The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1911-10-03
May Be
NEXT. FEATURE
Of ACTION
Townships and School Dis
tricts Claim Financial
Loss in Movement
ATTACK VALIDITY
OF COUNCIL STEPS
Claim Law Is Unconstitu-
tional and Also That Pro-
ceedings Arc Faulty
VALIDITY
OF COUNCIL E

NSS0A4lS>o S94S 4ouAIy
With October 90 fixed as the time
for the further consideration of the
city extension question and with the
problem at the present time in the
hands of the ways and COM
mittee of the city council as a result
of Monday evenings council meeting,
the new turn that has been given the
case-the protests from townships and
school districts-bid fair to be an in
teresting feature of the proposition.
In these several protests which were
formally presented to the council at
its meeting Monday evening, the po-
litical subdivisions set forth finan-
cial and legal objection to the city's
plan of action.
The legal feature Of the case re-
solves itself into the following claims
made by the protesting townships and
school districts:
That the statutes pretending to au-
thorize such extension are void for
conflict with the constitution.
That the proceedings had by the
city council and authorities p%urporting
to be under the statute are void for
conflict with the state constitution.
That the proceedings had by the
SAty III III dulilok ! pun pol lllI6
to be under the statute are void be-
cause of conflict Herewith and because
the statute has not been complied with
and its requirements fulfilled.
That the lands and real estate in
cluded within the proposed extension
do not belong to the class of lands
within the power of the city council
and authorities to include within such
proposed extension.
T1orloroftoy. i, vaoI1 that Sa <A1
event that the legislature can consti-
tutionally delegate a power to a city
council-that Of extending in the man.
ner laid down by the state statute-it
should not be so delegated nor should
1t be exercised by the recipient there
of until coupled Herewith there is pro-
vided a method by which adequate
PREPARATION and compensation may be
made.
The Financial Objections
Financial reasons are also set forth
An: a comprehensive manner and in. the
various townships and school districts
the losses in taxable property and rev.
enue, by reason of the inclusion of GER
tain portions of the taxing districts
as a part of the city, are indicated.
Briefly, the conditions stated follow:
Falconer Township
1t is claimed that the total assessed
NoAoC III an lopSA IA lAAS !
of Falconer, including personal prop
erty, real estate. railroads, telegraph
and telephone lines, street railway lines
and express companies for the year of
1911 is $1S2.517. and that by the re-
moval Of a portion of the township and
making 1t a part of the city, the town.
ships assessed valuation is reduced
$1S.439.
In removing this portion of the dis
friNt'c q ocacco h1n nrnnarfy IL iS Sh0SNn
that the amount of property that can
be levied upon is tel per cent less.
reducing the revenue the same amount
in the event hat the levy is kept at
the same point. To raise the same
amount as formerly, the property own
er who then paid 500. will be COM
PEELED to pay $110 annually.
Grand Forks Township
Grand Forks township declares its
assessed valuation to be $339.4S9,
which would be reduced s63,991 by the
extension. This wou Id mean a de-
crease in the revenue Of nineteen per
cent. with an increase of twenty-four
per cen in the taxes If the, same
amount is to be raised. making this
increase from 500 to $124.
School District No. 100
In school district No. 100. it is
shown that the present total valuation
is S166.322. which would be reduced
to ~S121.7S0 by the extension. the di-
minished income being twenty-seven
per cent. 1t is charged with that re-
moval of the property from the district
would be to impair and break down
the educational equipment and the IA
~cilities of the people of such township
and a direct blow to the township
common school system.
1t is also shown that the district is
bonded for $1,000 equalling about
eight mills, would be increased to
about eleven mills should a portion OF
the district be removed. 1t is also
commended hat the lands sought to be
included in the city are for the main
part farming and pasturage lands and
valuable for no other purpose and that
they are not suited for city purposes
School District No. 4.
In school district Nc. 4 the assess.
ed valuation is shown to be $70.273,
which is reduced $3.50 by the extern
sion, reducing the districts income
twelve per cent.
School District No. SO.
In school district No. So the valua-
ton is shown at $1S1.2O which would
be reduced s2s,sos. or a decrease OF
sixteen per cent in the assessed val
uation and a corresponding decrease
in the revenues.
Protest From Property Owners
From a majority of the property
owners Of the district prescribed a
protest was also launched and petitions
setting forth such protests were filed
with the city auditor thirty days aft
er the time the resolution was pass
ed, and at which time their oppor-
tunity for protest expired.
In this petition 1t is set forth that
the people of the district that 1t is
proposed shall be created as a part
of the city had no part or voice in the
mourning Of certain Indebtedness on
the part of the city for public i'm
provements and hat to ask them to
come in and pay n part of such deb:
is. in fact. a confiscation of property.
1t is also contendcd that the proper
ties of the protestants will not bc
benefited in the slightest through tile
proposed extension.
They also state that they are now
being assessed for such imp ovements
as have been made in the political
subdivisions to which their property
belongs. and that they are entirely
satisfied with such improvements.
Eonds outstanding in the political
subdivisions to which the property
already belongs is a lien. they declare.
IN their property and cannot he re-
leased by the city of Grand Forks.
1t is also set forth as being unfair
and unreasonable AS we'll as illegal
to deprive the several political sub.