Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1917-07-06
TAXC0MMITTEE MAKES REPORT
TO COUNCIL-BIG ITEMS FOUND
OMITTED FROM TAX ROLLS
OTHER BUSINESS

monthly meeting at the city hall on
Monday evening, with Aldermen Hall,
Moeglein, Blake, Falk, Farrow, La
Fond, N. j. Peterson and George Peter.
son present.
"A report from Municipal Judge Ly-
on with a receipt for 500 in fines col
lected was accepted and ordered fled.
Three bills, one from the town of
Green Prairie for road work, one from
the Little Falls Cornice & Roofing
company and one from st. Gabriel 8
hospital, were laid over for investiga-
tion. The first mentioned bill was held
up because the work was not done un-
der the supervision of the street COM
missioner, as was agreed when the ap-
preparation was made. The second bill
was considered exorbitant and the last
mentioned bill, which was for the care
of pauper, was laid over because it
was understood that no charge was to
be made for this PERSONS care, this
person to compensate with work.
A report from the citizens tax COM
mittee, which was recently appointed
by the council to 90 over the tax rec
ords with the assessor for the purpose
of adjusting the assessments, was read
D. M. Cameron, A. H. Vernon, T. H.
Dewey and Max Corbin constituted the
committee but the report was signed
by only the first named and the last
named, as Mr.. Dewey was out Of the
city.
The committee stated in it's report
that there was no way to determine
whether all of the items under the head
of "credits'' had been assessed or not
as the credits are not open or visible
and the places where they are most
Frequently kept are not open to in
spection by the assessor. The commit
tee recommended the passing Of a law
which would give the assessor power
to examine the books of banking insti.
tutions to determine the actual amount
of such property subject to taxation.
Another item which did not appear
on the tax books was that Of contain
ers for goods shipped out of this city,
but which containers are owned here
and which should be assessed.
One large property, that Of the Wa
ter Power company, the report stated,
had considerable part of it's property
entirely omitted from the tax rolls and
the greater part of the balance Of the
property is under assessed to a1remark-
able degree. The dam and riparian
rights are entirely. omitted from the
tax rolls. Under the law it is the duty
Of the auditor and assessor to see that
such omitted property is properly
placed on the assessment rolls. The
minimum value Of the dam, based on
1925 per horsepower for each 5000
horsepower, is $375, 900. The report
added that the assessor has indicated
his willingness to place the company's $
assessment On a higher basis, which
can be done satisfactorily without the
action by the council, but the omitted
property is still to be attended to, the
report stated.
Lastly the report stated that the
committee believed the auditor and as
SCISSOR would place the omitted property
on the tax rolls, and as matter Of in
formation and in fairness to these Of
ficials the report stated that the omis-
sion occurred before either Of these
persons took office. The report recon-
mended that the council pass a resolu-
tion requesting the auditor and assessor
that the omitted property be placed Oh
the tax rolls. A resolution to this ef-
feet was passed by the council. The
matter Of assessments for the past ten
years is also g matter for consideration.
Mr.. Cameron, in remarking on the COM
mittee's investigation, said that as a
result of it the Water Power company -
assessment would be increased from
$4,000 to $295,00G.
The ordinance prohibiting teaching,
advocating or advising crime or vio-
lence as means Of accomplishing in
dustrial or political ends and making
it unlawful to attempt to influence
persons not to aid the United States
to prosecute war against it's public eneI
mics, and providing punishment by a
fine of 800 and costs or 80 days in
Jail, was passed unanimously. The Or
dinance was passed at the request of
the Minnesota Public Safety Commits
sion.
Richard Hamm was granted cigar
cite license.
Frank Knuth filed with the council
notice Of a claim of $75 for damages
alleged to have been caused to his
property on Kidder street southeast on
June 16 by water flowing from the
streets. On motion by Alderman Falk
the street committee was instructed to
investigate as to what damage actully
was done by the water and to report
at the next, meeting. ,~s
City Clerk johnson was on motion
by Alderman Falk made member Of
the council purchasing committee. The
council recently made a rule that all
purchases by the city officials and en-
ployes by first authorized by some
member Of the purchasing committee.
AS it is sometimes quite difficult to
find the councilmen it was decided to
put the clerk on the committee as he
can be found at the city hall.
A sidewalk was ordered replaced on
Third avenue northeast between Sixth
and Seventh streets and cross walks
were also ordered put in on Fifth and
Sixth street. ,. r.