The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-09-26

"When it is considered that the total
assessment in st. Paul, Minneapolis
and Duluth on the street railway COM
panies, including real and personal
property is less than $5,0O0,000, it ap-
pears to me that an increase should be
made"
This was the opening sentence of a
talk by State Auditor Dunn to the
state board of equalization yesterday
ut depends upon you gentlemen con-
tinued the state auditor, whether the
public service corporations are not
given a good fair raise.
mot an exorbitant one should be
made, but a raise justified by the facts
and figures. In this city, for instance,
the assessment of the street railway
company is lower by $150,000 than the
last of the Lind administration and
the business has certainly increased
so per cent. The Minneapolis Gas
Light company last year escaped with
a decrease of $4,000 less than their
assessment was returned by the county
board. They are assessed this year at
little over 100000 more than last
year. 1t is the duty Of this board to
bring them before you and show cause
why they should not be raised to
$1,000,000 The company is paying 8
per cent on the capital and their stock
sells for $1.75.
Street Railway Needs Boost.
"The st. Paul Gas company can,
think, also stand a raise. The Mime
apolis General Electric company was
assessed last year at 100000 and this
year the returns show an increase OF
$4,000. The Minneapolis Street Rail-
Paul Gas company is assessed this year
at $2,693,210, while this year the re-
turns show $2,950,165, an increase of
about 100000. The st. Paul Street
Railway company last year was as
sessed on $1,955,556 and this year the
figures are just 81 more.
"The assessment for the Saltwater
line last year was $S9,5S5 and this year
the assessment is $111,329. The st.
Paul Gas company is assessed this year
at $685. and the Duluth Street Rail
way company at $2S3,000, which is
probably a fair assessment. The st.
Paul Street Railway company is as
sessed this year at $150,000 less than
during the last year of Lind's admin
istration, and there certainly should be
an increase in this assessment. An
other matter to which your attention is
called is that the Western Union Teler
graph company is owing the state $685.
600 in unpaid taxes and intends to figfF
the matter in the courts. 1t would be
we'll to ascertain from the attorney
general if it is legal to assess the COM
panies, and if not, take some other
method of reaching them" 50.
Company Is Sued.
The board sent for Assistant At
torney General DonahoWer and that
official explained that the Western
Union was being proceeded against in
no other duty than to keep on assess
ing these companies as provided by
law. There is only one way they
can beat the state" said the assistant
attorney general, "and that is by prov
ing they have not the property on
which they are assessed"
The board referred the data fur
nished by State Auditor Dunn on the
question of public service corporations
to the committee on franchises, and
this committee will report to the
board Tuesday morning. Gov. Van
SAINT has informed the board that he
desires to be present when final ac-
ton is taken on the assessments OF
the public service corporations, and
it is probable that the matter will be
disposed Of a week from Friday.
]. W. Shadwell, deputy assessor
from Minneapolis, appeared before the
board to explain that it was not quite
right to order an increase of 25 per
cent in the item of stock and fixtures
Of saloons in that city. The discus
sion brought out the fact that in max
ing the assessment Of the saloons in
Minneapolis the matter of stocks I'M
der this item was not included, and
the total Of $210,435 represented the
value of furniture and fixtures only.
Pleads for Saloons.
1--WE have about 300 saloons in Min
neapolis," said Mr.. Shadwell, land the
returns, without the raise Of 25 per
cent made by the board, means that
each saloon is to pay on 500 worth
of fixtures. The item was $4,000
more than last year, and the increase
Of $52,687 added by the board is I'M
just"
Mr.. Shadwell explained that the
stock in the saloons was put under
the head of merchandise in the Min
neapolis assessment, and this brought
out the statement that perhaps under
these circumstances the item of mer-
chandise in Hennepin county would
have to be increased.
The board reconsidered it's action in
raising the figures Of mortgages in
Ramsey county 100 per cent, and will
not take action until after Assessor
Conley has appeared before them.
Commencing at Jackson county, the
board raised the counties as follows:
Jackson, Mobiles, Redwood and Ros-
eau, 20 per cent; Lincoln, Lyon, Otter
Tail, st. Louis and Wright, 10 per
cent; Kandiyohi, Kittson, Marshall,
Mower, Murray. Renville, 25 per cent;
LIE Sueur, Meeker, Morrison, Norman,
Pipestone, Pope, Red Lake, Waseca,
so per cent; Scott, 40 per cent, and
Stearns, SIS 2-3 per cent.
The board left last evening on a
special car over the Great Northern
for Duluth, and will make a visit to
the mines on the iron range. The
members will be. the guests of J. E.
Cooley, the member from st. Louis
county. The board will return Satur-
day evening.
OdelI Gives Him Up.