Omaha daily bee., 1886-06-29
sossment at about one,afth of its true

| seSsmenJ AT ABOUT one-Ifth ot It's true
| value.
| READ IN THE swEAT-Box.
| The list of the property owners com
! planned OF having been examined, the
! guns were turned on Mr.. Read, who by
/ this time had begun to see how COM
pletely he had failed of making a point
| against any of the parties named in his
complaint. He was put through vigor-
| Gus questioning by the board and the
business men present about as follows
Mr.. Corliss-l on have looked over the
| assessment for 1886, for this county;
how does the assessed valuation compare
| with the actual valuation?
Mr.. Read-In the county the property
is assessed at about one-quarter of its
value and at about one-fifth of its value
in the city.
Mr.. Corlss-Is there any distinction in
the assessment OF the property of the
poor and the rich?
Mr.. Read-Not that l noticed espec.
tally.
Mr.. Shclton--At whose Instance did
you make these complaints?
Mr.. Read am member of the joint
executive committee of the Knights of
Labor. A subcommittee made report
that great irregulartty existed in the as
scssment, and suggested that the matter
be looked into. was employed to look
the matter up
Mr.. Shelton-Why did you cite only a
few of these men here who have been in.
strumental in building up the city9
MIR. Read-l had but short time to
look the matter up, and so selected the
names OF men whose property thought
was assessed too low.
Mr.. Shelton BY what right did YOU
form such a conclusionY
Mr.. Shelton-By the right of free
citizen of this country.
MIR Shelton-Uh, hui (contemptuously)
Mr.. Kountze-Do you think, then, Mr.
Reed, that real inequality existsp
Mr.. Read-Not to the extent that l
first imagined. Still great inequality
exits. l blame no one for it, II is the
result of loose practice that has OBJ
tanned for years
Mr.. Kountze-Does the inequality exist
to greater extent among the men cited
here than among any other class?
Mr.. Rcad-No, SIR. | am satisfied from
the evidence that has been presented here
that most of these men are assessed too
high.
Mr.. Kountze-You think the ineuual-
ity Is promiscuous then, and does not
exist in any special class.
Mr.. Read-lt exists us much with one
class rs with another.
Mr.. Kountze-Have YOU not admitted
that you took the names cited ut random,
without any knowledge of their actual
value?
Mr.. Read-I admit that 1 took them
after very hurried examination.
THE COMBAT DEEpENs.
Another question had been fired at the
now somewhat confused Read, and, be-
fore he could answer the stately form OF
Mr.. James Creighton was leaning over
the railing surrounding the commission
ers' desk, and he cried out:
How long are you fellows going to
take up your time listening to this d-n
"Mr. Creighton" said Commissioner
Corliss, "if you will come around here
and be sworn as these other gentlemen
have, we will ask you questions about
your assessment
No, sir" roared Mr.. Creighton.
When l am summoned by the board |
will come before them, but will appear
at the citation of no - of - who is
trying to villify the best citizens of Omaha,
Vino is this man, for Gods sake, ANYWAY.
that the board of commissioners will cite
the best men of the town to appear be.
fore him. Does the scoundrel live IN
Omaha?"
Mr.. Creighton" yelled the now ex-
cited Read, what do you mean? l call
on the board to shut your mouth or fine
you for contempt"
iOu Sttll oll tllC NGlleu MT.
Creighton right back What right have
you behind that railing? Come cut of
there. demand it,
"Mr. Creighton" shouted Read ''you
will reach that point pretty soon where
forbearance will cease to be virtue"
The sooner the better" shouted the
inluriated property owner. Come out
OF there, d-n you, and I'll knock your
head off" Here Mr.. Creighton com
pletely broke down with rage, and seiz-
ing his hat left the room, and was soon
followed by the other business men, who
failed, with the commissioners, to recover
from the surprise occasioned by the
matinee until the row was all over.
The board then took up the work OF
equalizing the assessment.
Thus far Mr.. Reads complaints
against too low assessments have resulted
only in having the assessments of the
parties complained of lowered instead of
raised, as desired by the complainant.