The Daily Alaska empire., 1946-08-03
BOOST IN DOCK
 HANDLING RATE
 GETS APPROVAL
Council Warmed by Con. siderable Increase in
 Assessment Rolls

half a year, the Northland Trans portation Company last night asket Juneau's City Council to approv' an increase in handling charges or freight passing across the Cit! Dock. The boost the compan! states. is imperative to meet tht pyramided cost increases resulting from higher longshore rates.
 Last May, the Company asked the Council to approve handling charge increase from 75 cents tC sl.25 per ton. Now. the company wants to peg the charge at $1.5I per ton. The Council voted ap- proval of that new rate, with the understanding that it still must he approved by the OPA.
 Appearing before the Councilmer on behalf of the steamship line which operates the City Dock, At tomey R. E. Robertson compare1 the new rate asked by Northlanc with that which had been put into effect by the Alaska Dock anc Storage Company and which is now Lefore the OPA for approval since that agency has been revived-S2 per ton. Robertson declared that the Alaska Dock operators have stated they will cease freight handling unless their request fol @ $2 handling charge is approved
 $500 On Freight Bill
 The S1.5O handling charge asked by the Northland company, to- eether with the $50 per ton wharfage charge already in effect would make a total of s per tor added onto freight bills.
 Though the City never official ly approved the increase to SIPS ger ton fer handling originally ask cd, that rate was put into effect at the City Dock on July l4 anc was continued until the revival ot OPA. Robertson held that it is moi necessary under the Company agreement with the City for th' operator of the dock to get Coun- cil approval of handling charges but it is asked as a cooperative gesture.
 Robertson added that the North land Transportation Company hope it will not te necessary to ask any further increase in the handling charge-but that is dependent upor wage scales, etc.
 Vote on approval of the Sl.5 handling charge came after Coun cilman Henry Sully had left tn meeting and carried by a four t one margin, Councilman Ed Nielsel opposing.
 Assessment Total Up
 Before the dock rates question was tossed in their laps, the Coun cilmen were feeling rather happ, over the report of City Assessor Felix J. Toner, which showed al overall increase in the tax roll for the current year, commencing Jure l, of s653, ,268o8 over l945.
 The new total valuation upor taxable property within the city, O $10,9l6,89818, was broken down al follows:
 Real property-$8, ,294, ,708.42, al increase of s499, ,38942 over las year
 Personal property $2,333, ,79o.7t up S134 ,879.76 from 1945.
 Indian Village $23,29 same a last year.
 Automobile assessments-$26O, l0l an increase of s2O,00o over l945.
 NelU Buildings Help
 Assessor Toner attributed tn bulk of the increase in the req property assessment to constructio of tte Goldstein, Juneau Col Storage and Simpson building! The latter two buildings. still un der construction, were given a pro rated assessment based upon tn estimated period of use before tn end of the tax year, May 3l, l94' Objection to any tax upon build ings not completed at the begin n.ng of the tax year was voiced b Councilmen R. H. Williams cn James Larsen and that questio was left for settlement by tn Board of Equalization next Wc2l
 The sizeable increase in value ( personal property Toner laid to th inclusion of new persons upon tf tax rolls as a result of a carefl check of apartments and othf types of rental housing. The 1T crease in assessed valuation of mo tor vehicles results, Toner state from the appearance of some ne cars and additional trucking equil ment in the City as well as u fact that last years cars have d preciated little due to the col tinued scarcity of new vehicles.
 Equitable Values Wanted
 Referring to complaints again assessments, Toner concluded thf in general, amount of individu assessments was not complained 0 that complaints were based on cor parative assessments. The fact took as indicating that the peor CT Juneau are more concerned wi securing ap equitable asSessme than with getting any general T Guc+iO11 in valuations