The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-06-22
County EqualizerS Want Trust to
Pay More Money.
CONSENT TO 100000 RAISE
THIS IS ON THE GERMANIA,
BUT OTHERS DEMUR.
Some Startling Figures Disclosed
Further Tax Increase Likely For
Ore and Bullion-Another Hear
ing Will Be Had-Values to Come
From Big Taxpayers.

! Representatives of the Smelling
trust were on the carpet before the
county board of equalization yesterday
to show cause why the monopoly
should not bear a larger share of the
tax burdens. The hearing was adj
| journed without conclusion, and while
the combine confessed willingness to
have $780, 900 added to it's assessment,
the proposition to raise the smelterS
valuations on machinery, ore, bullion
| and other personal property half a mil
lion dollars more, was resisted so We
hemently that Commissioner Whitaker
expressed the belief that the next thing
the trusts representatives would want
would be an appropriation from the
widows and orphans fund.
Answering the boards citation to
show cause why the Mingo or Penn
sylvania shelters personal property
should not be increased in value from
$4,000 to 100000, the Hanauer smell
ter from $50, 600 to $50, 900 and the Ger
mania on personality from 100000 to
100000, Frank II. Officer and Abraham
Hanauer, with Attorney Andrew How
at, appeared. Thomas +. Jones of the
Germania and state representative of
the American Smelling & Refining
company, is absent in Denver, but
Judge Howat acted as his agent at yes
terday afternoons hearing. A stenog-
rapher took notes of the proceedings.
Out of the Trusts Lips.
Mr. officer, as ex-receiver and man.
ager of the now idle Sandy smelter
which the court records show did a
business of $500, 900 monthly before the
trust absorbed the plant, stated that
the assessors valuation of $4,000 for
property classed as personal was about
right, since the smelter could be equip
ped with new machinery for 100000
According to a recorded deed the trust
recently secured the Mingo property
for 100000
Mr.. Ranauer declared that the per-
sonal property at his smelter was as
sessed fairly at $4,000, but it would not
sell for $4,000.
In answer to questions from Com
missioners Rawlins and Whitaker and
County Attorney Putnam, Mr.. Han
auer admitted that he had sold his
smelter to the trust for 100000 in the
American companys stock, but he
maintained that the stock is worth on
the market about 60 cents on the dol
lar. He could not tell the actual value
of the plant, because the good will Of
his business went in the transaction
for five years, and this was in itself
valuable.
Confessed For 100000 More.
Judge Howat's voice, alternating
from pleading to protesting, was fire.
quently heard while Messrs. officer and
Hanauer were making a defense of the
trusts taX-dodging methods, but the
secret came out when the Germania
case was taken up. The inquisition had
not gone far before Judge Howat, on
behalf of the trust and Manager Jones,
consented to a raise of 100000 on the
personal property at the big smelter.
We'll. how about the ore and bullion
owned by the smelter, the average
amount on hand at the Germania?"
was suggested.
"Oh, you can't tax that" was Judge
Howat's reply.
We'll see if we can't retorted Com
missioner Whitaker.
Then the smelling delegation was
asked searching questions about the
selling value of the Germania to the
trust, but none of the gentlemen would
give any information When asked if
it We're not true that the Germania
was taken in for 81 100000, neither Mr..
officer, Mr.. Hanauer nor lodge Howat
could offer "a satisfactory reply. They
merely did not know. Mr.. Hanauer,
however, expressed the opinion that the
figures stated were exaggerated, and
to fortify his claim offered TO build the
whole works anew for S2OO,OOO.
A Spacious Plea.
Judge Howat charged that the APP
parent intent of the tax board was to
place values so high that the smelters
would be driven out of Salt Lake
county.
That plea is specious and thread
bare" replied Commissioner Whitaker.
You won't take your smelling bust
ness away because of any action of
this board. We propose to equalize the
tax burdens, and, if possible, we are
going to find out the actual value of
the smelling trusts properties, so that
a fair assessment may be arrived at"
The hearing was adjourned to enable
the commissioners to get some expert
rebuttal testimony on cost of smelling
machinery. and on the value of ore
bought and bullion sold.
More Values In Sight.
The board then proceeded to figure on
the proposed schedule of increase of