The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-02-09
City II eWs
IN JUSTICES IN
TAX AK. EQU ]. II. II '||I
W. i. HARRIS URGES LOCAL oP.
T1oN IN FIXING ASSESSMENTS.
Action Of State Board in Raising
Glasses Causes. Injustice to Individ
uals Who Have Made Proper Returns
Attorney General Urges Adoption of
1902 Code Next Year.

x + = Is E : s
W.. L. Harris Of Minneapolis appeared
board of equalization and the county
auditors at the capitol yesterday after
noon, and made strong argument Tor
local option in assessments, on the
ground that blind action by the state
board creates injustice to individuals,
and increases strife between localities.
Let values be fixed by the assessors
and the local boards said Mr.. Harris,
q and not have them tempered with by
the state board, knowing nothing OF To-
cal circumstances. Increasing assess
have made fair returns, and does not
reach those who have evaded. An in
stance is the man who wanted to pay
Just taxes and listed a diamond ring at
$40. None Of the others in that coun-
ty who had diamond rings listed them,
the board thought $50 too little for the
county and raised it 800 per cent, thus
penalizing the honest man.
CIT is all right to equalize the values
Of definite things, such as horses and
cattle, for they are Of about the same
value in different counties, but on
things indefinite, on which you have to
depend on the honesty Of the assessor,
the owner and the local board, why not
leave the responsibility to them7 Any
way as only a sixth of the tax goes to
the state, why should they interfere in
things which the local boards ought to
attend tos It creates strife between
the city and country and it Is only the
people who have axes to grind, that
want to make city and country interests
different .-E...-. .....
Attorney General Young said there
was no sentiment in favor Of having
any one section Of the state pay more
than it should, and that the board had
attempted to be fair. The tax laws,
however, are very imperfect, and are
not connected whole AS q member
Of the legislature in 1902, he supported
the tax code, and believes it should
have been adopted. OF the defeated
code he said:
ever pres e III The lobbies that de-
feated it came from the three cities.
don't think it would have hurt them,
| but it would have enabled all those who
| wanted to pay fair tax to do so and
the others have no right to object. If
the code, in modified form, is presented
to the next legislature, we can assure
the Minneapolis man it will pass if Hen
nepin county will keep her hands off.
chants and others from the country, did
not take enough interest to come and
lobby for the bill, and it was lost
Would Fix Full Value.
R. T. DAILY Of Renville favored en-
forcing the present laws rather than
making new ones, and urged radical
departure, commanding assessors to list
every hing, at its full cash value The
| assessor now uses his discretion and
keeps values. down, and the man who
makes full return suffers. If the
board and county auditors should make
rule for full assessment, it would
create sentiment, and men who pay OF
full value would see that others do.
Lester B. Elwood Of Minneapolis sale
the board was court Of last resort
but was powerless to remedy a goot
many things. which only local boards
can touch. "Last year, he said, ECON
plant was made that blooded horses il
Minneapolis were not assessed enough
and We raised the assessment 100 pc
; cent. It happened that in the sam
ward were two men whose horses wer
worth about the same. yet one Of then
had his listed at $500 and the othe
at $50. We penalized the man who CAV
a correct return. ~ 49,
II favor the plan proposed that tn
state should equalize only so far a
state taxes are concerned. The rails
. made by the state board should appl
only to state taxes and not to county O
! municipal taxes.'