Omaha daily bee., 1902-05-17

Of cases of the large manufacturing and
mercantile establishments OF the city the
standard employed was not 20 per cent OF
the fair cash value"
Councilman Lobeck said: Il believe thai
those eighteen deputy assessors are honest
men, and that. when they said they ap-
piled the 40 per cent standard to the best
Of their ability they told the truth. And,
furthermore, ] believe they succeeded as
well as any other eighteen men in this
room could have done"
Councilman Burnley moved that the city
attorney be directed TO at once draw up
the report for the board in the case OF the
gas company in legal form and include in
IL the fair cash value Of the company,s
plant, as decided upon by the board. and
the standard assessment employed by the
board in arriving at the figure reported.
SITS. 900.
Councilman HAscall presented an amend
men to the motion. 10 the effect that the
drawing up Of the formal report be de-
ferred until all Of the I'VE companies had
had a hearing. and that then these facts
be set forth in the general and final report.
webster I-nterPOses Plea
Attorney John L. Webster. representing
the street railway company. said: Mr..
Mcintosh is trying TO lead this council into
an egregious error. He wants this council
to commit itself to the 40 per cent standard
and then he will make you apply it in the
case OF the street railway company. The
writ doesn't tell you TO DO that: you are
not compelled to do it. and. in my candid
opinion. you have no right to do it."
Attorney Mcintosh said: "This council
may get itself into trouble by following my
advice. but / know OF Eve public corpora
lions which have been in hot Water for the
last sixty or ninety days because they fol-
lowed the advice Of the learned counsel
who has just addressed you"
Councilman Hascal's amendment TO
Councilman Burkley's motion was put TO
e vote and was carried. ave Affirmative.
four negative.
Water Company Compromise.
Attorney Hall. representing the water
company. explained that an agreement had
been reached between the complainants and
the officers Of his company, the effect Of
which was that the eompany's assessment
should be raised from S575, 900 10 $3.50, O00.
Il an satisfied" he added. that by going
ahead with this hearing / could very ma
terially reduce these figures. but litigation
Is expensive and Troublesome, not only to
this board and TO the company. but to the
public al large. For these reasons l have
consented TO the compromise"
Councilman HascAll announced that the
compromise assessment was satisfactory 10
him.
Councilman Lobeek said: Il would like
10 know how they get al this $3.50. 600. /
want Mr.. WeAd sworn and placed on the
stand. Swear every man who was & party
10 this transaction. Mr.. Wead has said in
the papers that the assessment OF the gas
company ought 10 be 81. OOo, 600, and. Ger
tAinly. n hat il true. the assessment Of
the water company ought 10 be somewhere
near that should like 10 have Mr.. Nc
Intosh put on the stand"
Mr.. MeIntosh explained that he WAS not q
party 10 the agreement. He then went on
10 say; I don't think this hgure. $3.50. BO0
ts 50 far cut Of the way. The bulk Of the
water eompany's property is in its pump
ing stations and reservoirs al Florence
and a very considerable part az Il Is Al
south Omaha where IL supplies water 70
Tire packing houses ABOUT an IL has IN
Omaha is IN mains and hydrantE think
Ss5o.ooe Il not far from 20 per cent Of ita
fair eash value
You are getting a settlement thar VIII
beat 20 per es1tr said bltornsy Hall
chatrnaa Weaa's resttnoay.
p D. Wead ehAirmAn a ths tax CON
nitiee q TIE Real Estate eErhanss. sas