The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-09-28
GAS COMPANY'S TAX
AUDITOR DUNN WANTED MINNEAI-
OILS PUT ON THE SAME
BASIS AS SIT. PAUL
MADE HARD FIGHT BUT LOST
Board Knocked 100000 on Au-
ditOr's Proposed Assessment-
All Minneapolis Valuations
Too Low, Says Dunn.

Auditor Dunn has been taking a very
prominent part in the proceedings of the
state board of equalization, and on three
or four occasions has succeeded in hav-
ing assessments raised above the figures
agreed upon by the board He has kept
close watch on every item and no indi-
vidual or corporation has escaped full and
fair taxation because of any negligence
on his part Yesterday afternoon, how
ever, he made fight in the case of the
Minneapolis Gas company, but was de-
teated by the board on an exceedingly
close vote. The consideration of the gas
companyS case was the most important
matter of yesterdays session. Auditor
Dunn had from personal investigation dis
covered that the Minneapolis company
was not assessed as high as the St. Paul
Gas company, and the former WIS cited
to appear before the board to show
cause why the assessment should not be
raised. The st. Paul company's assess
ment was $675, 900, the same as voluntarily
returned by the company. The assess
ment of the Minneapolis company was
$6O9ln, $4,000 above the voluntary return
of the company.
Auditor Dunn could not see why the
Minneapolis concern should be assessed
less than the ST. Paul company when
the former appeared to have a much
larger and more profitable field to work
in, and after some study of the problem
he decided that If the Minneapolis com
pany was assessed on the same basis as
the ST. Paul company the assessment
hould be 100000. Mr. Dunn introduced a
resolution to have the assessment of the
Minneapolis Gas company raised to $780,
600. Mr.. Levings, of the Minneapolis COM
pany, appeared before the board and
made an impassioned plea, which evident
ly won the day for him.. He pointed out
that the st. Paul company included an
electric plant as well as a gas plant, for
which due allowance should be made
Under the Minneapolis ordinance, which
was very severe, it was much more ex-
pensive to supply gas than it was in ST
Paul. In answer to the charge of the
Minneapolis assessor that Mr.. LeVings
mad failed to make return, the latter
declared that he had presented his report
to Assessor Fort, who had refused to
accept it. He limited at Fort being per-
sonally prejudiced against him, and made
the point that his own voluntary state
ment was an increase of 900 over the
previous year. He went into details con-
corning his business giving list of wages
PAID employees, expenses of operating
plant receipts, profits, and all details of
his business in very frank manner Mr.
Dunn replied that all valuations in Min
neapolis were too low, which accounted
LOT the trouble they had In keeping the
public schools running.
VALUATIONS TOO LOW.
All valuations should be raised. He
did not believe that corporations should
be prosecuted, but he did believe that the
burdens Of taxation should be proper
t1onately borne SO that no part of a cor
porations just tax should be imposed up
on the individual citizen to maintain the
city government. He insisted that the
Minneapolis company should be rated on
the same basis as the ST. Paul company
and 100000 was not a cent too much
The board however, by vote of to 8,
decided to make the assessment $3.50, 900 in
stead of 100000, an increase of S147, 900
over the assessment of 1900.
In the morning the board had reduced
the assessment of Anoka county on mer-
chandise 10 per cent. Auditor Dunn said
it should be reduced 20 per cent as the
Anoka merchanst were greatly handicap
ped by close proximity to Minneapolis
Mr.. Dunn said that he had advocated
raising the assessment in his home town,
and was not ashamed to advocate de-
creasing it in another town when he
knew it to be matter of justice He
carried his point and the reduction was
placed at 20 per cent instead of TO-