Omaha daily bee., 1903-04-21
on REVENUE LAW
Fusion Leader Thinks Railroads Will Con-
tnue to Evade Taxes.
BURDEN FALLS HEAVILY ON FARMERS
New Law, in OpiniOn of Mr.. LOOmis,
VIII Not Produce Equitable As
sessment of Property In
state.

II look for no substantial relief, such
as the people Of the state need, from this
law" said Representative George L. Loomis
of Fremont yesterday in speaking Of the
new revenue law enacted by the last legis-
~lature, of which he was the fusion leader
In the house. Mr.. Loomis likewise was a
member Of the joint committee that framed
this new law, but he was in the minority.
and the law, even when presented, did not
meet his entire approval.
There is no question that the law will
increase the volume Of taxes continued
Mr.. Loomis, but, while the grand assess
ment is too small. that is not the main
proposition. What we need as a means Of
relief is the equitable distribution of taxes
and that lie what. in my judgment, this
law will not produce. l know that some
Of its ardent opponents claim that it will
do this, but l am frank to say It requires
more faith than l am able to command to
entertain such hopes. That the bill will
increase the taxes Of the farmer In the
east end OF the state and the taxes Of other
smaller taxpayers there is no doubt in my
mind. but IL does not promise any material
increase in the taxes Of the railroads and
other corporations that have been evading
or escaping their share OF the public bur-
den. And there is where the law will fail
W aSNOAhHAAeh III hAkhC6N PURPOSE 2
the greatest need and do what wat pri-
marily sought through revenue revision.
AS l have said, II is not simply an increase
In the bulk of taxes that this state needs
to give 1t the necessary revenue, but an
equal distribution of those taxes. The big
gest taxpayers must be made to bear their
share of the burden, but this law will not.
in my judgment, do that. On the other
hand, 1t will, l feel certain, double the
taxes OF the farmers in tina part Of the
state east from Dodge county; in the vest
ern part the disparity will not be as great.
Only one Hope.
''There is but one hope Of bringing the
railroads and other large corporations to
time and that is in the State Board of
Equalization. II that board, which has It
In its power. will tax these concerns on
20 per cent of all their property. not al
lowing their franchises to escape, 1t will
be all right, but ] see nothing on which to
base any hopes that the board will do this.
Certainly there is no example to lead us
to any such conclusion"
Mr.. Loomis attention was called to the
avowed determination of the Western
Union Telegraph company to contest that
part Of the law which taxes telegraph. tel
ephone and express companies on their
tangible property and, in addition thereto,
on their gross earnings for one year as
their franchises.
well, l am not surprised he said. 81
opposed that method Of taxation when we
we're at work on the bill. l particularly
opposed It then and later in the house in
committee of the whole. when the efforts
were made to include under this head street
railway companies, which themselves fought
for this position. l said then and I say
now, that there is not close enough connec-
ton between gross receipts and franchises
to take the former for the latter for tax
alton purposes. i was very much opposed
to that feature of the revenue bill, which
in many ways is a splendid measure and l
am opposed to It still in the law. l think
it was a grave mistake.
mo, they can say all they please about
this law raising the total assessed valua-
tion from $3.50, 600. 900 to $500, 900, 900, and
equalizing matters, but it will not do II. 1t
will make SOM increase. but not that
much, and It will not afford the relief SO
necessary. for the increase will not be
equitable"