Omaha daily bee., 1896-01-26
THEIR LANDS NOT EXEMPT
Secret Societies Must Pay Taxes on Local
Real Estate.
DECISION BY THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
Not Charitable Institutions in the
Meaning of the LAW and Hence
Cannot Take Advantage OF
the statute.

The county commissioners have thrown
down the gauntlet to those secret societies
which own real estate in this city, which
has hitherto been exempt from taxation on
the ground that the property was used solely
for charitable purposes.
The judiciary committee Of the board re-
ported yesterday on a request addressed
to the board by Louis Heimrod and f. B.
Bryant, representing the Odd Fellows Hail
association and Omaha lodge, No. 2, of the
Odd Fellows. asking that the tax assessed
against the building at the northwest corner
of Fourteenth and Dodge streets, and the
building Immediately adjoining 1t on the
north, the upper floors Of both Of which are
used for lodge purposes, be cancelled. The
building on the corner stands assessed on
the tax list at $l55.6S, and the building north
of it, belonging to Omaha lodge, No. 2. of
the Odd Fellows is assessed at $19S.7S. The
petition stated that these buildings had
heretofore been exempt from taxation, and
were used for purely charitable purposes.
The judiciary committee stated in its re-
port that it had sought legal advice in the
matter and had reached the conclusion that
1t could not recommend granting the relief
asked in the light Of the advice obtained and
the plain provisions of the statutes, which
provide for the exemption only of such prop
erty as may be used exclusively
hib!tions, school, religious ceme-
terry or charitable purposes. The report con-
tinued: Your committee grant that the as
soclations herein named charitable
in way, but their charities ex-
tend only to such persons as are
members Of their organization in good
standing and who contribute a stipulated
sum to the association annually, and not in
the general sense of being liberal to the
poor as in our opinion is contemplated by
the statute referred to-"
The report of the committee was adopted
unanimously and without any discussion.
This action of the commissioners affects
only the Odd Fellows and Masonic fraternities,
these two societies being the only ones in
this city which own real estate. The Ma
sonic block, situated at the northwest corner
of Capitol avenue and Sixteenth street is
also listed for taxation on the tax list of
1895, the property being described as follows:
Lot s, in block n, and the south II feet of
the east 80 feet of lot 2, in block AZ. This
property which includes three-story brick
building, the lower floor of which is used for
stores, the two upper floors being used for
lodge purposes, is taxed at S150.S9
Both the Odd Fellows and the Masonic
blocks have been listed for taxation in
former years, but the tax has been cancelled
by the action of the commissioners and city
council, and in at least one instance the tax
on the Odd Fellows block was refunded
after it had been paid.
Judge Scott informed the board that Hiram
Savage had unconditionaly resigned his posi-
ton as bailiff The judge wrote that he had
appointed Edmund w. Kerr to the position
thus made vacant.
c. C. Dayo was appointed Justice of the
peace of East Omaha precinct and f. A. Nc
Ardle was elevated to the same position in
McArdle precinct. Hans Schneider being ap-
pointed constable in jefferson precinct.
The contract for supplying the county with
saver pipe for the ensuing year was awarded
to the Omaha Coal; Coke and Lime company.
The board adjourned until 10 a. m. Thurs
day.