The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-09-09
WILL DISCLOSE
PERSONAL PROPERTY
State Board of Equalization to
Assess 1t on a so Per
Cent Basis.

Presumably acting on the assump-
ton that Gov. Van SAINT was correct
in his statement that fourths of
the personal property in Minnesota
eyades taxation, the state board of
equalization yesterday decided to as
sess personal property at 80 per cent
of it's cash value.
The board, after a weeks SAL
aried vacation, yesterday commenced
its work by listening to the governor
and Auditor Iverson, appointing sub
committees and, and after season of
oratery, fixing the basis of assessment
of personal property at so per cent of
its cash value. The present basis Of
assessment of personal property is sup
posed to be 80 1-3 per cent of the cash
value.
The cash value is determined by the
board of equalization, save in the case
of stocks and bank property, which are
necessarily listed at their cash value as
a result of the banking laws. The rule
for computation of the values of fran
chises is unchanged.
The governor opened the session with
a little speech in which he said he
was satisfied that rs per cent of the
personal property. in Minnesota evades
or escapes taxation. He pointed out
that this was a half larger than his
original estimate made in his first mes
sage. He was not prepared, he said, to
say that real estate bears more than
its just burden of taxation, but he was
prepared to state positively that per-
sonal property does not begin to bear
its share.
Personal Property Not Disclosed.
State Auditor Iverson also read a pa
per emphasizing the necessity of in
creasing personal property assess
ments. He said that between the years
1885 and 1902 the population Of the
state showed an increase of 20 per
cent; the total taxes levied increased
12O per cent. The increase in real es-
tate assessments was over 100 per cent,
While the personal property assessment
increase was only 40 per cent.
Mr.. Iverson demonstrated that the
returns Of personal property made by
the county boards show an increase of
about 100000 over the total fixed by
the state board last year, or a total of
$144, 000, 600. Last year the county
boards returned $40, zoe, 900, which was
increased to $137 ,000,0 600 by the state
! board. This year it is expected the
county boards returns will be increas-
ed to $50, 900, 900.
At the afternoon session Secretary
j. r. Cooley moved that all personal
property assessments be made on a
basis of so per cent of the cash value
This stirred up flow of ,oratory in
support and denial of the allegation
that this was only another attack on
/ the farmer. Mr.. Cooleyss supporters
were in the majority, however, and
| after listening to the complaint of H. L
| Olson and Hans Mo. who, on behalf OF
| the citizens of Sleepy Eye, objected to
| their assessments for sewing machines
| watches, clocks and household furni
ture, decided to work no more until to-
| day. The organization of the board
! and the committees appointed by
| Chairman Sprague are:
| Organization of the Board.
President c. M. Sprague; secretary. ].
+. Cooley; reading clerk, /. l.. Philley.
Standing committees:
| Goods and Merehandise-F. l. Johnson.
chairman; D. Anderson, Joseph McKib-
/ ben. L. G. Nelson, /. l.. PhiIIey.
Banks and Credits-J. G. Lawrence,
Chairman; G. G. Thorpe, N. J. Nelson. c.
E.. Dfnehart, C. M. Sprague.
Logs and Lumber-Emerson Cole,
| chairman: F. M. Shook, L. G. Nelson, N
| 5. Gordon, G. c. Thorpe.
! Freight Lines-Fred Greiner, chairma n:
| A. H Strong, T. Paulson, T. Hodson, I.
| l.. Philley.
Public Service oratfons-J. E. Coo
| ley. chairman; Emerson Cole. Joseph Nc
kloben, j. G. Lawrence, c. M. Sprague.