The Minneapolis journal., 1906-08-09
q. B. WALKER In
TAXATION CLASH
ENCOUNTER BEFORE THE BOARD
OF EQUALIZATION.
Alderman Chatheld Takes Exception TO
the Lumberman's Expressions Made
in the Course Of His Protest Against
g $500, 900 Assessment for Credits.

Aroused by an arbitrary assessment
upon his supposed %ra &c efedaty pdaTd
Of equalization late yesterday after
noon to make a protest, and Immediate
| ly locked horns with Alderman E. G.
Chatfeld, a member of the board. The
encounter was interesting while 1T
lasted. Mr.. Walker objected TO the as
sessment for credits and in the course
of a formal communication expressed
himself as follows:
Gas to this requirement from my
self, as we'll as that from q large num-
ber Of other taxpayers Of Minneapolis,
it has been more particularly IN com
pliance with public sentiment that
and particularly liable, more than 9th
.ers. to evade and avoid and shirk pay.
! ing their Just and equitable share. Of
| taxation, 1 think it only appropriate
that I should make this general reply;
I have not only in the past year, and
during all the time that l @ have aa been
paid most willingly every tax levy
seemed in my Judgment could be
claimed by any persons, as equitable
demand upon me for paying the publlc
expense, but have in addition paid
| large a1uOuuLS VI luOACy Al OANSSS ~
nv equitable and rightful share Of the
public burdens.
Has Not shirked.
sI believe that I could clearly show
to yourselves or any other falr-m1nded
citizens that I have discharged my obli-
cations in respect to taxation faT more
toward me, as to city and state and out
Of state taxation. And furthermore,
as am charged with tax shirking in
large part in consequence OF belonging
to that class. of citizens who are large
property holders, upon the presumption
that this class in particular are 'espe-
cially given to. evading in every way
public burdens, would, in reply to this
say that from quite an extensive
knowledge and acquain tance with the
general facts Of taxpaying by different
classes, that in place Of paying less
they are and have been paying more
than their just share OF the public OK
pense. And while have no excuse for,
or sympathy with, any person, OF per
sons who, in any manner, refuse or TAI
constitutes the basis Of all government
and Of civilization, yet / :. respect
them more highly than I do that clas:
Of persons who expend their time ane
energy in misrepresenting and misinter
preting the character Of all that class
Of men of large property and larg<
business interests for the sake of gain
Ing popularity, thru the spread of f.preju
dice against them.
"This general prejudice against the
so-called capitalists uniustly spread
against most useful class Of citizens
leading the most strenuous lives II
building up and maintaining the public
interests is being promulgated by a fal
lower and less respectable form of eiti
, altho this wealthy class is, to, a greatel
q q Of less extent, chargeable with many
! \ sorts Of foolish, unwise and unjustifa
BILE methods and PRACTICES It has al
i ready brought the commonwealth to the
! state Of UNJUST. unequal. class legisla
. . to a still greater extent. The outcome
. . of this Is the reactive class prejudice
and reserve to bring far more. demor
Il Il alization than progress. It is in keep
= = ing with other socialistic development
~ where each step is to retrace backwar
. the: forward work that has been mad
- by the centuries Of the ups and down.
4 = Of human progress.'. ,. 4s.s.s< -,,>..
% Chatfeld Aroused. E E, ,...,.
n Alderman Chatfeld, who had listene,
= attentively to the reading Of the com
- munication, promptly announced tha
" he took exception to most of the re
y marks contained therein. ! He .re1ninde>
Mr.. Walker that the board of equalizs
ton had not raised his assessments nc
j. attempted to do SO. Moreover, tn
a. board had not accused sMr..rWalker O
Il being ajax dodger. The board: he de
Is clared, was legally organized body
Il convened for the purpose of .equalizin
the asses9mants ss1 tHs 4x mads the city
"a to discharge to the best of it's ability
,e He therefore. considered the remark
!. irrelevant and ill-timed.. ~,
- After Mr.. Walker had explained tha
Al he had not intended to attack or a.
ar cuse the equalizers, there was some di
Te cussion as to the amount Of the asses
!. ment. The statement presented WI
~ ~ interesting, but not such as provide
" " by law or required by the assessor =
k- was decided to make a tentative asses
ment Of $250,000, at the same time q
H. lowing Mr.. Walker to submit such
= statement as Assessor C. j. Minor d
as sired.
, Reductions by Board. -:
% - Action with relation to various al
a. as plications was taken as follows:
IL IL w. g. Edgar, household goods, $4,61
70 70 to $4,000; Mrs. F.! NJ. Henry, $25,000 1
sv av $40, 900; Francis NJ: Henry, assessme'
~ OF $Z0,UUU canceleQ; +. Il, AenaSIO
ot 100000 to $4,000; E. P. Capen, S. 3.
en- to $4,340; G. H. Petit, $4,000
ey $40 1850; Longfellow Bros. Co., asses
ment to stand at 900; Russell I
Bennett, $4,000 assessment to STAN
!, Edmund j.: Longyear; 100000 credi
~ reduced to $25,060; Standard Oil col
~, pany, assessment Of $84l,00O to stan'
he W. j. Dean, household goods, reduce
& from 5000 to $4,000; Thomas, r: She
ay lin, $214,S assessment to stand; E.
~ Moulton, $52 1000 to $25,000; F..
be Noerenburg, 10000 to $415; John Gre
rst by. $50 1000 to $3.50; Herman Voc
$3,970 to $4,000; E. A. Merrill, hons
ty. hold goods, reduced from $4,000
It, $4,000, no reduction on $4,000 credit
G. F. .Deayer, credits, $5,0O0; =. Bo,
IA. Transfer Co., 100000 to SIS, 900; Agn
loq M. Hull, 1926, 1000 to, 100000; Louis
-, ~ Hull, $4,000 to $4,000; Louise w. M
IN. Nair, $4,000 to $4,000; Mrs. Geor
w. @. Harper, assessment Of $4,000
10l stand; John F. Wilcox, $40 900 asses
,,.4 ment to stand; J. p. Ware, $4,000 6
7"s sessment to stand; E: W. Backus, hous
hold goods reduced from $4,000
MIA. $4,000 and credits from. $50 500 to $2
ada 600; B. F. Nelson, sawmille reduced
re- 100000; credits $50, ,000 TO $25,O0
II. IN R. D. Cone, household goods, $1,625
an' 5000; Hotel Allen, $4,000 assessment
. contents to stand; H. H. -Eliel, credi
- t1O O00 70. Ok 00h. At. u ni1G11o,, K