Omaha daily bee., 1883-03-21
THE PRINCIPLE OF AVER
AaEg.

people Of the city. We have never
defended, nor do we propose to de
lend. either unequal or inadequate as
easements of property. We know the
robberies that go on by unequal taxa
, ton, and no one has more bitterly
! complained Of them than we have.
, The remedy, however, is not In rails
ing the assessed valuation to
enable q certain coterie OF men
to lump over constitutional re-
straints and plunge this city into
an enormous bonded debt, 1t rather
lies In equalizing the assessments
through the choice Of sound and good
men, who cannot oe used by anybody
In the discharge Of duty. In dis
charging their duty they should be
governed by the customary ussges
that prevail everywhere In rating real
property for taxable purposes. This
should. be done upon q principle Of
averages, covering q long period Of
years, which should aim to include
periods of depression In values as we'll
as seasons OF prosperity ard high
prices. Any other rule would work
vast injury to the people who own
both small and large properties. -
Omaha Herald.
The only rule In assessing property
for taxation Is one which will ascertain
It's present value. The principle of
averages has nothing whatever to do
with the question. Property ought
to be assessed, not on what 1t was
worth last year or the year before or
ten years ago, but at what 1t would
sell for In open market at the time of
assessment.
Our law provides that the assessor
shall rate all real estate at Its full val
ne. Custom and precedent In assess
ment for purposes of taxation has In.
terpreted this to mean n third Of Its
highest market price. But the fact is
that in Omaha the only property as
sessed at this reasonable rating Is the
real estate of our small property
holders, while our large and wealthy
real estate wner escape, through fair
means or foul, with a valuation of
from oue.seventh to one-thirtieth OF
what they would charge to transfer 1t
to actual purchasers.
What bearing has the pas! value OF
real estate In Omaha during "long
periods of years upon this years
assessment Property has doubled
and trebled and quintupled siuoe the
Nebraska Ferry company first sold
lots on this side of the Missouri. Real
estate In portions Of the city ha,
been steadily advancing for the past
five years. On the principle of av'
erages it would be safe to assess II
even higher than Its present market
value In anticipation of q still fur
Their advance before the final levy Of
taxes is made in June.
The trouble has been that the prin
oiple of the very lowest possible aver
age has been applied right alcng TO,
years to real estate valuation In thil
city and county. With q mistaken
Idea Of escaping an increase of stat
0 tax which would not have been In
creased q penny and Of deoreasin
local taxation by diminishing tn
assessment, the valuation of Oman
and Douglas county has been made
Haunting lie for the past twelve year.
1t Is to-day recorded In Lincoln q
q sc, 900, 600 less than in 1870, whe
q every one knows that It has more tina
d trebled since that time.
al In 1867 the assessed valuation o
Douglas county was returned at $5,
Oil, 2t9; in 1867, $s,077, 779; In 1856!
$9,sll,4SS; in. 1870, $l3, 54l, 90;
"a From that time It decreased steadil
until In 1873 when q total valuation
81, 342, 1872, % only, was reported
- the state auditor, which two yea,
u later rose to 90, 457, 14l. In 10,
20 with over $l3, 600, 600 valuation
Omaha had . triHe more than l6, on
inhabitants, In 1880, with 80, 518 Il
" habitants, her valuation was returne
at something YER 81, 900, 900. Du
Ing the last ten years fully ten m
lions has been added In brick 81
70 mortar, not counting the increase
o. personal propertyinf factories, storesa
~ dwelling. What principle of averae
10 have nj property valuations for I
no past sixteen years been based upc
unless 1t be the principle Of tax shil
Ing by the rich and taxpaying by I
poor.
1t Is high time that this game
hide and seek should stop. Pub
und private interests alike demand
thorough overhauling Of our tau II
res . faif and impartial listing by the
his SCISSORS and . judicious and unhln'
md Ing exercise Of their powers by I
,si. board of equalization. There ID
earthly reason why our state, city q
be county tax levy should be more tn
'de p per cent. on an equalized aAss
Is ment Of real estate In this city. TIL,
our Is every reason why the men who h;
noe succeeded for years in throwing
Will burden of maintaining the city uT
Go those who have all along paid m,
au- than their full share of taxes shol
ties be forced to come to time. Fair p
to Ia q Jewell which has found M pIaca