The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-09-22
TOO BUSY TO ATTEND
STREET RAILWAY COMPANY
DIDN'T APPEAR AT THE HEAR
ING YESTERDAY
HAD BEEN DULY NOTIFIED
Vised the Company over Week
AgO-MOritz Helm Is Heard and
the Case Continued TIL Next
Tuesday Notwithstanding Mill
Values Discussed.

NO decision was reached by the state
board of equalization yesterday as to
the basis of assessment of the street
railway company IN Ramsey and Hen
nepin counties.
The street railway company was un-
represented at the hour set for the
hearing. At the suggestion of Mr.
FGddes MOritZ Helm was heard.
Mr.. Helm said he would not mako
any argument, but merely present some
facts. He said the street railway COM
pany had 240 miles of track in the two
cities which should not be exempted
from taxation. The franchises had been
taxed on a small valuation, according
to the financial statements published
by the company and presented by him
to the board. They made $1,000 900 net
after paying all expenses, operating,
maintenance and legal.
The interest the company paid on its
bonds should not be considered in re-
ducing the taxable valuation Of the
company, any more than the mortgage
Indebtedness of John Doe should be
considered in adjusting his realty
taxes.
Their own figures, he insisted. show
ed that their rOadways and equipment
were worth not less than $4,000. 900.
The company would not attempt to de-
have the matter adjusted, as the gas
company had when the county COM
mlssIOners, by resolution, cut down
It's valuations so as to reduce it's
taxes over $40 900.
Mr.. Fiddes asked if a tax on the full
valuation of this mileage could be sus-
tanned when 1t was a notorious fact
that not single piece of realty in the
cities was assessed at its full value
Mr.. Helm said he thought 1t could
He said the assessors could not make
proper aSSessn ents on the properties
Of the gas and street railway compa-
MES. 1t was out Of all reason to give
them an assessed valuation Of $780,
600 when their gross annual income was
$2,OOO,0O0. He thought $10,OO0000 was
the lowest figure at which the assess
ment in fairness could be put.
State Auditor Dunn asked if these
tracks would be taxed as real or per-
sonal property.
Personal property" replied Mr.
Helm. THE supreme court has so
held"
Mr.. Ffddes said that since Mr.. Helm
had begun his talk he had been inform
ed that the street railway could not be
present, and had asked a continuance
for week. Mr.. Helm could not be
present then, so Friday was agreed
upon.
Emerson Cole said the company
would not be pleased with a hearing
until next week
Mr.. Johnson said they had already
had a weeks notice. He thought Fri
day would be late enough.
Mr. Cole declared that the street
railway company had received no no.
tice of the hearing until yesterday
morning.
Some Of the members thought this
appeared in the newspapers
Clerk Atkins was asked when he had
notified them, and he declared that he
had sent word about a week ago. It
was finally decided to have the hear
ing Monday at 10 a. m.
The remainder Of the afternoon was
devoted to a discussion OF the taxes
on private banks, their moneys and
credits, and similar holdings of stock
jobbers.
This constitutes item 10. and there
seemed to be several discrepancies. evil
IDENTIFY due to inexperienced assessors
confusing the items with those in
classes 20 and q, which are very sim
liar The board decided that where the
total Of the three classes as returned
equaled the return of last year, it would
overlook any discrepancies in any one
Of the items. Where the total falls short
special attention will be paid to the
subject
There was some discussion in the
forenoon over the valuation Of the Min
neapolis rolling mills, which are Just
over the line In Anoka county.
The rural people contended that the
assessment should remain at it's pres