The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-09-22
TAX TENDENCY. Is UP
At Least One Mill Increase APP
pears to Be As
sured.
The Board Of Tax Levy Holds It's
First Session and Hear
Suggestions,

While not able to say anything definite,
members of the tax levy board agree that
they will be compelled to raise the rate
Of taxation in spite Of the fact that City
Assessor G. j. Minor and the city board
of equalization have raised valuations sew
eral millions Of dollars. IAN increase Of
a mill is a conservative guess, and it may
go higher. No sort of an agreement has
been reached, but it is safe to say that
all the members will oppose tax levy
of over 26.5 mills. The rate fixed year
ago, including the average rate, was 1888
mills. The aggregate estimates call for
a tax rate of nearly 80 mills
These matters We're not discussed this
morning when the board met. The levy
ers want to prepare themselves as thoroly
as possible for their final ordeal and they
spent their first day In listening to sug-
gestions and advice from interested Sciti-
ZenS. -stsS
Retailers for Better Streets.
W. L. Harris. president Of the Mime
apolis Retailers association, presented a
petition signed by all the members, to-
gether with 200 other large taxpayers, ask
Ing that provisions be made for improv-
ing certain streets so as to establish the
connecting links between the paved SEQ
| lions of the city with the excellent sys-
tenn of country roads. The petition spe-
officially asked for the grading Of Superior
avenue from the city limits to the rail-
road tracks, with new bridge across the
latter, the graveling of Western avenue
from James to the city limits and Crystal
Lake avenue, from Penn avenue to the
city limits and the. opening and grading
Of Penn avenue from Superior avenue. to
! Crystal Lake avenue. a...s5,
The condition of these streets, Mr., Har
| ris said, was a discredit to the city.
They made traffic expensive, and at times
quite impossible, and to a large extent
pullifed the benefits which ought to be
derived from the large sums spent on the
country roads.
| Mr.. Harris also asked that the board
keep the rate Of taxation to approx
nately the same figures as last year.
:. Messrs. P. D. Boutell and G. J. Gutge-
| sell, also of the Retailers association
spoke along the same lines as, Mr.: Harris
| in regard to streets connecting with
| country traffic roads. 49, -.
/ !, C. j. lockwood and F. M. Henry, resi-
| dents Of the western part of the city
urged the necessity Of improving Lyndale
Western and Crystal Lake avenues ani
parallel streets, and announced that the
taxpayers were willing to foot the bill.
whether thru ward or general taxes.
>a.: Relating Inheritance Taxes. .e..
i Harlan P. Roberts discussed the re-
funding a portion of the money received
tax law, declared Illegal after about
| $4,000, had been collected. The heavies
estates had recovered by suit, but after.
ward the court ruled that the county could
not be sued. It had been decided by the
| county commissioners that the money
thus collected should be refunded an6
| $4,000 had been appropriated last veal
and paid out pro rata among all the ap,
l plicants. "A similar sum had been voted
| md IT. oh CT, ,1xy +oT
i the board of tax levy to let it alone
/ P. G. Sjoblom appeared an advocate
of sthe5 voting machines He produced
4 figures to show that over: $40, 900 could b<
i saved in minneapolis at each election, be
I.sides having: the5 work done m ore rexpedi
tiously and accurately and preventing al
Contests He urged that at least one, bt
. provided for each ward, which would cos
about $500. IT, 49, ~. 49,,
The board finally adjourned until mex
Monday at 10 a. m. The board will NEE
every day next week.. Every head of {
department in the county and city admin
tstrations will be asked to appear, ant
also the representatives Of the various
boards, to show cause" why they shoult
be allowed all that they have asked for. !!
i An adjourned joint meeting of the pub
lie affairs committee of the Commercial
club and the advisory committee was helt
! at noon to-day. Another meeting will
be held. tomorrow, which members o
the. advisory meet committee who wer
not present to-day: will attend, and on,
or two who are to be invited to throw
;: some light. on the subject from an officia
i standpoint. 3D. = "a s@.~e> :,
,, While the members Of the committee
favor low rate they believe that no pub
lie improvements ysho'''d be lnampered b,
maintaining the present rate severa
of those present believed that the increas
Z In valuation which amounts to abou
s7,0O0,000 will afford enough revenue
: .$175;000, to take care Of the improvement
, needed. The general opinion was tina
the rate Of levy should not be Increases
| simply to- care for the maintenance Of tn
| municipal government.