of counties was
called, and with a few minor assess
ments these were confined to the Twin
Cities.
Cognizance was then taken of Mr.
Helms statement, and the board de-
clGed to appoint special time when
the parties interested may be heard
Richards Gordon thought it might be
we'll to limit the speakers to a certain
length Of time in which to make their
argume ntS
Secretary Cooley thought this a bad
precedent to establish as, in former ses-
siGns of the board, all parties inter
ested in the adjustment Of any assess
ments had been given all the time nee
esSary.
Mr.. GOrdon's suggestion was, he eX-
a a n
eEcy. No action was taken in the mat
ter
A communication was received from
Lake City expressing some dissatisfac-
ton at the assessment of realty prop
erty made in that city. The real es-
tate committee was instructed to set a
date when the Lake City people might
be heard, and if no satisfactory con-
clusion could be reached in the COM
nlittee, it would be considered before
the committee Of the whole on Tues
day morning.
At the afternoon session the board
equalZed the assessment on goods and
merchandise. A great many revisions
were made in the returns made by the
local boards of equalization.
Hennepin's sheets made returns for
$4,8OO,O00 and the figures were unchang-
ed, as the local board raised the re-
turns made by the county auditor a
quarter million and the figures were
somewhat above those of last year
''Hennepin will be satisfied with a
flfteen-cent reduction" said Emerson
Cole.
Don't you think that you will be
lucky if you don't get an increase of
Is per cent?" was Mr.. CoOley'S reply.
The low returns made by auditors Of
northern counties in this class excited
a comment by members Of the board.
''The valuation of the northern cour-
ties has been shrinking for four years
past" said a member from the oppo-
site end Of the state, land I think it
is about time they were made to bear
their burden of the state tax. will
be willing to let it go this year, if they
will do better next time"
Several of the northern counties f1xe
the value of merchandise at less than
$4,000, which was thought by the board
to be entirely too low.
Ramsey county was increased $780,
600 in this class. The rolls showed re-
turns for $3,553,245
81 don't see," said member chow
1t Is that Minneapolis shows larger re-
turns in merchandise than st. Paul"
Minneapolis is the biggest" said Mr..
Gordon.
''You will admit that?" asked a
Southern Minnesota member. But I'll
venture it is the first time you ever
did" he continued.
Mr.. Gordon thought that Ramsey's
assessment should be passed. Mr..
Stadsvold said he thought it was I'M
fair to let Ramseys assessment re-
main the same when they had been
increasing all the country counties.
"We'll let it go at 21a per cent" de-
clared Mr.. Gordon.
81 think it ought to be per cent"
said Mr. Stadsvold. A vote was taken
and Ramsey was increased 5 per cent
or $4,000.
Everything went along smoothly for
the next ten minutes, some counties
getting a liberal increase, while an oc-
casional reduction was made.
Gordon hat" suggested Mr.. Sprague.
'Did you call Ramsey" asks Mr..
Gordon, waking up.
ooh, no, 1 wanted to make bet on
Ramsey's next assessment"
''Well this is a good time to suggest
it." replied Mr.. Gordon quite awake;
''for we will soon reach the RS again,
and you can have anything you want. -
When the legislative clock pointed
to the board called it day and ad-