The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-09-25
DOUBLES UP FIGURES
RAMSEY COUNTY MORTGAGE AS.
SESSMENTS ARE INCREASED
State Board Adds 100 Per Cent to the
Returns Made on St. Paul Mort
saees-Assessor ConIey Says the
Action Is Not Justified-Other Coun-
ties Are Raised.

The state board Of equalization takes
delight in increasing the valuation re-
turns from Ramsey county. Yesterday
the item Of credits which consists of
mortgages was increased 100 per cent.
Last year Ramsey returned $780,
900, while this year the return was
$675,000, a decrease Of $634,000.
Some of the members Of the board
We're Of the opinion that an increase of
100 per cent would be the correct thing
under the circumstances. The argu-
ment against this was that the increase
would have to be settled for by those
who were honest enough to list their
mortgages and those who had failed
to make any returns would escape Just
the same.
Hennepin county, which returned ST.
39S,118 last year. increased it's figures
$214,943 this year and no change was
made.
Increases in other counties were
made as follows:
Freeborn, Lincoln Lyon, Mcleod, OF
ter Tail, st. Louis and Wright, 10 per
cent; Jackson, Mobiles, Redwood and
Roseau, 20 per cent: Becker, Blue
Earth, Brown, Chisago, Cottonwood,
Fillmore, Kandiyohi, Ktttson, Marshall,
Mower, Murray and Renville, 25 per
cent; Winona, 33 1-3 per cent; Scott,
~ per Ceul, Benton, Big stone, clay
LIE Sueur, Meeker, Morrison, Norman,
Pipestone, Pope, Red Lake and Waseca,
SO per cent; Stearns, &c 2-3 per cent.
The delegation of Minneapolis bust
ness men who wanted the real estate
assessment in a certain district in that
city reduced 10 per cent were turned
down by the board. The attorney gen.
eral held that Minneapolis being an
assessment district it was impossible
to make any reduction in a certain part
and the only way the state board could
make any reduction was to spread it
over the entire city. Rather than have
this done the score of Minneapolis men
who have leases on property in the
center of the city and are required to
pay taxes on the same decided to with
draw the application.
Increases in the following counties
were made: Cottonwood and Dakota,
5 per cent; Blue Earth, Carver, Cass,
Chisago and Douglass, 10 per cent;
Goodhue, Is per cent; Fillmore, 20 per
cent; Dodge, rs per cent.
IT believe that it is unjust" said
County Assessor oConley,a speaking of
the ruling of the state board of equali-
cation increasing the assessment on
mortgage securities in Ramsey county
100 per cent.
lC ClICCI VI IL Will DS W uOuDle up
on those that were honest and returned
their claims, while those that swore
that they had no mortgages will go
free entirely. That is, assuming that
there has been any false swearing. 1t
is probable that during the past year
of prosperity so many mortgages have
been paid up as to make the difference.
The effect is practically to impose an
arbitrary assessment upon all securi-
ties. If 1 have mortgage of $4,000
will have to pay for $4,000, that's all.
The board says, Last year $4,000
was returned, this year only $675, 900,
consequently you will have to pay for
$4,000, even though you have only $5,-
000.'
"Now, if I was in such a position I
would certainly take my case to the
courts, but the chances are that
would have to pay my lawyer twice as
much as l would have had to pay on
the $4,000. 1 am obliged to have all
this expense because someone is dis
honest or because someone has made a
mistake"