Omaha daily bee., 1902-04-25
COUNCIL MUST ACT NOW
Delay in Making Corrections Will Not
Be Tolerated.
COURTS DECISION FINAL AND IMPERATIVE
City Attorney Says There H. Nothing
for Council to DO hut Proceed In
Accordance with order from
Supreme Court.

City Attorney Connell has not permitted
the supreme court decision in the tax case
to disturb his serene exterior. He turned
up smiling yesterday morning and said
"why. It's no use to be any other way
even when you've received a knockout"
well, what have you to say7" asked a
reporter.
'"what can l say? The supreme court
has said ell there is to be said"
ibid the decision come as anything OF a
surprise to your
mo. l have been so terrifcally taken of
my feet so many times that l have ceased
to be surprised at any ruling Of any court.
But whatever may have been my personal
opinion, the supreme courts interpreta-
tion Of the law we must all accept as the
correct one. There is nothing now for the
council to do that / think OF but to re-
convene as a board Of equalization, notify
the five franchised corporations of Omaha
OF the rehearing, notify the compliments
also. and then proceed in accordance with
the law as determined by the supreme
court. That's the whole business in a nut
she'll and that's all l have to say about II.
81 don't know what delays may occur,
but 30 far as l now see there is no good
reason why the whole work should not be
elCpiupiiohth lu a NtIg it" udsSs Inc leNy
Is needed much and the less delay the bet
ter"
The mayor said: They ought to raise
the assessment OF those corporations and
they ought to be quick about 1t. Tho
treasury is in such condition that the en-
ployes In the departments have to do with
out salary. We need immediate action"
Whitehorn was the only councilman Wis
ible to the naked eye Thursday and an
oyster was loquacious compared with him.
I'm not talking" said he. 81 won't say
q word until / inform myself more fully.
Maybe we ought to go right down the line
and maybe re are merely to consider these
corporations"
What do you mean by going down the
liner" was asked.
well, the corporations are not the only
ones that ought to have a raise.
but One Sentiment.
There was but one sentiment expressed
In Omaha when the opinion Of the supreme
court in the tax case became known yester-
day morning. On every hand the greatest Of
satisfaction was expressed because the
court was unanimous in the opinion and
the judges had gone so far as to lay down
a rule by which corporation property shall
be assessed. The members of the Real Es-
tate exchange were particularly pleased
with the result, as every contention of that
body had been sustained, down to the fix
ing Of the costs.
There was some discussion as to what the
tax committee OF the exchange will do with
the funds raised to prosecute the case,
Bince the costs had been assessed to the
other side. Members Of the committee said
that after the attorneys fees and other ex-
penses not taxed as costs had been paid
the money remaining might be refunded,
but other members said that the fund will
be retained until the end OF the tax fight
has been reached. Persons holding this
view said that there can be no certainty
for some time that the fight is over, as
there is yet a meeting of the council to be
held, and a writ OF error may have to be
sued out after that body has passed upon
the matter under the order OF the court,
and that the county commissioners may
have to be considered in the same connec-
ton when they come to pass upon county
assessments.
The tax committee Of the Real Estate ex-
change held a meeting at noon yesterday at
which the members discussed the question
Of taking up the fight for equal taxation
before the county commissioners. Mem
bers Of the committee. while feeling elated
over the decision OF the supreme court, ex-
pressed fear that the corporations affected
by the decision would attempt to carry the
matter into the United States courts and
delay the collection OF the taxes, declared
their intention to stand by the fight as
long as necessary.