Omaha daily bee., 1891-04-29

that may be wisely needed everywhere
in the north as we'll as in the south.
MEETING or REAL ESTATE OWNE RS.
THE BEE believes in the proposed
association of real estate owners The
promoters of this movement are
men who have extensive property
interests here. They have no per-
sonal ends to gain. They are i'm
pressed with the necessity of powerful
conservative organization, bipartisan
and individually disinterested, which
shall devote itself to three things:
l. The protection of taxpayers from
the evils of dishonesty, incompetency
and eXtravagance in municipal matters
2. The equitable adjustment of the bur-
dens of taxation and the improvement Of
the system of assessment in this city.
3. The general advancement of the
material interests of Omaha, by a pro-
per system of advertising her resources,
by encouraging manufactures and SINH
lar enterprises and the enlargement of
her commercial opportunities generally
important subjects interest every man,
woman and child in Omaha. Hereto
fore the organizations of business
men have devoted themselves to
the third proposition almost ex-
cluslvely and a great deal
of good has been accomplished
by them in the directions indicated
There has, however, been a serious lack
of funds and Il want of general apprecia-
ton of the extent and Importance of the
work attempted. Some enterprising
mon in both the old organizations have
been compelled to Dear more than their
share OF the financial responsibility of
what success has been achieved. 1t is
thought an association which shall num-
Der thousands can readily contribute
the necessary money to its success with
out burdening individuals. 1t is proper
that all who share the benefits of sue
cessful efforts for the upbuilding of
Omaha should contribute in some degree
to the preliminary expenses.
The question of our inequitable
assessments is not q new one. The
newspapers of Omaha have times with
out number directed attention to this
evil. They have explained the dis
advantages under which the city labors
by reason of the very low valuation
placed upon real and personal property,
thus making the percentage of the
assessment and the relative indebtedness
abnormally high, requiring explanations
to fiscal agencies and on the face OF the
figures proving Omaha to be tax-ridden
and burdened with debt as compared
with other cities. The new organi-
zation will strive to devise some
method of redeeming this city from the
evils of too low valuation and conse-
quently too high tax rate. 1t will like
wise be expected to investigate the
character of the assessments made and
expose the taX-shirkers who now compel
honest Taxpayers to contribute more
than their share to the burdens of gov
ernment. Corporations, individuals and
combinat ons now avoiding their duties
will be brought to time and the person
atty roll of Omaha increased to some-
thing near what it would be If taxes
were not evaded by many of her citizens
The most important of the three topics
and the one which appeals most directly
to every citizen is the first named above.
The proposed association should place
particular stress upon the question of
improving the character of the public
service. We are at the mercy of men
whose sole purpose as public servants
is to line their own pockets. We have
honest men in the city government, but
not enough of them. 1t is currently be-
lieved in Omaha upon circumstautial
and other evidence that several of the
gentlemen who have been honored by
the suifrages of the Taxpayers are now
and have continually been during their
terms of Office nothing more nor less
than constituencies boodlers. They
are owned body, soul and breeches by
corporations, who have either placed
them under obligations for their election
or have secured them for price since
they entered upon their duties. Those
familiar with municipal matters are
compelled to pronounce the government
tainted by fraud, disgraced by corrup-
uonists and weakened by imbeciles. In
the direction of purifying local politics,
defeating incompetent and dishonest as
pirants for public Office. detecting bood-
ling officials and corrupt contractors,
there is an important work to be per-
formed.
1t can be accomplished only by the di-
rect application OF n public sentiment or