The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1902-12-04

,naeffaing of Re sume OF the Case Wherein int
portant Tax Matters We're at Issuse.
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toour readers Some of the conclusions writer
partisan article which follows will nevertheless
interesting the public account OF It's presentation OF
the questions at issue THE prepared endorse the
onede view of the but contains
many interesting that of real value to newspaper
readers Its follows:
The City of Ashland sought personal property tax
gast the Company the the neghborhood
of some 100000 originally made several
than this by the Board
upon property owned by the company during the
year of 1900 Company summoned to before
the Review presented their books inventories o.
stock testimonies of it's and officers were taken as 10
property the Board of Review arbitrarily and With
ofthe evidence and testimony offered b the
Lumber Company Company 100000
over and above the tax of Assessors
testimony of the Lumber Company was taen the
it's stenogapher who was
supposed made record OF the testimony ana
proceedings they took place before the board me TAX
Treasurer for collection in
with the Board Reviews arbitrary and unjust vau
ton collections OF the
The Edward Hines Lumber Company properly re-
declined the excessive and unjust tax as Levied o
the city then sought to enforce
collection by In the meantime the Lumber
Company paid City Treasurer of the City of Ashland 3
90 which that it owed the City account OF
taxes and Immediately brought njo collection Of
Before the to trial the records OF the
sought by the Lumber Company and was
evidence that had been offered before the Board OF
Review prior the having been maae was garoeo
and testimony given the Lumber Company
reproduction Of all of the witnesses in the
case which was done great expense Company, bringing
Mr. s. Wood-who with the company and
e Witnesses long distance testify second time in the
c4s Mr. at the time the assessed to the
Hines Lumber Company its Manager at Ashland ana was
with the values made the inventory OF It's lumber on
docks a that time.
The city up carried the arbitrary posi-
ton taken by the Board City that
the Guy Attorney made an Companys Attor
ney that the OF the would be certain questions when
the case came to city attorney contrary his
question urisdcon which that time had
thought Of and strictly contrary to the agreement
Company's attorney Judge O'Neil promptly
City Attorneys motion dismiss jurisdiction
onestion and ordered that the testimony
opinion exhaustive the and
ded it is very just opinion and that he properly
decided the Board of Review in raising the
Company taxes and that they entitled to the reduc
claimed the City Treasurer from
collection and fixed the tax of the Lumber Company at
leaving small balance due by the Lumber Company
upon payment of the small amount found
by Court Lumber Company entitled the relief
against any further collection Of The Judge
reviewing stated that while he found there
was the small city balance tax
very small the total amount Of taxes de-
the City, that he the opinion that the City should
pay the cost of of the suit. as .s~I %sg3 49,
This ends much case Notwithstanding City
lost through City Officials acting the very arb
citizens throughout Ashland and Ashland
County unanimous opinion that the decision was just
one and the Com pany had great cause for complaint
Lumber Company had been DESTROYS Of paying it's
just and made effort possible adjust the matter but
all times the arbitrary way and
Review assumed in raising the
Company very large operator Lakes
thousands dollars month
citizens which they operating
for all kinds of merchandise andis the life
many the small mercantile handling merchandise
the distribution of large weekly and monthly wages
what finally substantial Ctythe spendingo money being
reaching Many interior offering large bonuses
furnishing grounds and building plants to get industries
will guarantee employ certain number Of and
amount of hence it appears
sighted policy the City Town Officials arbtrar
take unjust position questions of taxes and by such posi-
large manufacturing industries to leave the city and to
90 Citizens should demand of their City
Officials that they liberal dealings and other
with individuals corporations who the life of it's City
manufacturers the