Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1903-02-11
Republican Legislature Owes 1t to the
Party to Do Justice by City.
REVENUE COMMITTEE HAS THE BILL
Organization Of Committee Indicates Meas
ure May Be Buried
wlNToSH STATES ISSUE PLAINLY
Lieutenant Governor McGiIton Makes
Plain His Position on the gill
bert water Works
BILL
From a Stan Correspondent.) )

LINCOLN, Neb., Feb. lO.-(speciai)--
Ex-Governor Crounse, who with Mel UhI
and others from Omaha appeared at the
capitol today in the interest of II. R III,
was much impressed with the power and
scope OF the railroad lobby being main-
tanned here for the defeat Of this and any
other bill contemplating fairness in the
matter of taxation or any other matter af-
tecting the railroads interests.
THE railroads have employed the most
unfair means OF defeating this bill. which
is so generally demanded and 90 greatly
needed in Omaha said the ex-governor.
They are maintaining a large and ex-
pensive lobby here at the state capitol for
this sinister purpose and are using every
possible method to hoodwink and deceive
members OF the legislature who are to act
on this bill. Their arguments are false
and many Of them condemn themselves on
their very faces. No intelligent member
ought to hesitate or waver for one minute
in rallying TO the support OF this bill, for
it contemplates nothing but justice and
fairness"
Mr.. Crounse hoped this legislature. so
overwhelmingly republican, would see to It
that this bill was not defeated. 1t was
plain from his talk that he apprehended
serious results II the republicans did not
pass the bill which they have in their
power to dc.
Mr.. Uhl talked with members OF the
house and senate revenue committees about
the bill. He returned to Omaha this after
noon, preferring not to have hts state-
ments as TO what he had learned here di-
vuiged, for the good of the bill
Keeping Measure Buried.
1t is evident that the railroads play now
4 e.,
templates the taxation OF their Omaha
terminals at what they should pay. from
leaving the committee on revenue IN the
house. where 1t has been all this time.
Warner of Lancaster Is chairman OF this
committee and he is a generally recognised
railroad man. When pressed for q state
nent as 30 his Intentions reRsrd,-E the
bill Warner gave the excuse that Il would
be submitted and considered when the
other bills OF this character, among them
the regular revenue bill. are taken up.
But this is very vague and has no mean
ing to the actual friends OF the bill, ex-
cept to show all too plainly that Mr.. War
ner and the other railroad members OF the
committee do not intend to let the bill
get past them IL they can help Il.
The indications are that they can win
out too. at this game, since It appears that
the railroads have the majority of this
committee. As IT would require a two
thirds vote of the house to take the bill
out OF the committees hands, success by
way Of that course is despaired Of for OBJ
vious reasons.
Some one has suggested the wisdom Of
having the bill amended so as to specify
that all municipalities in the state, not
only Omaha, shall have the right 70 levy
a direct Assessment on the terminals. But
I
As has been suggested, opponents Of the
bill would then say. well. in such and
such towns there are no terminals and
hence this bill contemplates something
that is neither necessary or practicable"
! Some comment already has been heard
/ TO the effect that II this bill is ever passed
I It will be because of the eternal vigilance
! and ceaseless activity ofethe Douglas coun-
/ ty members. who, however. have as yet
! apparently not completely marshalled all
/ their sorces for the conflict.
Mcintosh states Case.
| James H. Mcintosh is the author OF
booklet dealing effectively With the prob
/ lens contained in II. r. III, which has been
presented TO members OF the legislature.
| Some OF Mr.. McIntosh's arguments ara
! these:
| The Omaha Water ces!ll,sny is a part OF
l a "system" having its pumping station
and settling basins in Florence, ana pipes
| and connections in Benson, Dundee, South
| Omaha and Omaha, and pays village and
| city taxes in each Of these places.
| The Omaha Gas company is part Of
! system" having its pipes, connections
/ and franchises in Florence, Benson Dun
/ dee. South Omaha and Omaha, and pays
village and city taxes In each or these
Is it strange that the railroads are forced
J 20 resort 20 paid editorials and misrepre-
J DaTnetuate city tax QOdE-
( ing system under which one railroad on
its 3sl acres Of city land. equivalent to
man man the he CommerciaI National bank pays
Sadag s ha oh 9 e COULD G5 Ttn ae honest fSt
I Justify such a SYSTEM Would a grain OF
I common fairness desire II?
The bin merely asks that the same oficer
that values other city property for city
taxes value also railroad property within
/ sage We are merely asking for the rail-
roads the same thing that exists for our
/ nor any county, nor any school district
/ will collect from the railroads a single
penny less in taxes on account OF IT.
The Railroads Can Fool No One.
II they tell you House Roll III win re-
duce the state, county or school district
I railroad taxes, tell them IL Will not for
! will value the same railroad property for
state. county and school taxes that value
! II now, ana lne same TAX VIII Do ui1dAp-
I uted IN the same way then as now.
! IN they say u will impose a double tax
J on their city property for city purposes, tell
! them il will keep them Uom lodging their
city taxes.
IL they try TO make you think they pap
their share OF city taxes show them where.
] on rrore than 3Sl acres Of improved rail-
z road property within city, they pay only
aoClL one half much city taxes as a
private company pays on a half lot with
I a twG-story building on H.
/ = they tell you their city value is dis
| trinuted along the line for city taxes. ask
| them where, and what cities tax II for
! rtty purposes. Ask them what city taxes
J IL iu tine cumhelds. Show them that in
an the cities and villages along the main
lire cf one of them il pays In city and
village taxes ou.y S9.657gS or less than
Oue-fOUrtu what a local corporation pays,
haVlHG within the CitF less than one-third
I the property value the railroad has. Let
l then, kuDv- VotI know they are nof telIfna