The Dickinson press., 1910-02-12
TAXES CAN'T Be LOWERED
CITY HEARS COMPLAINTS

There was a large gathering of citi-
zens at the regular monthly council
meeting held Monday evening. Two
matters Of Importance were uppermost
in their minds. One was the matter of
reducing taxes and the other regarding
the action of the aldermen on the com
mission system petitions.
Aldermen Richards. johnson. Craw-
ford, White, Maser, Roquette, Stewart,
Wanner and Tear were present Mayor
Frye in the chair.
Mrs. Jennie Brown and Mrs. Kate
Ryan appeared in person and asked that
their taxes be reduced on the grounds
that they were excessive. After some
discussion the matter was referred to
the aldermen Of their wards for inves-
tigation.
The big tilt came when Henry Roberts
asked to have the assessed valuation
on his jewelry stock reduced from $500
to $500. Mr.. Roberts based his claim
OF; the statement that his stock was
no larger than a like merchandise stock
in the city on which the valuation had
been allowed to stand at $500. The
discussion that followed brought out the
statement that a 1913, 600 stock OF mer-
chandise had been allowed to stand at
an assessed valuation of So, 900. Mr..
Roberts statement was that his was
practically q SIS. 900 stock at the time
of assessment.
1t was finally I:s.oved by White and
seconded by Richards that the Roberts
valuation be reduced from $500 to $500.
The vote showed seven for and three
against the motion. Later the vote was
recinded. Before this action, however,
T. j. Greene had asked to have the
council reduce his assessed valuation.
About this time City Attorney Burgeson.
who had been looking up the law, read
q section which clearly stated that the
council could not change the assessed
valuation after the equalization board
had finished its labors in the summer,
except for double assessment and prop
erty that was unassessable. This put
a different aspect on the matter and
some of the aldermen breathed easier
when their attorney showed them that
the changes asked for were beyond their
power to grant.
After taking favorable action on the
commission system petition. the council
audited the following bills:
City Fire department, SIG allowed at
p0O OIdIh OOuuly, @of. ID ICuuCCu "
$14. 43; r. H. johnson. premium on
insurance policy, 50; H. A. Burgeson,
salary. SIS: w. J. Littlehales. salary,
SIPS Benzie Drug Co., supplies $47. IS
T. A. Tollefson. salary for January.
So. 80: W. R. Veigel. service, IS Hughes
& Deiters, power for water pumping,
SIPS; Pat Walsh. salary, SOS; Frank
Nauss. dog license. $3.50; J.. P.
Tinele. printing. $39. so; Nick Stringer,
labor, 81 Hughes & Deiters, light and
phone, $1S9. 05; J. W. Bowen, profess
sional services at pest house, $81; Dick
inson Meat g. Grocery Co., supplies at
pest house, 50. IS Harleman & Scott.
supplies at pest house. $13. IS; A. J.
Osborn, salary and postage. $50; A. j.
Osborn, on special assessment COM
mittee, $40. total, 81, 1893. rs
TREASURERS' REPORT.
Receipts Cash on hand, January
1. 1910, $345. Sc. Pat Walsh, poll tax,
s.. SO: A. J.. Osborn, water tax, $423. IS:
A. ]. Osborn, licenses, $40. rs; A. ].
Osborn, city scales, $19.27: A. j.
Osborn, water tax, 1881. 50 J. van der
Las, fines. $263. 10. total, 81. 402. 81.
The disbursements showed $575. inter-
est on coupons at the First National
| bank, leaving q balance of $827.21