The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1923-09-07
PROPERTY IS
ORDERED PUT
ON THE ROLLS
County Commissioners Order
Valuations of Upwards of
SS,OO0,OOO Listed
BANKS ASK A REFUND?
Result Of Action May be Suit
to Recover Money Volun-
tarily Paid to County


The board Of county commission.
ers of Burleigh county, in concluding
late yesterday the sessions which
have been held on the matter OF
property alleged to have escaped
taxation, ordered approximately s8,-
100000 property put on the assess
ment rolls. The property includes all
of the banks in Burleigh county and
numerous corporations.
The banks were ordered listed at
the full amount claimed in reports
submitted by F. o. Hellstrom, en-
ployed by the county to ferret out
escaped property, and covered for the
most part bank stocks for 1919, 1920
1921 and 1922 The banks during
most of this period had paid taxes
to the county under the voluntary
settlement offered by the bankers of
the state when the supreme court de
cided the Legislature had failed to
tax bank stocks. Since that time the
legislature has, classified bank stock
at so percent. the valuation on whic,,
the banks paid taxes under the vol
untary agreement. The county puts
them. on for the full valuation.
AS result of the action, which
was opposed here by A. G.. Divet, at
torney for the bankers. association
and local bankers. il is unde ood
that the banks will make a demand
on Burleigh county for the refund of
the taxes which had been paid vol
UNFAIRLY. They take the position that
the commissioners in placing the
property on the rolls now rescind
their former action in which they ac-
oepted the voluntary settlement, and
therefore the banks are entitled tc
receiye their money back from thu
county.
Two Left Out
In ordering property Of ccrpor.
ations, chiefly corporate excess which
was defined by Mr.. Hellstrom as the
capital employed in the business, the
commissioners cut the amount claim.
ed by Mr.. Hellstrom in most cases
so percent, in some cases more.
The Beulah Coal Mining Company
and the Knife River Coal Mining
Company were the only two corpor.
ations or individuals which had been
served which were not listed for tax.
alton. w. T.. Kraft of the Hughes
Electric Company, appearing for both
these companies claimed they had nc
property in Burleigh county. The
Beulah company recently was fore.
closed on by st. Paul financial
house. Further action may be taken
by the commissioners with reference
to these properties.
Among the corporations against
whom additional assessments were
claimed by Mr.. Hellstrom were the
Standard Oil Company; international
Harvester Company, Russell Mile,
Milling Company, Provident Life In
surance Company, Northern Produce
Company, Gamble Robinson Company
Stacy Bismarck Company, Bismarcl:
Grocery Company, Hughes Electric
Company. Attorneys appeared for
most of the companies denying the
claims were just. t 'tt >
Attack Employment
Before Judge Jansonius yesterday
afternoon attorneys for local tax
payers made application for. an order
restraining the county board from
employing F. o. Hellstrom az spe-
cial attorney in the tax matter, alleg-
ing it was without authority in law
and that the county had regularly
elected and paid officials whose duty
it was to list property for taxation
and collect taxes. G. F. Dullam, ap-
pearing for the taxpayers, asserted
that the notice of Mr.. Hellstrom
showed he had solicited the business
from the county, which he asserted
was prohibited by the state bar rules.
Mr.. Hellstrom in answer asserted
that the employment was legal, tina.
an effort ~was being made to collect
just taxes and that the persons who
brought the action against him were
not acting in good faith.
Judge Jansonius indicated belief
that the commissioners were without
authority to employ Hellstrom as a
special county attorney, but that if
the employment were made it would
have to be as regular assistant 20
the states attorney. No decision was
rendered, and further consideration
was to be given the case, the court
said.