The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-09-08
HIGH FIGURES
=. TO START WITH
:. Continued; from First Page.

had increased to s26o, 1e7 ,2s5 and a7,656,552
acres Of land were on the list valued at $3so55
us that the burden of public taxa ton is not
equal and uniform on all classes of property.
wrong: WI has been done owners Of real property
by imposing upon them a" large part of the
taxes which should have been paid by owners of
personal property. - -. go. .
-; :; Figures Are Wrong.
Since 1885 our grand state has had phenomenal
mines and immense pine forests have made scores
of great private fortunes. Our financial, manu-.
featuring and commercial institutions have kept
pace With the great DEVELOPMENT that has come to
our state and the entire northwest. Dir vast
productive fields have yielded most bounteously
Population has nearly doubled. One hundred and
Our farms, mines, mills and forests have for
eighteen years contribl ted their products of
nous value to the general wealth of our people,
and yet the figures show that the personal prop
creased 40 per cent in the aggregate and was
lS1O61 less per capital than In 1885. Not one of
you believe that those figures represent the true
condition
/ have attempted to show that a wrong exists.
The next thought that arises Is, can such inc
qualities be. rishted or remedied under our law
In my Judgment there is a partial remedy in the
state board of equalization That is the very
purpose for which this board was created A
the state board will give force and encourage.
ment to county boards and local assessors. We
may not be able to right the wrong at ses
sion. The task, however, is before us, and
am all stand ready to do part to the
| best of our ability.
Tax laws, said Mr.. Iverson, are not
| perfect, but the trouble is not SO much
! In the laws as in their enforcement He
| did not believe the single tax would be
any solution of the problem. The fact
that in 1902 there were 100000 less cred
| its on the tax rolls than in 1885 showed
a weak spot in the system, but it was
due to non enforcement Of the existing
law.
Governor Dwels on Responsibility.
| Governor Van SAINT was then called on
He spoke briefly declaring his intention
to spend more time wifi the board thar
at previous sessions. He urged a thort
equalization Of personal property assess
ments, and deplored the fact that tn,
legisla ture had made no improvement II
the present laws. IT,. -.
| However" he said, "the board can d,
much Under the laws as they stand, ant
very much now depends on this board
owing to the failure Of tax reform legisla
ton. T assure you that you can rely OF
the state officers who are members Of tn
right conditions
The board this afternoon took up tn
valuation of live stock.
Dodge Leaves Out Small Ones.
Captain Nelson of Owatonna called at
tention this morning to the Dodge count
assessment. He said that county wa
operating under a special law fixing tn
salaries of its county officers accordin
to valuation. In order not to increase tn
valuation they left off the assessment roll
all assessments under $500, for the reaso
that they would be wiped out by the ex
emption. The state board cannot do any
thing but the Dodge county officers hav
acted contrary to law. The state boar
classes elias Of property, and in that case as
sessments less, than 500 might be in
creased so that they would be taxable.