The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1917-04-19
THE MEET
Annual Meeting of Assessors of Mile
Laos County Held at Audi
tors Office Tuesday:
Henry A. S. Ives, Secretary of Min.
s nesota Tax Commission, De-
livers Interesting Talk.

nVerS interesting Talk.
All the assessors of Mile Laos coun-
ty-21 in number present at the
meeting held at the court house Tues
day, at which time Henry A. S. Ives,
secretary of the state tax commission,
explained the various provisions of
| law relating to the assessment Of per-
sonal property and money and credits.
There will be no real estate assess
ments this year.
Mile Laos county has an intelligent
and conscientious lot of assessors, and
they displayed commendable interest
throughout. Mr.. Ives had the closest
attention of each one at all times.
That they desired to thoroughly ac-
quaint themselves with their duties
was indicated by the questions pro-
pounded to the secretary of the state
commission, all Of which he answered
clearly and concisely.
Inc names OF the assessors and
their districts appear hereunder:
VIM. Talen, Bogus Brook; Otto Sta
dig, Borgholm; Edward Melgard, Dali
ley; John Lindstrom, East Side; R. A.
Ross, Greenbush; Geo. Wills, Hayland;
E. E. Dinwiddie, Kathio; Oscar Thil-
quist, Milaca; C. A. Larson, Milo; H.
E. Helgren, Onamia; Frank Briggs,
Page; VIM. Klingbiel, Princeton; Geo.
H. Halves, South Harbor; w. E. Black,
Mudgett; Thos. Pearson, Isle Harbor;
G. A. Gilbert, Foreston VIII; Dan
Elgren, Isle VIII; Andrew Larson, Mil
AGA VIII; R. E. Harrington, Onamia
VIII; Alfonso Howard, Princeton VIII;
T. E. Potts, Wahkon Vii.
This was Mr.. Ives first visit to
Princeton in his official capacity, and
he proved himself to be thoroughly
conversant with the subject of taxa
ton. He was we'll pleased with the
meeting, and pronounced it the best
one he has held this year.
Mr.. Ives said that the ordinary
meaning Of the word 'stax" is the con-
ftribution which the citizen is required
to make toward the general expenses
OF the government under which he
lives. 5S@
| Modern systematic taxation such
as we are familiar WITH" said Mr..
Ives, "has been a matter of gradual
development. In the earlier stages of
political society the government tried
to get as much as it could without re-
gard to system while the subjects were
trying to pay as little as they could.
"About $50 years ago the great
French financier, Colbert, defined tax
alton as the art of so plucking the
goose as to secure the largest amount
of feathers with the least amount of
squealing.' Unfortunately we have not
wholly outgrown the state of political
life which gave this definition its
force. But as popular government has
made progress or, more accurately
as we gradually have come to rely on
the consent Of the people to give force
to legal enactments, we have learned
to regard taxes as self-levied contribu-
lions which each man pays according
to his ability. Although this ideal is
as yet very far from being realized in
practice, it has become fundamental
doctrine of practical justice among
the great mass of civilized men.
"Our system presupposes that the
value and amount of property which
a man owns measures his ability tc
contribute to the maintenance Of gov.
eminent. To determine this ability
assessors are chosen in each communi.
ty to list and value the holdings Of
each citizen in accordance with the
rules adopted by the people through
their representatives in the legisla
ture.
"These rules are intended to secure
uniformity and equality and the
primary duty of applying and enforc
ing them rests upon the local assessor
He is the most important official con
nected with the taxing system and his
employers the taxpayers of the com
munity, are entitled to the very bes1
service which he can give them. Much
depends on his sound judgment, hon
esty and integrity and the greatest in
jury he can inflict on his friends ant
neighbors is to wilfully or carelessl,
omit taxable property from his list o,
. to undervalue the property Of som,
and overvalue the property of others.
eff the initial assessment is vel
made no subsequent action by an,
: board of review or equalization cal