The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-08-04
CHOCE FULL OF MYSTERY
PROCEEDINGS OF THE BOARD
OF EQUALIZATION
to County Auditor Sullivan Was
Discussed Quietly - Some Sam
Pies Of How the Work Is Carried
on-One Mans Taxes Reduced
From $1.29 to n Single Dollar.

YAH PA.>0 ~ IL DOIldTs
The mysterious close corporation known as
the Board Of Equalization Of Ramsey county
Is still doing business. Up to date the board
has worked many days at SO per day per
member, and has managed to lay up quite
surplus upon which to work when it comes tn
cutting some of the assessments Most of the
work so far has been confined to the reading
of the names Of the taxpayers and the rais-
sessed.
There is little room for mystery about such
very simple procedure, but the work ard
attitude, even the apparent interest of the
board in the proceedings is changed the in
slant that a taxpayer or newspaper man
breaks into the sacred precincts of the council
/ chamber, where the sessions ing held.
There has not yet developed single matter
or importance in the reviewing that has BEEN
done. The members of the board, from tie
august mayer at the head of the table to
cept that it is routine
Yesterday the board met at o'clock, the
mayor in the chair. newspaper man asked
If there was anything OF Importance to be
considered, r and was assured that there was
known to The G o be man that the matt
Of the assessment of the Gas Light company
had been slated for 430 o'clock. The members
would not admit it to be the fact. mo t of the
members at least When the time came for
considering the matter Aid. Kenny was not
present and later when The G l o b e reporter
been taken up he was told that it was con-
sidered that Mr.. Kenny was interested In
the gas company assessment, and wanted to
be heard on it. Consideration had been post
poned out of consideration for him.
Most of the work yesterday previous
days, was devoted to the list Of little fellows.
| The clerk of the board called the name of
taxpayer, Deputy Bourne gave the assessment
| for the current year, one of the members
gave the amount for last year. and as gen
eral thing-when the reporters were pres Mt
some one suggested that it be raised to LIST
years figures. OF course it never happened
that the amount of the assessment for the
current year eQualed that of last year. Oc-
casionally one taxpayer would come in with
kick. One man came in and made a protest.
He was told that his taxes would only amount
to S1.29. He said he knew it and that it
was too much, he had special assessments to
"Gentlemen." said the mayor. st think the
| assessment should be reduced" 1t was so
reduced and the man went away satisfied in
| the knowledge that he would only have to
pay single round dollar, instead of the ex
orbtant sum of $1.29.
Here is sample Of routine figures that
| came up within few minutes. and the meth
cd Of their disposal:
Quong Gin shong assessed at $4,000; raised
| to So 400.
Frederick ,Weeyerhaeuser, assessment. $500;
raised to Sc 500.
$4,000. ''ep''N l''eSS'N F''''''' iA'S'u ~
to last years figures. $4,000, Il being re-
! marked that Mr.. Upham had suggested
| raise to $4,000 last year.
Fanny S. Wilder. assessed at $21 900; raised
to 1923 500.
And so it went all the afternoon
At 500 the board was still in session and
engaged in a very heated argument when
G o b e man entered. The argument was
dropped at once. Deputy Bourne caught his
feet first at the sudden cessation of the talk
and knew instinctively that somebody had
come in. Without looking up he resumed the
calling of the names, though he had been
doing it for week.
"Umtararum. s725." said the wise Mr..
Bourne.
.'Move it be raised to $780," said Mr.. Har-
dick. getting in the game. 1t carried
by the time the newspaper had got to
the table and somebody moved to adjourn.
The proceedings the entrance of the news
paper man would be called, ivulgarly a
stall"
In scite Of the protests Of the members
of the board that none of the corporations
had been considered yesterday it Is known
to be fact that Moritz Helms communica-
ton to Auditor Sullivan was read yesterday,
| as was the letter that was sent to Mr.. Seng.
They even talked little about it and incident
ally found out that the assessed valuation
this year had been returned at S701 900. Last
year the assessment fixed on was 81 $50 900.
No information could be had as to when TIE
corporation taxes will be taken up. 1t was
evidenced by the manner of the members
that it would probably be taken up wien
there were newspaper men in sight-if,
indeed, it has not already been gone into
pretty thoroughly.