The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-03-11
N. acknowledgements
MADE STATEMENT
ON TAKES
Calls Attention to Some
Facts Concerning Charge
of Mr.. Rudser
the Editor:

Va AVAls x\lStSSl
To the Editor:
In reference to the article in the
Herald n Times or the 9TH. MIST.
relating to the charge made in the city
council of the previous evening by
Mr.. Sudser to the effect that / had
a personal grievance against him and
for that reason l was unfair and
caused hin to a a heavier assess
ment than was right and just, l will
say that l had. at first thought, o
intended TO give such a foolish state
ment consideration. But in order to
throw IL little light ON the subject for
those that do not know me. | will say
that in my utmost recollection l can
not recall ever having any words or
difference with Mr.. Itudser. that he
or n one else could say was d grew
anre or grudge as he calls it, nor did
l think that there was in this city Il
person so small and narrow thai knew
me, who would think l would allow
any personal matters. no matter of
what nature, to affect my Judgment
in trying to equalize other peoples
burdens. not my own. I will be only
too glad II Mr.. Rudser will make good
his bluff and take the case into court
for then he will be compelled to come
out in the open and give his proof
to those charges. l will say right here
that when he does this l will o only
agree to reduce his assessment but
l Will pay his total assessment for
him, for If it was the case that l had
any personal grievance against him
or n one else it would be the last
place on earth l would try to get
even.
In the first place 1 am not the
chairman Of the board but one mem-
Der of it, all the work of tn COM
mission is open and above board.
The findings are published in the pa
per several times and then reviewed
by h city council before the work
is approved. All parties were given
due notice to meet the commission
at a given time and place to then and
there state their objections IL any why
tho assessments should not stand. II
any such objections are made the
commission must file the same in a
written statement to the council. /
will state here in connection with the
property owner has a duty to per.
form that he peglects and ignores by
not looking after his assessments
when they are made and published.
He can not wait for a year or i'm this
case nearly two years before he raises
an objection. For the benefit of those
that do no know just by what meth
cd assessments are mad I will say
price or amount that the property
should bear of the total cost Of the
Improvement is made practically and
wholly in the lark as to the owner.
ship of he property for the amount
is liked on the blue print or map Of
the district. This map only shows
the plat OF the district as originally
4 IN "A 6o - ~ 80
division Of lots or tracts in the dis.
trict. The commission as a rule does
not know or for that matter are who
owns the property. except in the bus
mess district where a prominent piece
of property is located in everyone's
mind. will say hat as to this prop
erty in question. ! did not know nor
do hin any member of the board
knew for at least 9 or 10 months at
ter the assessment was made who was
inc owner Tor it was about thai time
MI. Rudser met me on the street. He
wanted me to agree to reduce his as
sessment but I informed him that
the board visited the property and
came to the conclusion should stand
as made: l for n would o change
my opinion unless I had made a mis-
take or could be convinced I was
wrong. which Mr.. Rudser took ex-
ception to n Is now trying to get
a reduction from the council. The
council at the time turned it over to
the paving committee and that COM
mittee made n date for the commits
sion, themselves. and Mr.. Rudser to
meet and try to adjust the matter IL
1t We're possible. But after waiting
; hours for MIR. Rudser to appear
We were compelled to give it up. It
was at that meeting a resolution was
adopted and placed as a matter Of
recore and guide for future action to
the enect that in the event that at
some future time Fourth street should
OF property 1t should be assessed no
greater amoun than any other cor
ner lot in the same district is now as
sessed. The assessment that Mr.. Rud.
ser complains of is OH lot No. 1 in
Block 4 Huberts Addition. It is a
corner lot. is not paved in front, hut
is paved for 140 feet on the venue
IL carries an assessment of $3.50 All
other corner lots in the same district
carries no less n in some cases more
than $622.70. having so feet more Of
paving than Mr.. Rudser. He says he
Is o%vercharged $4,000. But he does
not take into consideration that he
has lao feet of paving on the sideof
his lot and all the inside lots in the
district with only 50 feet Of paving
pay $479 which is only 10 per cent less
than Rudser with IS per cent more
paving on h ave. OF $50 p. G. more
paving than him. That is the assess
ment as 1t stands and I for one cannot
in Justice to all the property in the
district see why 1t should not stand,
I do not claim that the board doea
no make errors nor that thov u,iJj