Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1906-10-26
JOHNSON E / d
PROTECT SMALL
TAX PAYER
Governor Johnson's Board of
Equalization Increases As.
sessment Of Corpora
tons so Per Cent.
Marked Raises Occur Only Under the
Administrations Of Governors
XIV Lind and johnson.

u
Governor Johnson's state board Of
equalization has established a record
for doing things. 1.5% Nj
The board, which has just djourned
increased the public service corpora
tons of the Twin Cities by just so
per cent over the assessment as left
by Gov. Van SAINTS board.
By just this much will taxes paid by
the individual taxpayer be lightened.
When to the increased valuation Of
the street railway, gas and electric
kindred companies is added a valua-
ton Of the Steel Corporation of near
ly $30,000,00O over the Van SAINT re-
board had an eye single to the inter-
'ests of the people. r
The state board of equalization re-
turned the assessed valuation Of tho
four principal public service corpora
lions Of the Twin Cities at an increase
of $5,171,200, or so per cent over and
above the last equalization by Gov.
Van SAINTS board of 1904. ~
Last year, when half the board was
appointed by Gov. Johnson the raise
in the assessment of the four public
service corporations was $2,455,OOO, or
% per cent over and above that of the
preceding board, and this years valu-
alton is $2,716,0O0 over last years, maxi
ing the aggregate valuation of the
Twin City Rapid Transit Company, the
two gas companies, and the Minneap-
oils General Electric, upwards of $16,-
100000, as compared with $13,3OO,OOO
one year ago and s1O,SOO,O 900 two years
ago. .:.
The street railway valuation this
year is placed at s11.S19,730, as against
$10,0o0,ooO last year, and sS,25O,0o0, I'M
der Van SAINT; making this years in
crease $1,819,730, and gain of 49,
.569,0OO, or 43 per cent over the Van
SAINT valuation of 1903 and 1904.
The valuation of the Minneapolis
Gas Company shows even greater
Van SAINT board left the gas company
value at $1,OO0,OOO in both 1905 and
1904. Gov. Johnson's board raised this
to $1,2S5,000, an increase of % per
cent last year, and to $1,50s.30O, gain
of so per cent this year. 49,. -. -
The st. Paul gas company valuation
Is placed by the present board at ST.
:379,5s6, as against 100000 as left by
the Van SAINT board, gain of so per
cent, while the valuation of the Gen.
~eral Electric was practically doubled.
In the assessment of iron ore lands
the present board has made even
greater gains than in raising the as
sessed values of public service cor
porations., The iron ore lands %are>as-
sessed as realty and the valuation is
fixed in even numbered years to hold
two years, The Van SAINT board of
1904 fixed the iron ore valuation OF
ST. Louis county for 1904 and 1905 at
$42,OOO,0O0. Gov. Johnson's board fixed
this for 1905 and 1907 at 81, 900, 900 for
st. Louis county alone and at $74,OOO,-
for st. Louis and Itasca combined.
The net gain of the iron ore total is
approximately $3O,OOO,O0O, or nearly Is
per cent over that loft by the preced-
iEg board.
Going back a few years into history,
we find that in 1898 the state board APP
pointed by Gov. Clough left the Twin
City Rapid Transit Company valua-
ton at. $1,S96,S90, as compared with
the $11,S19,730 fixed by the present
board. In the session of 1898 a mo-
ton was made to raise this amount by
resolution of the board about 40 per
cent in the aggregate. Gov. Clough,
who sat as ex-officio member of the
board, here interposed by offering a
substitute motion, that the valuation
of $1,S96,S9O returned by the county
boards be left unchanged; and Clough's
motion carried by nearly two to one,
notwithstanding that Attorney general
Childs, Auditor Dunn, and members
,ers voted for the raise. %
GOV. LIND STARTED 1T.
Gov. John Lind came Into power in
1899 and appointed one-half Of that
years board. That was the first year
when the state made an attempt to
raise the public franchise corporations.
Linds first board raised Cloughs to-
tai on the street railway about one
third; but the next year when Lind ap
(. pointed the remainder Of the board.
I, Nl<,,,