Omaha daily bee., 1899-03-01
NO OCCASION FOR FALSE ALARMS

SOUTH OMAHA, Feb. 27-To the Editor
Of The Bee: l have been carefully reading
the arguments on both sides of the question
of annexation Of South Omaha to Omaha and
would like to gain some information about
it.
1t has been stated and not denied, so far
as l can find, that the scheme is to annex
all of South Omaha to Omaha except the
packing houses and stock yards, and that
they are to be left out in the country. Is
this statement true or false?
The great corporations do not come any
where near paying their share of taxes now,
and If such measure carried they would
pay still less. When the Cudahy Packing
company, with its millions of dollars worth
of property, only pays one hundred times
as much taxes as l have to pay on my little
home, there is something radically wrong in
the system of taxation now in vogue. And
l am only one of hundreds of victims who
have to pay good-siZed rent as taxes on
little homes / am not a howler against the
great corporations to the extent that their
interests should be confscated, but | do
think that they should come nearer bearing
their share of the burdens of taxation that
are bearing so heavily upon the people OF
Douglas county today.
What we want at this time Is a change
in the system of taxation, not annexation.
We would like to see a system that will
make great corporation pay it's share OF
taxes the same as the poor man has to pay
on his little cottage. And l do not see
that annexation will help us a hit in that
line, especially If the great corporations are
to be left out in the country, receiving all
of the benefits of being in a city while not
bearing their share of the burdens.
Another thing. Do you think it would be
fair to force us to become a part of the
city of Omaha? 1t is my opinion that an
nexation will come some time, but when the
time comes we want something to say about
it ourselves and not be forced to it against
our own desires. Omaha with its $4,000
votes would simply force the people of South
Omaha to annex If every one of the $500
voters of South Omaha should vote against
the measure. Should an act be passed by
the legislature providing that annexation
should be an accomplished fact when the
people of each city voted for it then we
would not feel that we were being forced to
annexation.
AS a republican would favor annexation,
but as a small taxpayer and as one who
thinks that annexation would tend to lessen
the values of our little homes while giving
us no relief from the present unfair system
of taxation and no more police protection
than we have now, l for one will oppose an-
nexation at this time. Yours respectfully
f. A. AGNEW.
There is no occasion for false alarms
on the part of the people of South
Omaha who are disposed TO view the
question of consolidation as simple
business proposition. The advocates of
consolidation are supporting the pro-
posed union of Omaha and South
Omaha not to in1ict injury upon any
one, but to benefit all concerned.
The only changes in the law which
The Bee has urged are one which will
express themselves on the question by
removing the unlimited obstructive
power vested in the municipal authori-
ties, who are now under no obligation
to submit the proposition 40 matter how
many people might be clamoring for it,
and another that will make 1t plain that
the majority required Is a majority OF
those voting on the proposition in each
of the two cities. This would enable the
friends of consolidation to force the sub
mission Of the question tofthe voters,
but would force nobody to vote for il
and no city to become n part of Greater
Omaha except by decree of the majority
duly registered at the ballot box
The alleged scheme 10 exempt the
packing houses from the annexed dis
trict has apparently been concocted 10
frighten the South Omaha people really
in favor of tightening their tax burdens
and improving their city government