The Saint Paul globe., 1903-06-28
VAR ON SHERIFF'S
Van THREATENS
Small Delinquents Object to
Coercion While the Big Tax
Dodgers Go Free.
THE HOT ONE

There is no DANCED of a race riot in
Minneapolis, but the spectacle of white
against white on a most dramatic scale
may be witnessed if Sheriff Dreger's
vans continue to go after the So-called
personal tax delinquent in the hold-up
fashion which characterized the pro-
ceedings OF that official during the last
week.
Already a low murmur Of discomfort
is being heard, and the chances are
that by next week it will have swelled
into q volume which will no longer
brook the insolent invasions of house
holds now being made by Dreger's
''men in buckram." The home is no
longer sacred from the attack of the
insOlent deputies, who have been going
the rounds within the last week, back
ed by the press of Minneapolis and the
big tax dodgers breaking boldly into
the homes of the poor and either fore
ing the unfortunate delinquentS who
are paying realty taxes to pay up or
separating them from their furniture.
The brOad-gauged men Of Minneapo-
lis are beginning to object to the pay
ment of taxes under coercion" as they
call it. or rather, not so much that as
the seizure of property from really
deserving people. whose circumstances
may be such as to prevent them from
living up to the letter of a much dis
liked law.
The situation has reached such a
point. in fact. that a we'll known for
mer mayor of the city informed T e
q o e representative yesterday that
the upshot Of this latest policy of the
SherinS office would be to create a
strong sentiment in Minneapolis in IA
Vor Of the repeal of the personal prop
erty tax law and the substitution in it's
stead OF the income tax, or some sys-
tenn which would tax the public on
more equitable basis than that which
now obtains
A case in point is that Of the bra
Scotch Iaddie blacksmith, who sturdi-.
1y resisted the seizure of his means of
livelihood the other day, and, remark
ing that he might as we'll die now as
nave the law take away his way of
getung living, started for a revolver.
Chlef Deputy Arthur L. Jones. as is
invariably the case under such circl1no
stances, ''craWfished," and the result
was that the 'smitIlie' was taken to
the city assessors office, where things
We're adjusted to his satisfaction.
rms IS held out as a large hint to
the main body of taxpayers of the city
OF minneapolis, Resist and ye shall be
4ors+pen, LOTT or II not forgiven. it is a
teh-to-one shot that if you are not
an out-and-out tax dodger you will be
able to convince the authorities that
you are being unjustly treated.
II IS hard" said the ex-mayor. "to
expect man who has to fight hard
Tor MS livelihood to pay his personal
property tax when some drone next
door, who may not be earning an hon
est living, manages to sneak out of
such eXaction, The public demands a
change. and. mark my words, it is
coming -
The-sheriff found yesterday that his
office was not infallible. when he dis
covered that many residents of Mime
apoIs who have homes at Lake Min
hetonka are subjected to double as
easements on their personal property.
= ne snerln ADMITS that this unjust and
mon. as the result of a personal in
Vestgadon which he made Yesterday.
nevertheless. the Sheriff said that
19e vans would take the trail again
dnGny aGnoay TO show the 'few obstinate
ness" iie@n ousl-