The Nonpartisan Leader Newspaper, March 22, 1917, Page 14

". Stopping Up an Old Gangl.ea B = s S e i v ez New State Administration, Elected by the Farmers, Begins Collection of Private Car Line Taxes s companies that have been es- caping their taxes in North Dakota. under the Hanna regime are today sending in their checks for back taxes for five years and doing it cheerfully, under the administration of Nonpartisan League officers. The state tax com- mission began two years ago an effort to get the Hanna board of equalization to collect taxes from those companies, which operate oil tank cars, refrigera- tors, and various other special car lines in North Dakota, but they tried in vain. Former State Auditor Carl Jorgen- son said the private car lines would yield too small a sum to trifle with, but the present auditor, Carl Kositzky, believes this will total around $20,000 a year—a, tidy little sum for the tax- payers to get towards lifting. their burdens, and well worth writing a few letters for. LARGE SUM RECEIVED FOR FEW CENTS IN STAMPS That is all it takes—a few letters. Up to this time none of the companies have demurred at the demand being made upon them, and letters are com- ing in from many of the largest cities of the country. The taxes now due run from $592.52 for the Union Tank Line, down to as low as 13 cents for the smallest private car line tax payer, but the bulk of them hover around the $25 mark. Some other amounts that show what a source of untapped legitimate taxes the former administration neglected, are as follows: The Pacific Fruit Express, which handles many of the oranges and lemons that come into North Dakota owes a tax on its rolling stock of $146.61. The Swift Refrigerator com- pany, that hauls in most of the hams and bacon, and much of the fresh meats consumed in North Dakota, owes upon its big yellow cars, $166.23. The Union Refrigerator Transit com- pany owes $152. The largest Check received up to this time_ is from. the Milwaukee Refrigerator Transit & Car company, and was for $112.50, - The Sinclair Refining company of Chicago sent its check for $49.95," and many shawing smaller amounts have been received, the sums paid ranging as low as $5 or $6 per campany. The list of such companies doing business in this state, is the same list State Street Car Line and Driver This is North Dakota’s only state-owned transportation equipment, the lone street car that operates from the ORE than 200 private car line . that the North Dakota tax commission prepared for the former administration, but which the old board of equaliza- tion treated with contempt. It was prepared early in 1915, and submitted to the board of equalization in August of that year. But though the work had been difficult and costly, for it was the foundation work and no other data had gone before as a basis for it, the board of equalization let the report gather dust in the vault. DO YOU REALLY MEAN IT? ASKS TAX BOARD At the meeting of the state board of equalization August 30, 1916—after the Nonpartisan League had captured the “Primaries, and the Old Gang's days were numbered,—the board woke up and passed a resolution asking the tax commission again to make a certified list ot the private car lines, and sub- mit the same to the board of equaliza- tion. This motion was made by State Treasurer John Steen, and passed with a sfraight face by all the other mem- bers, just as though the tax commis- sion had not already done this very thing and had its work kicked aside. In reply to this resolution, which was duly sent to the tax commission, Chair- man Packard of the tax commission wrote that the latter would gladly do this work over again if it had assur- ance anything would come of it, but did not relish being played horse with by the board of equalization. One para- graph from his letter reads as follows: “We will be only too glad to certify to you the assessed valuation of private car lines for the state, provided the state board of equalization will use them. We have furnished so much matter with infinite care and expense only to have it thrown in the waste basket, that we do not feel like enter- ing upon another wild goose chase un- less we can be assured that they will make these assessments.” The sham of this Steen-Hanna resolution was too apparent to be passed by. KOSITZKY DIGSUP LONG-NEGLECTED LIST When, however. the ILeazue men came into power in the capitol, this long-neglected list was again brought forth, and the taxes due from the com- panies were figured and the companies notified. As there was no form for submitting such a statement thé state Northern Pacific station to the capitol via Fourth street. The board of control the only motorman the car has ever known, and he has run it for 14 years. out four sets of wheels, run through seven sessions, and never run over anything but a cat—a white cat, not a black one. Its normal load is 34, but the car has carried 119—the blizzard night several sessions ago when Governor Sarles held his inaugural ball. It has been in all kinds of weather, and h took 14 men to shovel it out. worked out a plan in with the reactionary senate to dispose of it and leave the field open for a private corporation to build a new system and connect up the outlying parts of the city and surrounding institution. The house killed this bill. M. J. O’Connor, shown in the picture is motorman, traffic supecrintendent, and chief “push” of the system. The car has traveled 260,000 miles, worn as been stuck in the snow drifts within the city. One time it FOURTEEN . auditor’s office drew up a form based %on one designed for similar purposes in Nebraska, and carrying the taxes back to the year 1912. As this was the first time such a tax has been attempted to be collected in North Dakota, the basis of valuation was made most lenient so as to get it started with the minimum amount of friction and disagreement. The valua- tion placed upon tank, refrigerator and other like cars, is much lower than in some states, but these can be raised after the system is established. The first year’s collections will be little more than a, foundation for future valuations, but it will yield something like $20,000 while it is being tried out. The average assessed value per car has beerrfixed at $365, and the average levy of 45 mills for all state and county purposes, applied. The resulting taxes will be apportioned to the wvarious taxing districts entitled to them, when tribution Practicable. Girl Farm Student Wins a Prize in Judging Contest at College Clifford Wilson Clifford Wilson of Wimbledon, a student at the North Dakota Agricul- tural college, took first honors in the stock judging contest which was held last week. Waldon Shinn won second Miss Vesta Steer honors and Miss Vesta Steer, the only girl student in the agricultural course, took fourth. O. B. Foss, of the Farm Husbandry class won the grade Shorthorn heifer, for the highest beef score. This® contest was made possible by the North Dakota Live Stock associa- tion, and the prizes were as follows: In the Open Class Clifford Wilson, 1st prize $20.00 ‘Waldon Shinn, 2nd .. 10.00 ‘W. L. Johns, 3rd .. 6.00 Miss Vesta Steer, 4th . . 6.00 Floyd Slingsby, 5th .......... . 3.00 In the Shortcourse Special August Lee, 1st prize ........... $8.00 Oscar Peterson, 2nd .. e B. Edgarts, 3rd ......... Cissers Aerts 2.00 J. A. Power, of Leonard, President of the North Dakota Live Stock associa= tion, gave a grade Shorthorn heifer calf as a prize to the student making the highest score in the beef ring. The students placed two rings each of horses, beef cattle, dairy cattle, hogs and sheep. The rings were judged ac- cording to the standpoint announced before judging started. Placing on the rings counted 50 per cent and the rea< sons for the same counted 50 per cent. The judges of the contest were: Beef cattle, J. A. Power, Leonardy Sheep, W. A. Guy, Agricultural College; Hogs, J. L. Tompkin, Agricultural Cole lege. Stock judging contest: Dairy cattle, W. H. Peters, Agricule tural College; Horses, Will Hammer, Cooperstown. The stock used was furnished by the Agricultural college with the exception of the horses which were furnished by Hammer Bros., of Coopertown and Finch Bros., og Fargo. WILL “SEE IT THROUGH" Editor Nonpartisan Leader: Mr. J. B. Cragne, a League represent= g ative, was the chief speaker at a meet- ing held in Lankin the first week .of March, and there was a large number of farmers in attendance, considering the stormy weather. There were also a good many local business men. The farmers who paid their membership dues are determined to see it through conjunction He is men realize that they are trying to bet- ter conditions for all who live in the state. F. M. MACHART. enough has been collected to make dis- * for two more years, and the \business °