Omaha daily bee., 1902-03-02
DRUG PRICES ARB LOWEST HERE

order tina by the means thereof he may
pc secured In the enjoyment Of the bene-
OF the demand Is therefore found In the
protection and supper between the state
and those subject to its authority.
This quotation is from the highest author
ity on such matters. In our day, the laws
Of all enlightened governments, and
especially of America, have been clearly de-
fined, based and built upon the broad
foundation Of justice and equality; Justice
as to the rights Of the governed in the ad-
mlnistration OF the law, and equality In
the assessment and collection of taxes
necessary for the maintenance Of the gov
rnment; each Individual to pay his OF her
just proportion Of the amount necessary,
rich or poor. according to the value Of their
possession. All must contribute their
share, according to the value OF their hnan-
cial strength. to the burden Of carrying on
the business of the state.
1 emphasize that It is the duty of all
citizens to carry their share Of the main
tenance of the government under which
they live and from which they derive their
citizenship.
Equality and Uniformity.
The principle Of equality and uniformity
runs through the laws OF the nation. as
we'll as those OF the state. Equality Of
taxation means the proportioning Of the
amount paid by each person, so that he
shall not feel that he has been discrimin-
ated against and in favor OF another per-
son or persons.
AS the community has grown In size. as
It has grown in wealth and power, and as
the methods of doing business lave changed
greatly in the last two decades, the weak
spots in our revenue law are shown. One
Of these weak spots is the provision that
We md for corporations. They are re-
quired to list the property. the bonds and
the capital stock and all their assets. but
II is allowed that they shall deduct there
from the bonded Indebtedness and all the
Indebtedness of the company.
The second weak link Is the provision II
the statutes pertaining to railroads and
telegraphs. wherein they are allowed t.
make their returns TO the State Board o
Assessment. and that his board shall equal
ize. and that the decision of this boart
shall be binding upon each county. Tn,
counties OF the state are not getting one
tenth Of the value OF railroad propert,
under this provision. This provision wa
made at the time twenty-five years ago
when there was only one or two railroad
In the state. and II was a struggling com
munity. and the corporations were ais
struggling. Conditions have changed, an
the infant has grown until Il is the suprem
power in the state. 1t Is important for U
to look after II.
Corporations Enjoy Special PRIVILEGES
Why should the corporations be Above
3 reduction because Of their bonded indebt
edness when other property owners ar
bound IN return the full vaIua of THAR raf
estate. Notwithstanding the fact that Il
covered with mortgagesi The evil and In
Justice Of this method u apparent. Privai
: property is visible and the assessor a
sesses IL aeeordingly-So. 40. so or II
: per cent. or as he sees it--and indiViduAl
are not allowed 20 take out their bonds
indebtedness.
One Of the public service corporations
Omaha is capitalized for IS, $780, OO. an
bonded for t2.500.000. It makes the retuI
that its stock Il not worth anything. a