Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1915-01-13
MORTON UNITY S0LON
WANTS TO KNOW JUST
WHAT IT COSTS STATE TO
PLACE PROPERTY ON AS
SESSMHNT ROLLS.
joint Committee OF SIX
Three From Both Bodies Pro-
vided to Make Thorough In
vestigation.

Senator Martin, in i resolution in.
troduced il the senate yesterday, asks
for thorough investigation of tho
state tax commission, not in a spirit
of hostility, but to ascertain whether
the commission is not costing the
state more than the income from in
creased taxation.
Ever since the tax commission was
established there has been more or
less controversy as to the amount OF
property this body has disclosed ana
placed on the tax rolls. In their an
nual report the tax commission is
very vague, stating that several mil
lions of assessed value have been add,
ed to the tax rolls of the state ana
the revenues either now due or ac-
cruing during the present year will
amount to several hundred thousand
dollars ..
Want Specific information.
1t is with the intention of max
ing these general statements
specific that the resolution was
introduced. During the recent
campaign the tax com omission es-
timated the amount they un.
covered at different amounts, but the
prevailing figure was in excess OF
$10,OO0,O0O. ~.
Much Controversy.
There has been so much con-
troversy between the board OF
equalization and the tax CON-
mission as to the amount of
property added to the tax rolls by
the commission, that many of the se1-
arors want to be shown. 1t is believ-
ed tina resolution will be acte upon
favorably. Even the friends of the
commission want such an investiga-
ton.
Attention has been called to Cover
nor Ha1na's message, in which he
gave specifically the method by which
the increased valuation found it's way
to the tax rolls.
Hanna's Statement.
In his message Governor Hanna
said: ''.
There is a natural increase. in,
the assessed valuation Of proper
ty from year to year. There has
been between the years 1918 and
1914. The states assessed vslua-
ton in 1918 was about 307 mil
lions and in 1914 about 313 mil.
lions, giving an increase of about
six millions Of dollars. This in
crease is accounted for by the
proving up Of about 67o,o00 acres
Of government land, which was
proved up between the years 1918
and 1914, and which has been
added to the tax rolls by the AS
SCISSORS for the first time in 1914:
also some school lands IN cass
and Trail Counties were sold In
December, 1913. and went on the
tax rolls for the first time in
1914; also. by the addition Of sew
eral hundred thousand dollars in
assessment Of railroad property
upon new lines Of railroad built
and roned during the past year.
and the balance is accounted for
by new buildings, houses, busi-
ness blocks and property Of that
kind in the cities Of our state.
If S1O,OOOO00 worth of property
We're placed on the tax rolls by the
state tax commission. the members
notice there a hiatus of some $4,000
900 between the commissions preten-
sions and the actual figures as re-
turned by the state board of equaliza-
ton.
Cost Of Commission.
The cost of the. tax commission is
placed at about 1000 per annum, or
approximately $4,000 for the biennial
period. To yield this, legislative
members assert much more than $780,
00O 900 must be added to the rolls.
However. in view of the fact that
the board of equalization refuses to
concede that any considerable prop
erty was added by the tax commits
sion to the rolls, Legislative senti-
ment seems to De for general air
ing of the situation 1t is charged by
the opposition that the taxable prop
ertv added by the commission during
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