The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1905-11-17
CORPORATION ASSESSMENTS
Raised Throughout State--Mer-
chandise Lowered.

/ Frank A. Day, chairman of the
Democratic state central committee
land private secretary to Governor
johnson, today issued a statement IN
reply to the widely circulated reports
that the Democratic state board of
equalization had reduced the assess
ments of Twin City jobbers 81, 200. 900,
while other property in the state had
been proportionately increased. The
statement, which is 10 reply to an in
quiry, is as follows:
"All corporations had their assess
ments increased which could possibly
be reached undet the law. The list
includes the st. Paul Gas company,
the st. Paul Electric company, the
Twin City Rapid Transit company
the Minneapolis General Electric COM
pany, the Minneapolis Gas company,
the Theo, Hamm Brewing company of
st. Paul, the STANDARD Oil company,
Swift & Co., and in fact everyone of
the big corporations which the law
would permit the board to reach.
mo corporation ever contributed d
cent, directly or indirectly. to the
campaign fund of Governor Johnson.
When Governor Johnson accepted tile
nomination for governor it was with
the specified understanding with his
committee that not solitary cent
should be accepted from any corpora
tion, and offers of funds from several
corporations, notably the Northwest
ern Life Insurance company Of Min
neapolis, were refused. In reply to
irresponsible. charges that the state
board Of equalization left tie assess
ment of Twin City jobbers lower than
last year, would simply say that the
assessments of wholesale and retail
merchants of ST. Paul and Minnie
apolis were increased in exactly the
same proportion as were the assess
ments of wholesale and retail dealers
in every city and country village in
Minnesota. The board arrived at
what it believed to be the closest poss-
Ible figures between all the parties.
Every Increase made was made after
arriving at a conclusion as to what
was just and fair, and the increase of
81, 900, 900 in the assessment of the
Twin City Rapid Transit company
was fixed after computing It's taxable
valuation ON the basis of other tax
able property in the state.
Sin this connection l wish to call
your attention to an interview with
State Auditor S. G.. Iyerson, a Repub-
licaa. aud published by the Republi-
can Minneapolis Journal few days
after the board adjourned, as to the
action of the state board of equaliz-
alton. No Republican newspaper,
however hostile to Governor Johnson
or the members of this board of
equalization, will dispute Mr.. Iver-
sons statement of facts. In the in
terview, Mr.. Iverson said:
"The committee on goods and mer-
chandise found that hardly county
in the state reported that item in the
listits high as it was left last year.
The committee went down the list
and figured out what percentage Of
raise was necessary to bring each
county up to last years assessment,
but found sentiment, not only on the
committee, but among members OF
the board generally, against putting
merchandise as high as last year.
Af6er reducing cattle. sheep and hogs.
aud bringing down the per capita as
sessment on household goods, it was
thought no more than just TO let mer-
chandise also off easier. So the COM
mittee went down the list again and
cut the percentages it had figured out
right in two. Where county was to
be raised 80 per cent, they made it Is
per cent, and a 10 per cent raise was
cut to 5 per cent. Accordingly, the.
merchandise assessment of nearly
every county was left lower than last
year, and country merchants were re-.
lieved in about in the same proportion
as those In the Cities
"Governor Johnson aud his friends
have not attempted to answer tile in-
discreet criticisms of certain ill-ad-
yised Republican editors, but it IS
time that the truth was made known.
I am glad that yon called my attent-
ion to this matter for the truth never
hurts any honest man. -
Coles Magic Name.
So well have the copper fotation
| nrnincts of Thomas f. Cole s succeeded.