Omaha daily bee., 1902-03-23
AFFAIRS At SOUTH OMAHA
Assessment of Taxable Property in City
Begins on April l.
TAXPAYERS LEAGUE HAS AN EYE OPEN
Attempt Will BE Made 10 Have Cor
poration Properties Assessed ut
Higher Percentage Of
Actual Value.

In about ten days the tax commissioner
and his deputies will start on their annual
roundup. Last year the people looked for
great things from the tax commissioner.
but the increase in valuation was not up to
expectations. In 1901 the assessors returned
a valuation for the entire city Of 81, 1854 1872,
while last year with a tax COMMISSIONS
the valuation was $3.50, s72. This increase
was not at the time considered great enough
and this year an effort is to be made to
induce the tax commissioner to increase
the corporation assessments as much as he
did the home owners a year ago. With this
end in view, the Taxpayers league has
taken hold OF the matter and proposes en-
ploying counsel TO see that the corporations
are taxed In proportion, to the balance Of
the community.
One member Of the Taxpayers league said
last night hat the packing houses and
stock yards carried insurance aggregating
$40, 900. 900. and yet the total valuation re-
turned by the tax commissioner last year
was only a triHe over $500, 900. What is
wanted. said this member Of the league.
Is an equalization of the taxes. II this
is done the valuation Of the city will be
greatly increased and consequently the levy
for city purposes will be made lower. Here
tofore there has always been a low valua-
tion and a high levy.
o course" said this tax Lacquer. ut IL
to be expected that the corporations will
fight any proposition to increase the valu-
alton Of their plants, but since we have
the figures Of the amount OF insurance car
ried by each plant they cannot very we'll
get around the proposition, especially as the
insurance is not for more than so per cent
of the value OF the property"
Tax Commissions Fitzgerald and his
deputies will work on April 1.
Planning workman Temple.
The building committee Of the Ancient Or
der of the United Workman decided yester-
day to ask for competitive plans from
architects for the construction OF a temple
at the corner Of Twenty-hfth and NJ streets.
Preliminary plans are to be submitted
within two weeks for a building to be two
stories and q basement, fifty by eighty feet.
One Of the specifications IL that there shall
be an auditorium and a stage. Architects
will be asked to keep the cost Of the build
ing down to $4,000, but more money will be
expended II It Is found necessary. Member
Of the building committee assert that a
sufficient amount of money is in sight to go
ahead with the building and that operations
will most likely commence before June.
Preparing Sample Ballots.
City Clerk shrigley sent TO the printer
yesterday afternoon the copy for the sample
ballots to be used at the coming election.
These ballots will be ready for distribution
by Monday. The official ballots VIII not
be issued from the press until nve days
before the election. The ballots Will con-
tain the names of ave candidates for mayor,
Koutsky, Loechner, Carley, Salmon and
Sloane. Cariey, Sloane and Salmon are by
petition, the leaders having received the
nomination at the hands of their respective
parties. In addition to these petitions
Frank L. Barnes will run for city clerk,
and Herman Sommer for member OF the
city council from the Third ward.
owing to the number OF petitions nled the
ticket will be a long one, as aside from the
Eve candidates for mayor there will be four
candidates for treasurer and three for at
torney, to say nothing Of those running for
members Of the council and Board OF Edu-
cation.
Charity Ball Committees.
The annual charity ball given by the
South Omaha Hospital association Will be
held at the Exchange dining hall on the
night OF March 81. Tickets are now being
sold and SO far the members of the asso-
| citation are greatly encouIdB0o' n hSb VI
the committees follows:
Reception, members Of the hospital assoc
| citation, local physicians, druggists and
wives; music, w. B. Cheek. James Murphy,
]. 8. Walters, Edward Cahow; door, Colonel
A. l.. Lott, John Flynn. Captain d. s. Park
hurst; floor, ]. 8. Walters. Edward Pollard.
L. G. Gibson. Charles Petersen, ]. A. Cav
ers, T. Parker, Fred Scott, John Gallagher,
II. NJ. Christie, J. W. Hastings, Percy Ham
iltou Bell, Ed Munshaw, Charles Mann, 5.
b. Christie, william Pinney. William Buck
ley, George Walleker. Frank Clark, DR..
Frank slabaugh, Herbert Broadwell.
O~ratorical Contest.
The declamatory contest at the First
Presbyterian church Friday night between
ten pupils OF the High school resulted In
receipts amounting to 500. A portion OF
this sum will be used to defray the ex-
penses of Miss Della Clark, the winner OF
the contest to the state oratorical contest,
which will be held at Norfolk on April 2.
The balance OF the money received from the
sale of tickets will be used to purchase