Omaha daily bee., 1902-06-06
NOTHING TO CONCEAL
Railroads Will Give Full Details Regarding
Tax Matters.
SUBJECT TO Be THOROUGHLY PRoBED
Roads Pay More Tax in Pro-
portion Than Any other Industry
in the state of Me-
braska.
ISSUED by Authority of the Railroads of
Nebraska

ISSUED by Authority Of the Railroads Of
Nebraska.)
This is the first Of a series Of articles,
which will appear, giving full details re-
garding the taxes paid by the railroads OF
Nebraska and such information as will
enable readers to fully understand who
pays the taxes in Nebraska, and why the
various Boards Of Equalization from year
to year have made the valuation on rail-
road property that has been given out to
the various counties.
A great deal of this information has been
presented from time to time to the Boards
Of Equalization, and 1t has been considered
by them in their estimates, while other
lines of information, which we will present,
have never before appeared in print.
The railroads Of Nebraska have nothing
to conceal regarding their tax matters;
they pay and pay promptly their full pro-
portion Of taxes. They ave more interest
in the successful development Of Nebraska
than any other single industry, and at all
times want TO work with the people OF the
state for the public good.
The managers of the railroads are bust
ness men, who provide for the payment Of
the taxes charged against their roads as
conscientiously as they provide for the
payment of their employees. In several in
stances in this state the railroads have
paid ten times more tax to the counties
and state than they paid in profit to the
stockholders of he companies, and this has
been paid without complaint and promtly
when due.
The stockholders of these companies are
relying on Nebraska's future. They gladly
pay the tax charged. so that the schools
can be carried on, and those improvements
made that would show progress and induce
other people to come here and assist in
the states department.
1t is on Nebraska's future that they build
their hopes Of profit. There are other
roads in this state, which by combination
with great systems, pay dividends and in
those cases they pay more than their pro-
portion of taxes in every instane, taking
any other industry of the state in COMPARE
son.
All that the railroads care about in this
matter Of payment of taxes, is that they
receive fair treatment. They would not be
party to an attempt to defraud the state
or counties of any Just tax, but of course
the interests OF their stockholders present
them from allowing an outrageous or I'M
Just assessment.
In such matters as these, the state Of
ANOCA Noho NApNil " hN6D
in line with what is done in other states.
They would not want to impose a tax
that would prevent the roads passing
through Nebraska. from successfully COM
peting for interstate traffic, because the
courts would naturally remedy such action
in time. The most difficult lesson to learn
In political economy has been equality in
taxation, and 1t has never yet been mas
tered. The revolution, that resulted in
the formation of our government was
famed to flames through resentment caused
by unjust taxes. In our constitution, 1t
was expressly provided that 1.-THE right Of
the people to be secure In their persons,
houses, papers and effects against unrea-
sonable searches and seizures, shall not be
violated" And 1t was the direct result
of this feeling of protest against former
impositions regarding the collection of
taxes, and this provision in our constitu-
ton makes the question of equality in
taxation in this country, more difficult
than In a monarchy.
II the individual or private corporation
misrepresents the value Of his property
holdings, there is no way of making him
reveal. The railroads on the contrary
make monthly reports and public quota
lions are daily made OF their securities
and every cent OF their value is revealed
whether 1t be real or speculative.
We hope to give some full and interest
ing details.
The figures will be from Official sources
and compiled carefully, giving exact facts,
and they will show who pays the taxes and
In what proportion. (Adv.O