Omaha daily bee., 1903-03-02
RAILROAD TAX sHIRKrNe.

Broken Bow Beacon: A bill is before the
state legislature authorizing the city au-
thorities TO assess railroad terminals for
city purposes, and also authorizing the
board Of equalization to order them as
sessed for county and state purposes. The
railroads are strenuously opposing the
measure, but It is eminently Just. The
counties through which the railroads pass
give value to their terminals AAd are en-
titled to some benefit in the way Of taxes.
Springfield Monitor: There is no doubt
that the people have a Just right to think
that whenever a corporation takes a case
before a federal court It will get the best
Of the decision. II seems tina in instances
Of this kind in the past this has almost
invariably been the case, until now the
people look upon Il as a rule. The rail-
road tax case in Omaha Just recently will
have a tendency to strengthen this belief.
But why the court should lean that way is
the question.
Hebron Register: The corporation inter-
ests have a strong and able lobby at Lin
coin and 1t is putting forth its best efforts
to see that the new revenue bill will not
increase the taxes OF its masters. The
people need not expect to get the needed
legislation along this line until they elect
lawmakers who cannot be controlled by
the paid hirelings Of those who are deter
mined that The. common people shall pay
more than their just share Of taxes levied
for the support Of the state and its tnsti-
tutions.
Ord Journal: The revenue bill that a
special committee has been working on for
some tine has been introduced in the
legislature. The proposed bill will I'M
doubtedly have hard sailing, as It provides
absolutely for an increase in the valuation
Of all classes Of property except railroads,
and that part OF the law is left about as It
is now. However, the state board is to be
made up Of FIVE members instead Of three,
and they may look at matters different
than the parties who have made up that
board for the last few decades.
Kearney HUB: The fate OF the pending
revenue bill is apparently as uncertain as
1t is in some respects unsatisfactory. Sew
eral weeks were needed by the joint com
mittee to produce It and 1t will be still
longer before the public will be able to
pass even tolerably intelligent judgment
upon 1t. The measure is drastic in some
particulars and will doubtless go a long
way to even up the inequalities of tax
alton Of personal property. 1t even takes
Oh uuNahGtu bNNp III IL VI W BOAh
ton taxation, but there is more or less OF
a suspicion that It will not add anything to
the proportion of taxes paid by the rail-
ways, and will not ultimately be the rev.
enue producer that was intended. Some
Of this, however, is surmise, and a great
deal depends, of course, upon the dmin-
istration of the law should 1t be enacted.
Columbus Telegram: Nebraska laughed
when Edward Rosewater, many years ago,
declared that the very atmosphere in Lin
coin was concentrating. And yet Rose
water saw the situation better than those
who laughed. There is a mysterious some
thing in the atmosphere at the state capt.
tai, an indefnable influence which has
made servile corporation puppies out Of
men who in their home communities were
regarded as strong and clean. I believe
the average man elected to the legislature
is really honest and earnest in his desire
to accomplish something for the public
welfare. l make an exception Of the dele
cations from Douglas and Lancaster coun-
ties, where the nominees for legislative
honors are usually selected In advance by
the railroad and other public corporations.
These men are as honest as they can be
under the circumstances. They intend to
do right, as they see the right, but UNI
fortunately they are compelled to see
things through railroad glasses, and only
those measures are right which bear the
20. k" of the grand master Of the cor
p~o-ation lobby.