The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1933-02-08
CITY ASSESSMENT
PLAN DESCRIBED
John A. Graham Is Feature
Speaker At Rotary Clubs
Luncheon Meeting

Method of assessment in Bismarck
is based on the principle employed
in the cities of St. Paul, Mimi, and
Cleveland, Ohio, noted for their sue
cessful systems, City Assessor John
A. Graham told the Rotary club at
the organizations luncheon Wednes-
day noon.
Bismarck was the first city in
North Dakota to follow the St. Paul
and Cleveland plans, he said.
Graham said he instituted this
system when he became assessor in
1880. A committee which works
with the assessor on real estate
valuations compares city plat maps
and has before it continuous plat
map of the entire city. Another
committee is named to fix cubic
values on property of all types. As
this committee completes its work,
the values at which it arrives are
applied in the assessment structure
after allowances have been made
for depreciation-and the final basis
for assessment is reached.
Samples of the card system used
in the assessors office were avail
able to club members for inspection.
Contrary to public opinion, Ora
ham said, the assessor has nothing
to do with the levy. His concern is
with valuation and comparative
values, the governing bodies being
responsible for all levies.
Real Estate Tax Heavy
AE -
dollar received comes from real es-
tate taxes, Graham said in en-
phasizing the Importance Of efficient
assessment work. He added that
every effort is being put forth in
Bismarck to get all assessments on
an equitable basis.
The Capital City, he said, is free
from political assessment, every Sec
ton getting equitable treatment as
far as possible.
North Dakota's state system for
determining personal property taxes
is unsatisfactory, the assessor said,
and he declared it is his ambition to
help bring about changes in the fu-
ture. Personal property assessment
must be made between April and
June l, which is not sufficient time,
he said. He said there is prescribed
no regular manner under which the
assessor is to work.
The rise Of city, county and state
tax associations is evidence that citi-
zens are becoming more tax-con-
scious, Graham said.
Cards or letters were received by
the club Wednesday from Kelley
Simonson, club secretary, who IS at
the Bismarck hospital with broken
leg: Mrs. w. H. Payne, acknowledge
ing receipt Of q recent gift sent by
the club; and J. Leonard Bell, form
err Bismarck banker who announced
to the club, of which he was q men,
Der, that his new address Is The
Woodlands. 1900 Pleasant Avenue,
Minneapolis.
Adolph Engelhardt played two vio-
lin solos. He was accompanied by
Clarion Larson.
Invited BY Scouts
All members Of the club were urg-
ed to attend the court Of honor pro-
gram at the memorial building this
evening and announcement was made
that the Rotary clubs Boy Scout
troop-No. 3-has a display this week
in the window OF Hoskins-Meyer.
George Duemeland, president, an
nounced that all members of the club
have been invited to the ninth annual
international good will meeting at
Winnipeg Feb. Is. This meeting will
be conducted at the Royal Alexandra
hotel.
j. p. jackson was program chair
man.
Among guests were State Senators
j. p. Cain. Dickinson; o. e. Erickson,
Happen. e. G. Stucke, Garrison: @. F.
Drew, Devils Lake: A. w. Fowler
Fargo: and william Watt, Leonard;
State Representatives Einar Mus.
Minot; Milton r. Young. Berlin; and
|P. J. Flaten, Hoople; L. r. Record
st. Paul; w. Fulton Burnett and j.
F. Mcclure, Fargo: r. e. Barron
Minot; AL Arson, Duluth; and J. -
Davis, w. A. Falconer, George =
Shafer and DR.. r. e. Griebenow. al
Of Bismarck.