Omaha daily bee., 1902-06-09
WHO Pays TIE TAXEsf

Bulletin No. 2, compiled expressly for
the railroads Of Nebraska and published
by their authority. embodies much in
structive and suggestive information.
Taking as its basis the grand assess-
ment roll Of the state for the year 1900,
which aggregated S171, .593, great
stress is laid upon the fact that the
railroads pay 1874 per cent of the taxes
in Nebraska. AS a matter OF fact, this
estimate Of the percentage Of the taxes
paid by railroads relates solely to state
taxes and not to county and city taxes.
Assuming, however, that the figures
Of the railroad tax bureau were abso-
lutely correct, what proof do they afford
to justify the claim of the railroad at
tOrneys that the railroad corporations
are assessed as high, according to the
relative value of their property, as are
the owners of all other properties? Ac-
cording TO the estimate of the railroad
levied In Nebraska in 1900 were paid
by the owners of farming lands; 1871
per cent of the taxes were paid by the
Owner of improved town lots; 3.6 per
cent were levied on unimproved town
lots, and 9.S per cent were assessed
against the owners OF horses and live
stock; 1O.1 per cent represent telegraph
companies, banks, manufacturing inter-
ests, merchandise, stocks, bonds and all
other classes Of personal property, and
1914 the railroads.
Expressed In dollars and cents the va
rious taxable properties in the state
for the year 1900 are as follows: Farm
ing lands, total, $7S,O44 ,155; improved
town lots, $27,O34,47S; unimproved town
lots, Schools; live stock, &c. 7S,333;
railroad property, 1924 4 ,294; all other
classes of personal property, including
manufacturing materials, machinery,
merchandise, money and credits, stocks
and bonds, and personal property gen
orally, ST., 333,606. These figures are
decidedly suggestive. They show that
80 per cent of the taxes paid in Ne
braska are levied upon the owners Of
farming lands and live stock on the
farms, aggregating $~94,S22,4SS.
The improved town lots in the cities,
towns Inc villages of Nebraska are
assessed at $27,O34.457 while, all the
railroads in Nebraska, with their vast
properties, representing as they do more
than $500, 100000 Of interest earning
capital, are assessed at only $26,44 ,294.
VIII any impartial and well informed
man contend that the improved town
lots in Nebraska are worth more than
all the railroads in Nebraska, with their
valuable terminals and equipments?
Would the owners of the Nebraska rail
roads be willing to trade even for the
improved and unimproved town prop
erty, which is assessed at 500, 4 S,405?
At the meeting Of the state board
two weeks ago Governor Savage, who
claimed to have made a very careful
computation of the property values in
the state, declared that the true value
of taxable property in Nebraska, includ-
ing the railroads, would aggregate not
less thar 81, 200, 100000 at q very low
estimate. 1t is an open secret that $780,
100000 represents a very low estimate
of the actual value Of Nebraska rail
roads, or o~ne-fourth of the total taxable
property of the state.
Instead of paying 1914 per cent, as is
claimed by the railroad tax bureau. the
just proportion of assessment of rail
road property in the state should be %
per cent. Instead of paying $150,000 a
year toward the expenses of state gov
eminent and maintenance of state in
stitutions, the railroads should, by
rights, pay $25O,OOO and the same pro-
portion of county and city taxes.