The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1908-10-09
Members Of Board of Equalization
Do Not Want to Quit.
DISLIKE FOR TAX COMMISSION
it's Made Quite Mantle st in the Pro-
ceedings Of the Body Headed BY
Mr.. z. T. ChempIin.

st. Paul, Oct. G.-The closing days
of the state board of equalization,
which will be absorbed by the state
tax commission Jan. l., are not to be
without their spectacular features. In
fact, the fireworks are on now and
the consumption of powder may nos
be without harm to the democratic
administration and the tax commission.
Yesterday at the instance of Chair
man Champlin and Thomas Meighen,
whose love for the commission does not
extend to the extent of open laudation,
resolutions were offered, calling upon
that body to furnish the board with in
formation concerning the steel corpora
ton properties and the Twin City pub
lie service corporations, with recon-
mendations carrying their views as to
the assessments that should be levied.
In short, the resolutions were for the
purpose of putting the board on record.
To some of the members the resolu-
democratic administration, and they
said so, with the result that the Offend
ing sections were removed and the reso-
lutions passed. These were later trans
mitted to the tax commission and
an answer is now awaited.
Brought Out Resolution.
What actuated one of the resolu-
tions is the fact that the return of the
steel property assessment shows re-
duction of nearly $l2,OOO,O0O and this.
according to one of the members, has
the sanction of the tax commission,
which says the loss is accounted for by
the fact that there is that much less
ore in the mines, it having been ship
ped out last year. As to the public
service corporations, the claim is made
that the commission is inclined to
accept the returns as made, and the
more radical members of the board
think they should be increased.
This the conservative element will
fight to the last ditch, and in the
operation both the tax commission and
the administration may be dragged out
into the open and their political repu-
tations sullied. At the meeting today
all public service corporations were CT
ted to appear next Tuesday and show
WHY their assessments should not be
increased
Today, in answer to the resolution
passed by the board last week, the tax
commission submitted by counties list
of refundments and attachments made
by it since its organization. The list
covers transactions in excess of 500.
According to the report OF the commits
sion, 1888 applications for abatement
and refundment of taxes were received,
involving a reduction of $45,599.551, and
the total amount allowed was $4,9Sl 1888
All allowances made were upon the
recommendation of the county board
and the auditor of the county.
List Is Large.
The list, voluminous affair, was re-
ceived too late today for consideration
bv the board, but it did not escape the
eagle ewes OF some Of the members and
its contents were eagerly pored over.
Attachments in the case of the iron
properties, c. A. Smith personally, and
also his lumber concerns, called forth
some comment. and it could be easily
seen that the information was being
stored away for future use.
The resolution responsible for the
submission of the last was offered by
Thomas Meighen, and according to him
it was the first time such secrets had
ever become public property. He seem
ed much elated.
Reduced to the concrete, the admirers
of the board of equalization and its
system of assessments are not going to
let it die without struggle. Bills are
going to be introduced in the next leg
islature providing for its continuation,
and the fireworks now being prepared
are only incidental to a general cam
,,o;on haforo tho leoi In tIlrp