The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-08-04
CHOCK- 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 a Single Dollar.

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 to
work so far has been confined to the reading
of the names Of the taxpayers and the rails
ing of the amounts at which they are as
sessed.
There is little room for mystery about such
very simple procedure. but the work ard
attitude, even the apparent interest of tae
board In the proceedings is changed the in
breaks into the sacred precincts of the council
chamber where the sessions are b ing held.
There has not yet developed a single matter
Of Importance in the reviewing that has besn
done. The members of the board, from tie
august a. mayor, at the head of the table to
nothing to say of what has been done ex-
cept that it is routine.
Yesterday the board met at o'clock. the
mayor In the chair A newspaper man asked
II there was anything Of Importance to be
considered, and was assured that there was
nothing. The fact was at the time we'll
of the assessment of the Gas Light company
had been slated for 4:30 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 not
present and later when The G l o b reporter
asked Harry Hardick why the matter had not
sioered that Mr.. Kenny 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, as on previous
Gays, was devoted to the list of little fellows.
The clerk of the board called the name of a
for the current year, one of the members
gave the amount for last year, and as gen.
eral thing-when the reporters were present
some one suggested that it be raised to last
years figures. Of course 1t never happened
that the amount of the assessment for the
current year equaed that of last year. Oc
casionally one taxpayer would come in with a
kick One man came in and made protest.
He was told that his taxes would only amount
to $1.29. He said he knew it and that it
was too much, he had special assessments to
Gentlemen" said the mayor, 81 think the
assessment should be reduced" 1t was SO
the knowledge that he would only have to
pay a single round dollar, instead of the ex-
orbtant sum Of $1.29.
Here is a 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 Weyerhaeuser, assessment, s., 500;
raised to Sc 500.
D. c. Shepard, assessed at 100000 raised to
$50 900.
Fl. P. Upham, assessed at $4,000; raised
to last years figures, $14, 50O it being re-
marked that Mr. Upham had suggested
raise to $4,000 last year.
Fanny S. Wilder assessed at $21 900; raised
to s23 500.
And it went all the afternoon
At 500 the board was still in session and
engaged in very heated argument when
o 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, as though he had been
doing it FOR a week.
'Umtararum. $725." said the wise Mr..
Bourne.
Move it be raised to $780," said Mr.. Har-
dick. getting in the game. 1t was carried
by the time the newspaper man had got to
the table and somebody moved to adjourn.
The proceedings on the entrance of the news
paper man would be called, vulgarly,
stall"
In spite of the protests of the members
of the board that 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 $701 600 Last
year the assessment fixed on was ST. $50 OOO
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 when
there were no newspaper men in sight-if,
indeed, it has not already been gone into
pretty thoroughly