The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-10-20
USE OF TAX FERRET
Well Known Men Comment on Ac-S
ton Of County Commissioners
in Hiring a sleuth. a
Should the County Officials Do the
Work? Experience of Other
States.

Aside from any question of legality,
is it correct policy for the county
commissioners to hire an unofficial
tax sleuth? -.t.- ..-
This question is a live one just now,
for the county commissioners have
practically perfected an agreement
with Judge J. J. Woolley to ferret out
and place upon the lists all property
not reported for taxation by it's own
ers or found by the regular assessors.
Here are the opinions of some we'll
known men on the propositions: ~
W. L. Harris, president of the Retail
Dealers association: I think it is a
vicious proposition. wrong in principle.
most aggravating in operation. Aside
from the question Of the legality of paying
an inquisitor commission, it is a re-
Election on the community, reflection on
officials whose business it is to make as
sessments. l believe it is an admitted
apology for ineffciency on the part Of
those intrusted with doing the exact work
contemplated, and like; all things apollo
getic will be distinctly disappointing in
results.
Good government does not. consist to-
day in hiring private inquisitors to do the
work Of public officials f'. < -
1t does consist in holding said officials
rigidly to the performance of their duties.
and I believe the community Is: perfectly
willing to provide all necessary funds and
proper machinery and assistants to our
| public officers. and Is not prepared nor
willing to cOuntenance methods which" are
| in their nature undetermined and inquisi-
! torial. In brief, I feel tits a stepe un-
worthy of any progressive community and
l. an unnecessary reflection upon everybody
| concerned. .
| am firm believer In aggressive meas
I ures' looking to the equalization Of tax
burdens and the unearthing Of taxable
personal property now escaping, but
should rather pay an unjust proportion OF
taxes that to sanction the proposed
method.
Labor Leaders, Views.
| Philip Carlin. secretary and treasurer
| of the Building Trades council-It Is the
duty of the regular officials to collect the
taxes. l believe that the officers of the
county are paid to gather. all these delin-
quent. taxes and that somebody else
should not be given the work to graft out
Of or that officers elected for a purpose
should turn their work over to some other
person. 1t doesn't look right. At any
rate, the commission is entirely too large
since attorneys will collect absolutely deac
accounts at 10 per cent. s., a. Z 81
+ "A. G. cambridge, business agent %
the Painters, Deeoratorsssan nd Paper;
hangers union: q have not ala ok q
thoroly into this question, further tn
! what have; read inHthe papers, I be.
lieve that every man ought: to pay
|
have the wealth that can cover it, anG
it is the poor people who are made te
, pay. They can't get away from it very
, we'll.
What Banker Says.
Joseph Chapman, Jr., cashier of the
l northwestern National bank: It
; leaves, in the first place, as already
stated in T hez journal, too much
power in the hands Of any one mar
. to blackmail and graft. '-
) Human nature at best is but, a +frai
t thing, and to give any man power t.
pry into private affairs gives. oppor
r tunity for him to say that for so much
r no returns will be made--a graft, .an<
l blackmail opportunity. combined. 49,,
Bankers and business men in low;
- have stated positively that the loss o
money from Iowa, which was put int,
Minnesota and Canadian lands, wa
due directly to the activity Of the ia.
ferrets. If we want capital to go GU
of Minneapolis, we just want to pu
into operation this same kind o
proposition which in Iowa and Ohf
has driven money out Of the state
The count yought to be sufficiently
organized to collect taxes. itself an,
ought to get help if needed.
= A. G. cambridge, business agent of tn
e Painters, Decorators and Paperhanger.
/, union-I have not looked thoroly into thi
. question, further than what I have read
e the papers. believe every man ought
It pay taxes. 1t is the people that reall
r hay the wealth that can cover it, an
$ 1T is the poor Igpple who are made t
e pay They can't get away from It YER
), we'll. .--.. -,--- !, ..,- ..----~ $500 -
What Banker Says.
e Joseph Chapman, Jr., cashier of tn
n Northwestern National bank-It leave
n In the first place-as already stated !
q TIL o urn too much power in til
/ hands Of any one man to blackmail an
e graft. ..-..-.,,
u Human nature at best is but q, fra
!e thing, and to give, any man power to p1
/ into private affairs gives opportunity f,
l. him to say that for so much no return
u will be made-a graft and blackmail o,
l. portunity combined
:. Bankers and business men in Iowa ha,
T. stated positively that the loss of none
l. from Iowa. which was put into Minneso
D. and Canadian lands. was due directly i:
> the activity Of the tax ferrets. If we wa
s. capital to go out o. Minneapolis, We iii
L. want to put into operation this same KIN
=: OF, proposition which in Iowa and Ohio h,
= driven money out of the state. III
4 county: ought to be sufficiently organize
to collect taxes itself and ought to &
= help if needed