The weekly tribune and the Cape County herald. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1914-1918, 1917-04-27
TAX ASSESSMENT
TO BE APPEALED
BY UTILITIES co.
A. M. Tinsley Will Ask Board
of Equalization to Reduce
Assessment of S150,000.
ASKS TAX VALUATION
OF ABOUT $4,000
Other Appeals on Recent Assess.
ments Will be Heard by Board
of Equalization.

An appeal against the assessment
levied upon the Missouri Public Utili-
ties. Co.. two weeks ago by the Coun-
tv Board of Equalization, will be made
by the representatives of that corpora
ton when the board meets Monday
morning to examine the affidavits filed
bv those who claim they have been
over assessed. At the request of sew
ei,al city officials the County Board of
Equalization raised the tax valuation
of the Missouri Public Utilities Co.
from $4,000 to $150,000.
A. NJ. Tinsley, general manager OF
the local branch Of the Missouri Pub
lie Utilities Co., and other officials,
will appear before the board Monday
morning to file affidavits against the
decision of the board. Other property
owners who want to appeal against
the ruling Of the board in assessing
the value OF their property, will also
be heard, beginning Monday evening.
Mr.. Tinsley said yesterday that the
tax assessment of $150.000 was far in
excess of what the property of the
Missouri Public Utilities Co., could
be compelled to pay. He said that he
would advocate an assessment of ap-
proximately $4,000, and would file an
affidavit to the effect that this would
be a fair and proper assessment Of
the company's property.
CITY Counselor Knehans yesterday
received 4 letter from the State Pub
lie Service Commission, advising him
that the total value of the property
held by the Utilities Company in eight
cities was s2,3O0,6O0.
The plants of the Missouri Public
= Utilities Co. are distributed in a num-
Der of cities, of Southeast and South
west Missouri.
Mr.. Knehans said yesterday that he
believed the revised assessment made
against the Missouri Public Utilities
Go. was too high. City Attorney Balm,
who, with Mayor Hirsch and City As
SCISSOR Huters appeared before the
Board of Equalization two weeks ago
and asked to increase the assessment
of the company, said that he would
oppose the granting of the. appeal of
the officials of the Missouri Public
Utilities Co.
The City Attorney holds that the
property of the company in the Cape
exclusive of the value of the real estate
property is worth 100000 When he
appeared before the Board of Equali-
cation he asked that the company be
assessed. at 100000, but a compro-
mise was effected and the board
agreed to raise the tax valuation of
The company from $4,000 to S150,0OO.
Mr.. Tinsley said yesterday that the
company would be willing to accept
an increase in its assessment in view
Of the fact that general increase of
the tax valuation had been made by
the Board of Equalization, but added
that the assessment made by the board
vas exorhitant. Basing the tax valua-
ton of the Missouri Public Utilities
Co. on the general increase made on
real estate property in the Cape, he
thought that the company should not
be assessed higher than $4,000.
The board, which will act on the
appeals of the taxpayers, is composed
Of the same men who revised the as
sassments of the city and county dur
ing the last three weeks. The board
is composed of the county judges, the
County Assessor, the County Surveyor,
ard in all cases appealed by property
owners in the Cape by the Mayor and
City Assessor of the city.