Omaha daily bee., 1900-01-25
! SOUTH OMAHA NEWS. !

The Observation-Disclosures agitation is caus.
ing a revival of annexation talk. George
+. Dean has written a letter to the press
urging that some steps toward annexation
be taken and it is possible that the question
may be voted on at the coming election.
Those who have been searching the records
for material to be used in the coming cam-
paigu are more than surprised at the city's
financial condition, and a great many tax
payers have expressed a willingness to grasp
at any straw which promises relief from
a continuance of excessive taxation. At
the time of the annexation agitation in Feb.
ruary, 1899, the question of submitting the
proposition was put to Mayor Ensor, and in a
letter to the public. under date of Feb
ruary %, the mayor agrees to submit the
proposition. The mayors letter, in part,
follows:
II stand ready and willing to submit the
annexation proposition to a vote of the lpeo-
pie and | feel that the council is fully in
accord with me in making this statement.
Further, | am willing to call a special meet
ing of the council to pass an ordinance and
issue a proclamation calling for a submission
Of this question:
According to the mayors proposition, how
ever, the taxpayers of South Omaha were
not to be put to any expense on account OF
the special election If the proposition failed
to carry. At the same time the mayor was
writing this letter to the public he was
engineering the securing Of signatures to q
petition protesting against the Grow annex
alton bill which had been introduced in the
Legislature. The matter drifted along with
out action and interest died out without the
proposition having been submitted.
Those who are talking of annexation as a
relief from heavy toXatiOO ire lnyinu prpat
stress on the liquor license question. After
the completion of the census this year, liquor
licenses here will cost S 1000 instead OF $500,
as at present. This is the last year in which
licenses can be issued at $500 each. Now
the city assesses an occupation tax of 5000
on each saloon in addition to the license fee
of $500. The regular license fee goes to the
school district, while the proceeds from
the occupation tax are apportioned to the
general fund. With ninety saloons in oper-
alton the last year the occupation tax paid
in amounted to 5000, or about one-fifrh
of the levy. Thus. with the license at
81, 900 and no occupation tax, the levy will
have to be increased about 20 per cent iu
order to make up the deficiency. In other
words, if a person is paying 500 in taxes
now it will be necessary to pay S120 when
the license is raised aud the spcupation tax
taken off. There is a steady increase in
the expenses of the city, as can be shown
by the records. For the year ending April
l.. 1898, the operating expenses of the
city amounted to $40, $40. 90, while for the
year ending April /, 1899, the expenses
were $S7, 046. 65, an increase Of $16, 206. 80 in
one year.
The city police department is costing at the
rate of $1,000 a month, or $12, 900 a year,
while the fire department. expenses average
$3.50 a month, or SO, 900 a year. In both de-
partments the expenses are constantly on
the increase, caused by the rapid growth
OF the city. 1t is asserted by anueXationists
that if the proposition carries the city will
be provided with better protection against
fire and crime, and provision will be made
for taking up maturing obligations.