Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1906-10-24
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Governor Johnson's Board Of
Equalization Increases As.
sessment Of Corpora. !:
tons SO Per Cent.
Marked Raises Occur Only Under the
Administrations Of Governors
Lind and Johnson.

Governor Johnson's state board Of
equalization has established a record
for doing things.
The board, which has just adjourned
Increased the public service corpora
lions 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
1y $3O,000,00O over the Van SAINT re-
gime, it will be seen that the Johnson
board had an eye. single to the inter-
ests of the people.
The state board of equalization re-
turned the assessed valuation of tho
four principal public service corpora
tons of the Twin Cities at an increase
of s5,171,20o, 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 va1u-
alton is s2,716,ooo over last years, max
ing the aggregate valuation Of the
Twin City Rapid Transit Company, the
two gas companies, and the Minneap-
oils General Electric, upwards of $751;
100000, as compared with $13,3OO,OO0
one year ago and s1o,soo, 900 two years
ago.
The street railway valuation this
year is placed at $11,819,73O, as against
$4,000. 000elast year, and $S,250,0O0, un-'
der Van SAINT; making this years in
crease $1,819,73O, and gain of So
$4,000, or 43 per cent over the Van
SAINT valuation Of 1903 and 1904.
The valuation of the Minneapolis
Gas Company shows even a greater
raise than the street railway. The
Van SAINT board left the gas company
value at $1,000,o00 in both 1905 and
1904. Gov. Johnson's board raised this
to $1,285,000, an increase of % per
cent last year, and to $1,5Qs,so0, a gain
of so per cent this year.
The st. Paul gas company valuation
is placed by the present, board at ST.
379,5SS as against 100000 as left by
the Van SAINT board, a gain of SO per
cent, white the valuation Of the Gem
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 eare~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
81, O0O,0 900. Gov. Johnson's board fixed
this for 1906 and 1907 at $70.000,00O for
st. Louis county alone and at $74,O0O,-
for st. Louis and Itasca combined.
The net gain of the iron ore total lis
approximately POUsVVU,UUU, OT hearty 10
per cent over that left by the preced-
ing board. 49,, .
Going back few years into history,
we find that in 1898 the state board ap-
pointed by Gov. Clough left the Twin
: City Rapid Transit Company valua-
ton at $1,s9e,s90, as compared with
the s11,S1e,7s0 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-of1cio member of tho
board. here interposed by Offering a
substitute: motion, that the valuation
of $1,S96,S90 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
Lawrence, Cooley aid one or. two 9TH
ers voted for the raise > sI s.
. r. Gov LIND STARTED IT. So: