Omaha daily bee., 1902-12-31
TALK ABOUT PROPOSED LAWS
Commercial Club, Realty Exchange and
Citizens COMMITTEES Meet Legislators.
NO DEFINITE ACTION is DECIDED ON
Several Bills Are Proposed, but sena-
tors and Representative Decline
to Commit Themselves on Any
Proposition Mt Present.

~ WANh ~ oNAbh VI - VII EIOHunEN
by Henry w. Pennock, who at the instance
Of the legislative committee OF the Real
Estate exchange has been devoting some
attention to a so-called "scavenger law,
one designed to cause the sale Of property
for taxes by a process which will leave the
property clear OF tax liens regardless Of the
amount the land may bring at the sale. The
measure proposed by Mr.. Pennock, briefly,
Is as follows;
The treasurers Of the city and county
shall file a petition in the district court
setting out a list of all OF the real estate
of the city and county upon which taxes
are delinquent for two years or more. This
petition shall give the numbers or descrlp-
uon OF the land only, and not the name OF
the holder OF the title. The petition shall
be advertised in a newspaper OF general
circulation for a certain time and upon
the date set in the advertisement the Judge
or the court shall cause to be entered
Judgment against the property for the
taxes Ievied where no defense is made and
In case OF defense time will be fixed for
nearing the cause. Upon judgment rendered
the sherih or other county officer author
lied by law shall proceed to sell the land
ooSs n 1ne nisnest nidder, and a certiheate
chaser. Two years shall be allowed the
owner OF the property In which to redeem
certificate shall become a deed TO the title
OF the land, which shall be unquestiohed.
In the case of contests the usual appeal is
~ 10 "a hNhf bhA III buDItHlt COURT SnHll
advance the cause for hearing. The title
transferred at such sale shall take pre-
eedence of any mortgage or other lien
ceeds of the sale shall be divided between
the state, county and city regular and
special taxes In varying proportions.
Could he Made TO Hold.
In the discussion II was said that such a
law could be drawn to meet -, constitu-
tional provisions ana mat 1t would result
In adding to the resources of the state a
large amount of property which is now USE
less for the purpose Of taxation, as It is
taxed for more than 1t is worth and own
ers will not pay current taxes.
w. T. Nelson said that he had such a
measure in contemplation and w. 8. Pop
pleton moved that the matter be referred
TO Mr.. Pennock and Mr.. Nelson for consid-
GRAFTON and the preparation Of a bill in
harmony with the ideas expressed. Mr.. Nell
son then said:
II desire to be consulted before the mo-
ton is put. The members of the delegas
tion have decided TO express no opinion
and to take no part in measures proposed
until they have had an opportunity to hear
both sides Of the question. l looked the
matter up for my own satisfaction only. |
am too busy to give time to the matter and
prefer 1t to come before ms from the cou-
mittee, which 1 will confer with"
1t was later referred to the real estate
committee and Mr.. Pennock.
Toward the close Of the session II was
suggested by one of the members of the
committee that as 1t is dificult to get
thirty persons together It might be well for
the committee to appoint a subcommittee
and the legislative delegation to appoint a
nA1n0aNN&az -IgaA xz. -
ference over questions which would mot re-
quire the attention Of the entire body. In
response to this suggestion W. B. Ten
Eyck said:
you have no reason to confer with us,
what you want to- do is to get before the
proper committee at Lincoln after the
house is organized. We may be on thai
committee and we may not. AS to cooper
ating we are not in a position to indicate
what bills we will favor. We all want good
laws, certainly, but we have not made up
Dur minds as to what these laws shall be
and we do not wish to pledge ourselves in
any manner"
Said Euclid Martin: "Our thought wal
that we could confer with the delegation
through this committee, both noN and after
IL went to Lincoln. We expect that you
will keep us advised as to the introduce
tion of any bills which may be introduced
affecting Omaha interests"
Mr.. Ten Eyck responded: A to that, OF
course we will II we see the bills n think
about It, but you should make arrange
ments to have sent to you every bill intro
duced in the legislature. This can be done
through the bill clerk and you can see
what bills are of interest to you. At Lin
coin we will be so busy that many bills
are likely to escape our observation. w.
A. Saunders has been elected chairman OF
our joint delegation and a letter to him
will reach u.s."
Joint COmmittee's Suggestions.
Previous to the consideration Of the
~'scavenger law" w. L. selby reported upon
the conclusions of the joint committee as
follows:
l. That the present limit for which taxes
can be levied for the various funds should
be preserved. with the possible exception oil
the fire fund, and upon that We would want
more Information before recommending a
change.
2. That there should be no increase in the
limit upon the bonded indebtedness OF the
city.
8. That the Limitation in the amount for
which taxes can be levied and bonds issued
should be az II now is In a specific amount
limit by a percentage OF the valuation.
4. That the city should defray the ex.
pense OF the premium upon the bond given
by the city treasurer.
g. That the law In regard to paving and
paving repairs should be changed to con.
form to the bill which was prepared and
introduced In the legislature at the last
session and herewith submitted, with the
exception that the section relating TO paw.
ing repairs should be left as II is under
: the present law, and provision be made for
,Hllecting from the AUDITING property own.
ers the paving repair expense by districts.
In the discussion Of the last proposition
M. A. Hall suggested the idea Of having
paving done without petition and allowing
time for protests on the part Of AUDITING
property owners. The other questions were
passed over practically without discussion
although NJ. A, Hall suggested the idea Oh
publishing the expenditures Of the eitj
government as a plan for reducing ex-
penses.
W. +. Johnson, from the North Omaha I'm.
provement club. asked the delegation TO iool
into the question OF the suficiency OF tn,
park and library funds before expressing az
opinion on the matter OF having no Increase
In the amount available. Herman Kountz,
said that while some funds might be toe
small. II a start was made to enlarge am
all would be increased Mr.. Hall said tina
far himself he did not think larger fund.-
necessary. and the committee promised Il
prepare for the delegation a statement o
the receipts and expenditures OF the eity
for the last two years as shown by thu
comptroller.