Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1906-10-12
TEE BANNER AND TIE BOARD
OF EQUALIZATION.

The Rot alton Banner means to be
fair, but it has al article in ITS last
issue ou tue work of the state beard of
equelization which is unfair. The ar
ticle was writer before the board hal
completed its work. and therefore
tails to dc the board justice.
In tho first place, real estate values
in the state outside the large cities
we're reported to the board 500, OOO, 600
less than last year. To have left this
alone would have made a higher tax
rate, all Lewis being already made.
The large cities reported valuations
immensely larger than at the last as.
sessment, the city of Minneapolis be-
log many millions higher. Miuneap.
oils was too high in comparison with
tine c,untry districts in Hennepin
county, and was reduced per cent
to make the general assessment in
that county fair. Notwithstandine
this, the general increase in Henne-
pin county is many millions. AZ to
the work Of the board. it is conceded
that its record has never been
equaled by any previous board. The
was not raised. That is mistake,
" u90 "44u 4dAku0k0s
The Minneapolis Gas Co. was raised
5000, 600.
The Minneapolis General Electric
Co. was raised $3.50, 600.
The St. Paul General Electric &
Gas Co. was raised $3.50. 900.
An assessment of $50, 900 was placed
on the franchise of the Duluth Street
Railway Co., the first time that con-
Germ has ever been so taxed.
The Twin City Rapid Transit Co.,
operating the street aud interurban
car lines, was raised 81, 500, 900.
All public service corporations, wa
ter power companies. etc.. were a.
sessed on their franchises from %, 600
up. On nearly all these concerns out
site the Twin Cities, this is the first
time they have been so taxed. For
instance, the Little Falls Water Pow
or Co. was assessed 80, 0C0 on its light
aud water franchise. This franchise
matter is one OF great Importance,
and is the first step toward proper tax
alton Of these privileges.
The assessment of iron mines In St.
Louis county, mostly owned or con-
trolled by the steel trust. was raised
ten millions of dollars. That means
an addi Ion to the state treasury Of
from $500, 900 to $3.50, 900 per year for
two years. from this item alone,
which will operate to reduce the tax
levy. The motion to make this In.
crease of $40, 600, 600 was made by
Chas. e. Vasaly, and ha gave the
board the information, (the result Of
research by himself } upon which tbs
motion was made, and which caused
it to b. adopted. If it were not for
the attack made on the state board.
We would have said nothing about
the matter. Will the Banner kindly
inform US whether Representative or
Senator Fuller, or any other republic
can member of the legislature from
this district or all of them together,
ever performed q similar service for
the people of this state7
TIE attorney -gt neral and the state
auditor, both republicans, and both
members of the state board, can cor.
roborate what we have herein stated
''Governor Johnson's board,' as
the Banner called it, did great work
in raising the big interests, and
thereby making tax burdens lighter
for the people at large. It is record
that its members can justly be proud
Of, as we'll as the governor who ap-
pointed them.