The Wahpeton times. [volume], October 08, 1914, Image 8

About The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919

Image provided by: State Historical Society of North Dakota

                
-J
l*Mf
5
V'-f
I
1-.•
ft 1
S«'
i. -1
I I
1
fl
•I
if
il
iflp I
'. I
V'.
ft ftV.iM
Vv
5&
-V
Jt
Pf'h'
ff'
ft-
'•FAIR PLAY"
MAKES ANSWER
To W, J. Robinson's Letter of De
fense of County
Commissioners
FOR THEIR RECENT ACTION
Reduolng Certain Assessments In
the County One Hundred
Cent
In the Dioneer days of North
Dakota, when the early settler had
little
communication with the out
side world, no means of getting
the products of the soil to market
nor securing the necessaries of
life from other Darts of the world,
the railroad builder could secure
from these people any conces
sions almost that would give
them access to the markets where
they could sell their produce and
obtain the things needed by them
in their frontier life.
Following this condition of
things, our early railroad builders
among other privileges, obtained
for themselves broad strips of
land as aright of way on which to
build their road. These strips of
land were from 100 to 400 feet
wide, and especially so where
there a townsite. and where now
stand the cities and villages of
the state. On these townsites the
right of way was. and now is. from
200 to 400 feet wide.
Now on this right of way many
of the first business houses were
erected for the reason thatTTfey
would be nearer the station and it
was easy to get a lease from the
railroad company permitting the
erection of buildings, the only
limitation being that certain kinds
of business could not be carried
on in said buildings.
At first the local assessor
The
BANK
PERSONAL
SERVICE
-f
iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiniiniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiininiiiiiiiiiiiiiiim
Get Out Your Old Clothes
^THEW PHONE |297-
Brown, The Tailor
SI will make them look like new again 252
Dry and Steam Cleaning
ddt4tll diBy8'of Ladies' and Gentlemen's Garments
Pressing, Alterations, Repairing
SATISFACTION GUARANTEED
Wlllysu sail on ma or shall I oall on you
wa9
bluffed off when he attempted to
assess these buildings and their
contents, and told that this prop
erty being on the right of way was
assessed by the State Board of
Equalization: this was untrue as
every one now well knows, but it
served its purpose and much pro
perty thus escaped the payment
of tax. and consequently the pro
perty owner whose property was
listed by the assessor, was re
cuired to pay a higher tax.
Finally the most of the build
ings. which included elevators,
coal and lumber sheds, creamer
ies. factories, banks, general
stores and in fact almost all kinds
of business carried on inthestate.
The National Bank
WAHPETON, NORTH DAKOTA
"HOME OF CHECKM0 ACCOUNTS"
Capital, Surplus $60,000.1
OmCESS AND DMECTOMi
MNpt Pttterion, Prat. w.
UlMker
Edus.
PttcheL
yes most of these buildings and
their contents were placed upon
the tax roll by the local assessor,
but not all by any means. I have
no doubt that many thousands of
dollars have been paid by the peo
ple of the state whose property
was listed by the assessor, which
should .have been paid upon pro
perty which escaped liability as
above stated.
In every one of the leases as
given by the railroad companies
it is provided that the lessee,
(the person to whom the lease is
given). shall pay all taxes and as
sessments that may be levied
against said leasehold, or words
to that effect.
Some one may say the real own
er of real estate is liable for the
tax thereon, and that this tax
could not be collected from the
lessee legally.
This may be true to some ex
tent, but should the lessee fail, ne
gleet or refuse to pay the tax as
sessed against his leasehold, and
should the authorities be compell*
ed to go after the lessor for the
tax, the railroad company would
at once cancel the lease, and the
lessee would be ousted for his
failure to comply with the terms
of his lease.
This being the condition of
things along other lines as well as
on the right of way of railroads,
there has been a pressing demand
from all over the state that some
thing should be done to relieve the
people of this unequal taxation,
and this matter has been agitated
in some localities for more than
ten years. Of course the fellow
who was evading the payment of
his share of the tax gave no .en
couragement to this agitation.
The legislature elected in 1.910
and which convened in January
1911, and which I believe am
safe in saying was one of the best,
if not the best body of men who
ever served thes tate in that ca
pacity, got busy and formulated a
law providing for a tax commis
sion whose duty it would be to
find this property which had neen
escaping payment of taxes, and
have the same placed upon tha tax
rolls of the state.
This law was approved by Gov.
Burke, and under which he was
required to appoint a tax com
mission consisting of three mem
bers: I believe he appointed three
of the best men for the purpose,
that could be found in the slate,
Bro. Robinson to the contrary not
withstanding. We all know George
E. Wallace, and the intimation
that Mr. Wallace would willingly
do anything to injure Mr. Robin
son or any other person is the
merest rot.
Now the people who were being
The Safest Place
Just now, when the field for money in
vestments is disturbed, our Certificates of
Deposit, earning 5 per eent Interest, offer
the safest manner of investing surplus or
idle funds of whloh we know.
And by so depositing your money you
•re assured that local enterprise and In
dustry profit from its remaining here at
home. Home money at work in your home
oommunity means seourlty and prosperi
ty.
L. Carter
$}
r-Vt
A
w.
mm
ijuMhjjhiipiiHIS"gijii
interfered with by this ta*'6tim
mission, and those who werto \in
danger of being interfered With,
have howled their heads off. in de
nouncing the tax commis8loi} and
its work: in Richland county'they
have thrown every obstruction
possible, to hinder the wonc of
the tax commission, and did all in
their power to influence the local
assessors in not listing this class
of property as recommended by
the tax commission, and then urge
the action of the local assessor as
a reason to justify the action of
the county commissioners in re
ducing this class of property 100
per cent on the assessment roll.
Mr. Robinson in his weak de
fense says that this action was
taken by the county board to avoid
expensive-litigation probably Mr,
RObinsori feels that this expensive
litigation would have fallen on
himself and his business partners
and not on the county and (hat
is why he tried to avoid it. There
would be no expensive litigation
unless some party who felt ag
grieved like Mr. Robinson should
start it. Mr. Robinson is able to
look out for himself.
Mr. Robinson is not only able
to look out for himself, but he has
the ability to get the other com
missioners to render him assist
ance.
The tax emmission in sending
out the lists of leased property*
made suggestions as to the value
of said property, but these sug
gestions were not binding on any
one. consequently when the local
assessor fixed the value of Robin
son's property at $1,000, this
would have been the value on
which he would have been re
quired to pay tax: Now Mr. Baker
who has been employed at the ex
pense of the county to reassess
this same property fixes the value
at $2,000. There seems to be qu'f«
a variance in judgment as to the
value of this Robinson lease: the
tax commission suggested a value
of $5,400: the local assessor fix
ed a value of $1,000 and now Mr.
Baker says the taxable vali" is
$2,000.
Now then if Mr. Robinson felt
aggrieved as to the assessment of
his property, why did he not ap
pear before the city bosrd of equ
alization. just as any other citizen
would be required to do? Is there
any reason why he should be
treated better, why the other per
sons who are in control of leased
property should be treated any
better than the ordinary citizen?
Mr. Robinson seems to be making
use of a public office, to further
his private business interests.
It was suggested to the writer
by a citizen of the city of Wahpe
ton that no one wanted to criti
cise the Board of County Com
missioners, or any of the mem
bers thereof, for the reason that
the people felt very grateful tb
the present Board on account of
their building thenew courthouse.
Why they used the money of .the
taxpayers in doing this work, and
none of it was paid on the Robin
son lease. It was not on the tax
roll. The men who should be
thanked for the new courthouse
are the men back in 1903, who
laid the foundation by providing
a sinking fund for that purpose.
it
No,Y
as
Robinson's assertion
that the tax commission in taxing
leases is carrying out an old and
obsolete law that has been on the
statute books for nearly thirty
years: now this is a fair sample of
his knowledge of things or his
fairness in stating what he claims
to be facts. The constitution was
adopted in 1889, 25 years ago, and
the latter part of section 179, Ar
ticle 4 of Amendments to the Con
stitution of the State o7 North
Dakota, which is the Supreme Law
of the state, and which neither
the legislature nor the courts, hot
even the Supreme Court of the
state dare to ignore, reads as fol
lows: "But should any railroad
allow any portion of its roadway
to be used for any purpose other
than the operation of a railroad
thereon, such portion of its road
way, while so used, shall be as
sessed in the manner provided for
the assessment of other real pro
perty."
Yet the Board of County Com
missioners of Richland Countv. in
the State of North Dakota, assum
ing more power than the Legisla
ture or the Courts of the state
would dare to undertake to as
sume: in the face of and in oppo
sition to the Tax Commission, who
have honestly and fairly tried t*
carry out the purposes for which
they were appointed: yes, said
board, with all members present,
and without one dissenting vote,
wiped out the work of the tax
commission and the local asses
sors: with one fell stroke reduc
ed the valuation of all this class
of property 100 per cent.
If this .county board wanted to
do the fair thing, and they had a
right under the law to do so. they
would either have had
the
V?enV
xj
ffif-wirs-i
n.
THK WAHPKTOli times
local
assessors, or else employed some
other competent person in each
precinct to dig up and put this
property that Robinson says had
been overlooked, have the same
placed upon the assessment colls
of the proper precinct.
Now the facts are as follows
Robinson and men similarly sit
uated do not want to nay tax on
this leased property without in
vestigating the matter, and with*
out consulting any one legalWaUr
thorized to advise them, the board
of county commissioners through
the influence of Robinson acted
hastily and without due consider
ation. The members of thr cdunty
board are honest men Mr ftob
V-!?1j1ihone.1t ?*ceDt as he is af
fected by self interest. I do not
believe that any member of said
board had any criminal intent it
was piffely gross ignorance or
on
Inf nnHPUr/1-8 ^®en
their part.
Written
?n® *™,CAI
Wjth-
0P
personal fedl-
?, the reason that ao
suitable reply had been made to
Robinson plea of defense.
FAIR play.
OOUMOIL. raoOUDMMS
Regular meeting of the Wahpe.
ton City Council held October 5th,
1914, at 7:30 p. m. with Mayoiv
Fligelman presiding.
Meeting called to order by May
or Fligelman.
Aldermen present: Fricke, Si
monsen, Hodel, Harris', Braun,
Connolly, McCoy and Mahan. Ab
sent: none.
Minutes of the last regular, ad
journed and special meeting read
and approved as read.
Motion made and carried that
the contract for the installation
of the Filter Equipment, being
Item No. 3 of Specifications fur
nished by L. P. Wolff, consulting
Engineer, be awarded to The Ro
berts Filter Manufacturing com
pany, of Darby Pa:, they-to' rei.
ceive $4,750*00 for the complete
work.
Mayor Fligelman appointed Y.
H. Baumhoefner as Justice of the
Peace for the City of Wahpeton,
to fill the vacancy caused by the
death of Folsom Dow.
Motion made and carried that
the appointment of V. H. Baum
hoefner as Justice of the Peace
be confirmed.
Motion made and carried that
the City Auditor be instructed to
advertise for bids for the con
struction of the sewer extension
on Seventh street, according iu
plans, specifications and esti
mates furnished by W, A. Baker,
City Engineer.
Motion made and carried that
the monthly report of F. B.
Schneller, Police Magistrate, be
accepted and placed on file.
Motion made and carried that
the monthly report of W. L. Fork
ner. Superintendent of the Water
works, be accepted and placed on
file.
Motion made and carried that
the quarterly report of W. L.
Forkner, Superintendent of the
Water Works, be accepted and
placed on file.
Motion made and carried thui
the following bills be allowed and
paid out of their respective funds.
General Fund
Otter Tail Power Company, Sep
tember lights, $397.66.
Mazeppa Hock & Ladder Co.,
fire service. $1.,20.
Reliance Hose Company, fire
service. $8.80.
Wahpeton Times, City Print
ing. $49.56.
Globe Gazette Printing Co., wa
terworks bonds, $18.30.
W. A. Baker, engineering ser
vices, $17.19.
W. A. Baker, engineering ser
vices, $40.00.
D. Vollrath. balance due for
labor. $.70.
A. Hodel money advanced for
cleaning up, $8.00.
G. A. R. Nickel blacksmith
work. $4.75.
W. L. Fricke, 200 bushels of
oats. $100.00.
Connolly Brothers, merchandise
$8.70.
O. H. Schultz, Hitching posts,
$5 00.
E. S. Babcock, hitching posts.
$1.0.00.
Mrs. M. N. Early, hitching posts
$5.00
James Pruett, cleaning city
hall. $2.40.
James Valentine, cleaning city
hall. $8.40.
John Maresh, labor on street,
$39.60.
Joseph Vodova, labor on street.
$43.40.
J. E. Powrie, money advanced,
$3.91.
L. E. Christenson. services as
special police, $11.00.
John Visger, September salary,
$65.00.
Nicholas Hohman. September
salary $65.00.
John E. Powrie, September sal
ary, $80.00.
Jos. G. Forbes, September sal
ary, $20.83.
W. F. Eckes, September salary,
$25.00.
F. B. Schneller, September sal
ary. $50.00.
S. H. Murray, September salary,
$25.00.
Water Works Fund
Crane Ordway and Co., supplies
$169.91.
Garlock Packing Co., supplies.
$8.96.
Otter Tail Power Co., Septem
ber Power and light, $250.83.
Connolly Brothers, mdse., $45.
80.
A. Hodel & Co., material. $1.20.
Balentine and Smith, services
$25.00.
L. P. Wolff, services as con
sulting engineer, $518.75.
John Medved, labor, $6.25/
Alfred Muchvitsch, labor. $6.25.
John Maresh, labor, $16.20.
Joseph Vodova, labor, $3.75.
W. L. Forkner, money advanc
ed, $17.82.
Matt Hamerlik, September sal
ary. $60.00.
W. L. Forkner, September sal
ary, $75.00.
A. R. Bundy, September salary,
$60.00.
Wm, Sanck, September salary,
$60.00.
4 t,'
tlCW'
1p«f
?all
•T -V
"*4*
*r
Motion made atod carried to ad
journ.
S. H. MURRAY.
City Auditor.
SUFFRAGE NOTKS
The Votes for Women League
of Wahpeton report a most suc
cessful week at the Richland
County Fair. Their booth situated
next the Women's Building was
tfaily decorated in yellow, the suP
frage color, and maps, banners,
pennants and posters added to the
attractiveness of the sce~e.
Mrs. Katchelhoffer was chair
man of the Fair Committee, and
was ably and heartily supported
by the members of the league, and
others.
Mrs. Weible and Mrs Bolley of
Farga who are ccynpaigning ?the
state^irr th%*uftahKe wiito 'ravl
two days of their time to Wahpe
ton and made speeches at differ
ent hours during the day to large
and appreciative crowds.
Mrs. Van Fleet of Larimore and
Mrs. Stevens, who were here with
the State Anti Tubercular work,
gave several speeches for suff
rage. Both ladies are ardent suf
fragists, as their work for the pre
vention and cure of the great
white plague has shown them
what a crying need there is that
women, as well as giving their
time and energy to philanthropic
works, may have a voice in pass
ing needed legislation.
Mrs. Bolley was allowed ten
minutes in which to speak before
the grand stand, a concession not
granted to any other speaker. She
was most enthusiastically ap
plauded with cries for more. As a
result of the splendid work of
these ladies and of the committee
in charge, a large number of "I
Believe in Woman Suffrage" cards
were signed, and the league was
enlarged and strengthened.
Pencils and buttons which were
sold to pay the expenses of erect
ing the booth were eagerly
bought by the crowd and it was
most gratifying to see the number
of people on the grounds who were
wearing "Votes for Women" but
tons. Mrs. P. C. Olson of the Ex
tension Dept. reports having in
terviewed between twenty and
thirty farmers and business men
from Christine, Galchutt and Ab
ercrombie, and says that almost
without an exception they were
strongly in favor of Woman Suf
frage. She feels confident that the
Scandinavian vote will be very
largely for suffrage.
On Nov. 1 a most charming lit
tle southern woman will speak on
the Suffrage question in Wahp
ton, Mrs. Atkinson of Nashville,
Tennessee. Mrs. Atkinson is a Na
tional speaker and everywhere
has spoken to immense audiences.
The Wahpeton League is more
than fortunate in being favored
with a speaker of Mrs. AtkinsoiTs
reputation.
A NEW FACTOR
(Continued from page 4)
The investment of cities has
been less affected bv cold weather
than the operations of field ar
mies. The reason is obvious. In
vesting armies ^a-
v-ild
perma­
nent earth huts, w' ere a small
fire and the bodilv warmth of a
squad of men will keep them
nearly as comfortable a in their
own homes. The Japanr-e assault
on 203-Meter hill was made on
Nov. 30. Port Arthur capitulated
after a-series of assaults. Jan 2,
1905.
The war between the Balkan al
lies and Turkey, contrary to the
usual custom, began in the fall.
Most all wars have been inaugu
rated in the spring and summer.
The troops of Bulgaria, Servia.
Greece and Montenegro started
to war with complete winter kilts,
heavy overcoats, thick blankets,
and shelter tents.
None of the armies now in the
field except the Russians and Bel
gians. probably, have headdresses
that will afford adequate protec
tion for the winter. All probably
will be able to withstand the cold
fairly well until the first of the
year, when winter wil begin to
make inroads unless protection be
given.—Kansas City Star.
CONSERVATORY NOTES
(Continued from page 5)
the faculty of the Northwestern
University at Evanston, Miss Bee
man as head of the vocal depart
ment, and Mr. Doane of the piano
and organ departments. Concert
work has but recently been adopt
ed by this talented sir«rer. *nt her
intelligent rendition of the long
and varied program last evening
proved her capability for the con
cert field. She possesses not alone
a .rich and dramatic contralto
voice, but a very pleasing per
sonality and gracious manner.
—Musical Leader. Wahpeton peo
ple will remember Miss Beeman
as one of our teachers of several
years back.
The musical program given
Sunday evening at the Congrega
tional under the direction of Miss
Bardwell was very pleasing and
enjoyed by all.
Let Us Make That -j
FOR YPR
WM. HESS, Merchaat T?
j?
Suit of Overcoat
f9S
Good Stock to Select From, Satisfaction Guaranteed.
1
'I.-.
Fourth "Annual
Industrial
Exposition
Bismarck
Oct. 13th to 24th
Low Fares
Round Trip
From stations in North Dako
ta. The Northern Pacific Ry., will
sell low xound trio fares to Bis
marck. Oct. 12 to 24 with return
limit of Oct. 26. Your own patron
age is most necessary in sustain
ing and promoting thid import
ant enterprise.
For tickets and full informa
tion call on
O. N. Moses, Agent
Wahpeton, N. D.
Northern Pacific Ry.
A. M. Cleland. Gen. Pass. Agt.,
St. Paul, Minn.
HOT CROSS BUNS
may do all right for your sons, but
our buns are liked by the whole
family. They are sweet and crispy,
with just the right home-made
taste you like so well.
OUR BUTTER ROLLS NEVER 1
-"V-*
TASTED ANY BETTER
What could be more tempting to
the palate than a plate of our hot
rolls or buns for your breakfast,
or lunch. Include some in your
next order.
MANCHESTER'S HOME BAKERY
Wahpeton, North Dakota
Deception
program
Rendered at Congregational
Ohuroh Tuesday Evening
A very delightful musical pro
gram was rendered by the faculty
of the Wahpeton Conservatory at
the reception tendered them at the
First Congregational church of
this city. Tuesday evening, to a
hundred and more people of this
city who were- there to hear and
greatly enjoy it. The program was
as follows:
Piano Duet—Overture "Semira
mide," by Rossinne.
Miss Baker and Mrs. Nelson
Song—Bandelero—Stuart.
Mrs. Kraft
Piano Solo—Troesiene
Ballads,
Op. 47, by Chopin.
Mrs. Nelson
Song—Spring Song--Weil
Miss Bardwell. Violin
Obligato,
Mrs. Hobart
Violin Solo—Legende—Wieniow
ski.
Mrs. Hobart
Vocal Duet—Calm As The Night,
by Goetz.
Miss Bardwell and Mr. Kraft
Accompaniest Miss Baker ...
The musical program was pre
ceded by a talk by President
Smith, of the S. S. S., explaining
the reception, and introducing the
new director of the Conservatory,
Prof. Kraft.
County Auditor Burton return
ed home last Thursday morning
and mingled with the other poli
ticians of the" countv- at the Fair
that,afternoon-and the next. He
says he is going out among the
people -now to do sodia hustling
for himself.
a
-Sin
lit,
I
I
f,
T' &
kr-yto
is&r*
k*',
I
S
M-VJ
ii
•M
rre