New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1919-04-23
LOCAL NEEDS EAT
Up MUCH OF TAXES
COMM ssIoNER LORDS TALK
AT COUNTY ASSESSORS
MEETING.
TAx-DODGERS CAUSE BURDEN
TO FALL ON WEAKER
I. SHOULDERS.

Samuel Lord member Of the Minnesota
state tax commission, told the assessors
of Brown County, in annual meeting
assembled last Wednesday, that taxes
are. for the most part purely local in
character. and that about ninety-two
cents of every dollar collected is. used
for town, village, city or county pur-
poses. This money is used to build
and maintain schools, roads, hospitals
and great number Of other public
utilities and institutions" he said. 1t
affords police and fire protection, pro
tects your health by the building Of
sewers and drains, supports the courts
open to all citizens, and is otherwise
employed in making your town, county
and state a better place to live in.
Well Attended.
The meeting of the assessors was very
well attended, 20 out of % in the county
being present. Those present were
III. F. Schrader, New Ulm; Albert Dur
balm, Sleepy Eye; Gustav Nuessle
Springfield; J os. j. Schuma cher, Cornfrey
Hans Ulen, Hanska; Thos. Peterson
Golden; Rasmus Hansen, Evan; Isaac
III. Olsen, Albin; J. O. Wood, Bashaw
Herman Unger,. BurnstoWn; Peter Car
stensen, Eden; Clay Current, Home;
Jos. Fromm, Leavenworth; H. J. Al
brecht, Milford; Park Green, Multi
gan; Henry M. Timm, North Star;
Nick. Mertz, Prairieville; Ed. w. Flor,
Sigel; Jos. H. Hoffman,, Stark and
Ernest Balbach, Stately.
Assessors Duties.
Mr.. Lord gave general talk on the
dlissi. IF an assessor. 1t was FIVE years,
he said, since he had been in Brown
County and addressed the assessors.
He added that certain changes had made
their appearance during that period, in
regard to the assessing Of property in the
state of Minnesota. But these changes
were made to better conditions, the
dissimilarity Of assessing in the different
parts of the state having been done away
with. s'Now there is uniformity in
the manner the work is done. By hold
ing meetings in each county, assessors
are instructed as to the manner in which
thew shall discharge their Duties
Must Be Fair.
''The work Of an assessor, for the
greater part, must be guided by his
fairness and judgment, he continued.
The assessing of property calls him to
visit his neighbors and place a valua-
ton on their earthly possessions. This
must be done in all fairness to the neigh
Dor as we'll as the community at large.
1t is no easy task to make an equable
assessment Of all the personal property
in a community. Take the two best
men you have in the city and turn the
lob over to them. The returns Of each
will differ in many particulars. All that
can be asked is that those, who assess,
shall be guided by fair judgment and
impartiality.
. II have come to assist you, and not
to crack the whip Commissioned
Lord informed those present. Il will
not tell you where to get off at, but
desire to discuss certain matters with
you, which will be helpful to each Of
you in discharging your duties, and
assist you in doing as perfect a job as
possible. If a bad job is the result Of
your work, your community will suffer;
your neighbors will get the worst Of it.
People Should Help.
It is up to the people to make honest
and fair returns, Commissioner Lord
said. If they do this many troubles
will be eliminated. Ii taxpayers would
cooperate with assessors and en-
deavor to make honest and fair re
turns many Of the troubles you face
would be eliminated. Men, Who are
scrupulously honest in regard TO ordinary
business dealings often are found t
be among the most versatile tax-dodgers
in community. In this connection il
may well be added that the man, who
most generally escapes assuming his
fair share Of the common burden is the
man, who can best afford to pay. Much
Of his property may be easily concealed
and he often is more adroit at the art
Of concealing than those with but little
Of this worlds goods. On the othel
hand the property Of the poor man il
easily discovered and he generally i
assessed at nearer the correct amoun1
than is his rich neighbor. This natural,
tends to put much Of the burden OF