Omaha daily bee., 1899-02-15

1t will be noticed that the levy for 1898
was far below the normal. In fact when we
consider that the percentage of the tax
borne by personal property under the 1898
assessment was larger than in previous
years 1t is probable that the tax on real es-
tate was lower in 1898 than 1t was in any
other year in the last decade.
1t is easy to see why the 1898 levy could
be placed so low. At the close of 1896 there
was a balance in the various funds of $42,-
20406 and this amount was deducted from
the total amount necessary for 1897 to find
what was to be raised by taxation. In the
latter part of 1897 1T was discovered that by
reason of accumulated interest on the un-
paid balances of the 10 per cent reserves OF
prior years the city was entitled TO draw
warrants to the amount of S161, ,942O7 against
this interest fund. This fund was in a
sense fiction, as the money had not been
paid in and might never be. and by drawing
warrants against it the city was only in
creasing its warrant indebtedness bearing
interest ait per cent per annum. Without
this interest item there would have been an
actual shortage in the funds at the end OF
1897 of $S,63S.81, but by adding this Interest
asset the city closed the year with a balance
in the levy funds OF s153,3O3.26 or an equiv
alent of nearly 51s mill levy, to apply on
1898. 1t will thus be seen that in 1898 the
city drew warrants against an amount equal
to a 3Oh mill levy, although the tax levied
was only "a mills
Not a BiG Balance on Hand.
On January /, 1899, the total balance in
the various funds was not sufficient to meet
claims on hand so that we begin 1899 with
n slight deficit instead of having a balance
OF S153 30326, as in 1898. This fact, of
course, must be taken into consideration in
making the annual levy for 1899. | have
just received a pamphlet issued by the
Chamber of Commerce OF the city NJ De-
trot. setting forth the industrial advantages
of Detroit. In this pamphlet the following
statement Is made in regard to taxation in
that city: "The question of taxation is an
essential consideration for the manufacturer
and business man. The rate of city taxa
tion this year in Detroit is little less than
SIG per $1,000 upon an assessment OF about
20 per cent OF full value" This would be
equivalent to $34 per 81 000 based on the
Omaha rate of assessment, which is SO 3
per cent of full value. The tax In Omaha,
therefore, last year was so per 81 900 less
than IL was in Detroit, compared on an equal
basis, and yet the Detroit Chamber OF Com
merce considers it's rate of taxation excep-
tionally low and advertises 1t as a special in
ducement to manufacturers to locate iu that
city.
BY glaneing again at the table OF yearly
tax leyies and collections, 1t Cll he aOticed
that the per cent of taxes collected to the
taxes levied during the years 1889 1890, 1891
and 1892 was about the same for each OF the
four years but that beginning with 1888
there was a sudden drop in the per cent col
lected ana that this condition has continued
down until the present. The reasons for
this falling of are obvious. In 1899. 1890.
1891 and 1892 tax purchasers eagerly bought
every piece Of Omaha prope.'" on which
taxes were delinquent, thinking taxes a good
investment In the spring ana fall of lS93
however the courts began to hand down a
series Of decisions by which tax purchasers
lost hundreds II thousands Il dollars and
their investments In taxes were in large
measure rendered valueless
The result was that there we're few buyers
IN 1895 and the number of tax sales has been
growing less each year, so that thcre We're
practically no sales m lS9S. In view OF this
condition of affairs II g rather surprsiug
shat tax collections during tho year 1895 in.
creased 7 per cent over those OF 1897 and
1896, and II is only accounted for by the
fact that the prosperity Of 1875 enabled many
men to pay their taxes promptly. who IN
previous years had been obliged 70 let the.r