The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-02-03
Helm WILL GET A CHANCE.
Method OF Enforcement of Tax
Laws to lie Presented to
Grand jury

Moritz Helm appeared before Judge
Willis in the criminal court yesterdsv
forenoon and ASKED permission to he
aloWed 10 present certain evidence to
me grand jury concerning alleged vio-
latlOnS IN the enforcement of the fax
laws against certain corporations and
concerns exercising public franchises.
MT. Helms formal petition to the
court alleged in substance that gross
Irregularities and violations of the law
nave peen committed in Ramsey coun-
" IN the administration and enforce
ment OF the tax laws of the state and
city.
More specifically the petition alleges
that personal property and franchises
owned py corporations, companies and
partnerships have been assessed in yiO-
lation of law for less than the actual
value and proportionately at a con-
S1derab bly, less valuation than like prop
efty belonging to. private individuals
ana that there are certain corporations
ana companies in the city who hold
certain franchises and privileges from
the city, and by the terms thereof and
under the charter and ordinances of
the city should pay into the city special
taxes and licenses, and that they have
tailed IN many respects to pay such
special taxes, whereby the city has lost
great deal of money
County Attorney Anderson objected
strenuously to the appointment of a,
special county attorney for the investi-
cation of matters that come within his
own province to inquire into. Mr.. An
derson insisted that there was no justi-
f1catfon for presenting the petition
Proceeding, Mr.. Anderson said that he
had heard that people were unfairly
taxed. If that were true Mr. Ander-
son challenged Mr.. Helm to put him
in M Of tI,of -
summon the witnesses and lay the case
before the grand jury. If Mr.. Helm
had known Of unfair discrimination, it
was his duty to have reported it, AS
it was Mr. Helm had delayed the mat
ter until the last moment when the
grand jury was about to submit it's
final report
At the conclusion of Mr. Anderson's
address, Judge Willis said in part:
1t is the duty of every citizen to up
hold the office of the county attorney and
to render any and all possible assistance
to have confidence in his good faith in
dorse his efforts and commend his ZEAL
1t would not be proper for a court to sup
plant him until after competent evidence
had been submitted to the effect that he
had failed to perform his duty and such
evidence is not now before this court 1
commend to Mr.. Helm the performance
or his duty as citizen to appear before
the grand jury and make statement
list of witnesses and suggestion as to
the line of examination which should be
followed with reference to each witness
l also request Mr.. Helm to submit to the
court definite statement or memorandum
with reference to each public abuse with
which he is acquainted I shall then give
5ne grand jury charge from the bench
directing the grand jury to make investi-
cation of such matters. 1 shall elaborate
the mandate of submission, telling the
grand jury to conduct the investigation
along certain lines. and direct them to re-
fer to the court hypothetical statement
OF facts in each case, with a request to
be advised by the court whether upon
such a state of facts an Indictment will
lie or presentment is proper
Mr.. Helm replied that would be per-
fectly satisfactory to him if he were
given an opportunity to present his
evidence to the grand jury.
The court announced that the grand
jury would be adjourned for two
weeks