The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1916-04-08
COMMERCIAL CLUB
Names CON''|TTEE
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Fifty Men Attend Big Meeting He
at Club Rooms Last
Evening.
TAX KICKING IS HABIT;
CITIZENS NOT INTERESTED
Committee May Hold Sessions at
Which Citizens Will Be Urged
to Attend.

to Attend.
Kicking on taxes is habit.
This was pointed out last evening
at an open meeting of the CONNER.
cial club, called for the purpose OF
discussing taxes, appointing com
mittee to assist the city assessor and
to discuss the city taxes.
About so men attended the meet
ing.
Committee Named.
The following committee was
named to assist T. ]. Lloyd, city as
SCISSOR, with the assessing of real es-
tate property: H. E. Reynolds,
chairman, G. E. Battles, George
Kreatz, Charles Warfield and DR.. r.
Gilmore.
The Bemidji Merchants association
will name committee to assist AS
SCISSOR Lloyd in the assessing of per-
sonal property taxes.
Many Discussions.
The meeting was called to order by
e. H. Denu, president of the Com
mercial club. Among those who
took part in the discussions were A..
P. Ritchie, F. S. Lycan, Maurice Kap-
Ian, City Assessor T. J. Lloyd, T..
Johnson, E. A. Barker, G.. E. Carson,
H. E. Reynolds, George Kreatz, j.
j. Opsahl, E. H. Winter, Attorney
E. E. Mcdonald, J. P. Lahr, DR.. R.
Gilmore
Question of Morals.
1t was pointed out in the discus
sion that taxation is a matter of
morals. Listing property is a mat
ter of common honesty, or honor, or
fair play. The taxpayer who escapes
with less than his just share of the
tax burden is just as much of a thief
as the pickpocket. The man who
lodges IS or $4,000 is robbing his
honest neighbors, just as culpably as
if he were lodging the payment of
$5,OOO,O0O and thereby doubling the
tax of all the people in his ward or
township.
Lie to Assessor.
1t was stated that many a man
who would scorn to beat his neigh
Dor in a horse trade, who would
scorn to give shortage in weight and
who would die before he would short
change a customer, will lie to the as
SCISSOR and rob his friends by failing
to pay his share of the taxes and
never stop to think how mean and
dishonest he has been.
There must be finer sense Of
honor among the men and women be-
fore the tax question is worked out.
Assessor Lloyd told of the grading
of the city for real estate taxes. He
stated that it was hard to get an
equal valuation and that if a good
stiff valuation is made the lower the
tax rate will be. A low tax rate is
an inducement to people on the out
side.
Take No Interest.
J. P. Lahr urged that citizens take
more interest in tax matters He
stated that he had been on the city
council and school board for num-
Der of years, but the citizens did not
appear interested enough to investi-
gate the levies and discuss them.
When they have to pay the levy, how
ever. they blame the assessor. lie
praised the work of Assessor Lloyd
last year and stated that Assessor
Lloyd's grading of lots was very
good. A lot in the business district
is unquestionably worth more than a
lot in the residence district. The
main difficulty is the distinction OF
a business and resident lot. "Taxes
are high, we must admit" said Mr.
Lahr, "but property must be as
sessed."
The committees appointed to assist
Assessor Lloyd will assist him II
scaling the real estate and the per
sonal property taxes. The commit
tee may hold open meetings at whicf
citizens will be invited to attend.