The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-09-30
TAX CORPORATIONS
INTANGIBLE PROPERTY
Attorney General E. T. Young Will Endeavor to Add
Millions to Tax Rolls of State Thru Test Case
Against Swift & Co.

Edward T. Young, attorney general,
has decided to force the issue of the
right of the state to assess for taxa
ton the intangible property and the
Minnesota franchises of foreign cor
pOrations. .,s..sa>
There is no statute to govern the tax
alton of this class of property. There
is nothing but the broad law which saws
all property wi thin the state must be
listed for taxation. The attorney gen.
eral believes that under the projecting
wing of the word "all,' the intangible
property and local franchises Of foreign
corporations can be made to pay taxes.
He believes, too, that the courts will
sustain collection of such taxes thru a
law creating such method. The at
torney general has found decisions to
sustain his contention in this matter, :
Add Millions to Rolls. r.
cided in favor of tie state. will add
millions of dolla.s to assessment rolls
for taxation Of corporations which pay
comparar .eely little or no taxes at pres
ent' Ahe attorney generals office force
MS given the subject deep study Of sew,
by P A. Hoffman, auditor Of Dakota
county, entering upon his tax rolls an
assessment of an extra 100000 against
Swift & Co. of South st. Paul for in
tangible property ,
There is little doubt that Swift &
Co. will resent this extra assessment by
at once taking it to the courts in test
Litigation. 5v
Carefully Laid Plans.
In careful preparation for such an
emergency, Mr.. Young has prepared
conclusions Of fact for Mr.. Hoffman
covering his reasons for levying the adj
ditional assessment and demanding the
tax at the prevailing tax rate for the
year 1904. This statement was taken to
Mr.. Hoffman at Hastings Saturday
afternoon by George II. Simpson, first
assistant attorney general, and there at
his suggestion spread upon the tax
books of Dakota county by the auditor.
= Mr.. Young's Statement.
The statement of the attorney gen.
eral 5 findings of fact is in part as fol-
lows:
1t having been called to my attention by the
state board of equalization that the intangible
property of Swift & Co.. located in Dakota coun.
~, had been omitted from taxation for 1904, L
instituted an investigation to ascertain the facts
served notice Swift & Co. that l intended
10 their intangible property which had
been omitted in 1904 and that l would hear
anything that they might have to offer the
subject my office in Hastings Dec. 26. 1895.
AT the time and place SO designated Swift & Co.
appeared by their attorneys. Messrs. Davis, Kel-
logg & Severance and III. Veeder, and the county
of Dakota appeared by Edward +. Young. attor-
ney general; George I. Simpson. assistant attor-
ncy general, and William IIodgson, county attor-
ney John S. Bangs Of st. Paul, manager of
Swift & Co. at South st. Paul. and Emmett F.
Randolph of Chicago, assistant chief accountant
of Swift & Co., sworn and testified
The Findings.
~ find that Swift & Co. is and was during
all the times herein mentioned Il corporation or.
ganiZed under the laws of the state Of Illinois
That it was created to carry the general
Strengthening and packing business. and to thai
end deals in cattle, sheep swine and all forms
OF dressed meats and other products derived
therefroh. That for many years it has had its
main office and principal plant III Chicago and
he's had branch plants and offices at Kansas
City, Omaha, East st, Louis, South St. Joseph
Fbtt Worth, Texas; Jersey City and Harrison
n. j.; Atlanta, Ga. and South St. Paul. THAI
each of these plants is equipped with all tn,
necessary facilities for carrying on business OF
large scale. and each such plant is and always