Omaha daily bee., 1903-01-31

a VICIOUS ROAR FROM NEBRASKA CRY.
The most rahid railroad organ in Ne
braska today is published at Nebraska
City under the misnomer Of the
Tribune. Its vicious attack upon
Omaha and its roar about the alleged
plot Of Omaha ITO rob every county In
the state outside Of Douglas and Ian
caster counties Of much Of the railroad
taxes they are now, receiving will
create no surprise in Nebraska City and
Otoe county, where It's subserviency to
corporations is well known.
The Nebraska City railroad Tribune
claims to have discovered in the cam
paign waged by the Omaha press on
the railroad tax question a conspiracy
to divert the railroad taxes from the
remaining counties Of Nebraska into
the capacious nav Of Omaha tax eat
ers, and In the effort Of the Real Estate
exchange to repeal the clause in the
charter that requires the assessment Of
railroads for municipal purposes on the
mileage basis "an attempt to steal the
lions share of the taxes for Omaha and
slip this deft scheme down the threats
Of country members Of the legislature
on the plausible basis of raising rail-
road taxes"
Taking fits text from Head Lobbyist
Baldwin, the Nebraska City organ
promises Gin some future issue to pro-
duce facts and figures to show that this
s~ugar-coated Omaha scheme will make
a reduction in the railroad contribution
to the school districts of Otoe county
Of from II to % per cent" This is a
startling revelation that should chal-
lenge popular attention. If it is true that
the assessment Of the Burlington depot
and depot grounds and the Union Pacific
terminals and bridge in Omaha for city
taxation would keep a dollar of railroad
taxes from any school district In Otoe
county, it certainly is an unhoIy scheme
that should receive no countenance
from any member of the legislature.
But every rational person knows that
levying a city tax at Omaha on depot
grounds and buildings can have nc
more effect upon Otoe county taxpayers
than levying a city tax upon the Bur.
lington bridge at Nebraska City would
have on the taxpayers In Douglas
county. With the same propriety the
Nebraska City railroad organ might
contend that the assessment of the
franchises of the Pacific Express com
pany at Omaha would take money out
of the school district and county treas.
uries Of Otoe and all other counties
where the Pacific Express compant
maintains local agencies and does bus
mess. 1t would be just as logical tc
contend that levying city taxes at Ne
braska City upon the owner of a team
who is also compelled to pay county
and state taxes would rob the school
children in Cass county Of part of theil
patrinony.
But none are so blind as those who
will not see. The Otoe county railroad
organist ~pronounces the campaign 70,
more equitable railroad taxation a shan
and appears to be oblivious of the fac
that all the railroads in Otoe county
were assessed in 1902 for $685. 23
when by rights assessed on a conserva
tive basis at one-sixth their actua
value they should have been assessed
for $1,Si3,535. In other words, Otto,
county is justly entitled to more thu
three times as much tax from railroad,
as they are now paying aud every dol
lar of tax the railroads are allowed (,
get away with has to be paid by tn,
other taxpayers. Property n /,
Nebraska City are not only compelle,
to pay their share Of the county take
which the railroads n to shirk
but they also bear nearly the entlr
burden of taxes imposed for maintain
ing municipal government.
The railroad organist is. doubt
less, also obllvious of the fact tbo
the OtOe county railroad assessment to,
years ago was by several thousand
higher than it was last year, althougl
/, the properties Of the railroads Their
have doubled and trcbled in yalue sine
1892. While the railroad Tribune On.
see nothing wrong in this, we appr,
: bend that the taxpayers Of Otoe count
will see a good deal of rank injustlc
3 In 1t.