Omaha daily bee., 1903-02-07
OMAHA DECLARES ITSELF
CONTINUED from First Page.)

CONTINUED from First Page.)
tanned that If the railroads taxes are raised
in Omaha for city purposes it will not and
cannot have the slightest effect upon their
state. county or school taxes in any other
portion Of the state, and said that the rail-
roads were only using this argument to be-
fog and deceive the country members Of
the legislature in order to defeat the Ten
Eyck bill.
Here are some figures which Mr.. McIn-
tosh gave: The Union Paciho's total city
and village taxes in Douglas county last
/ year, except those on their general head
quarters and shop buildings, were $3,527.75;
in Sarpy county, s63.7O, and in Dodge
county, s61S.5S. The total city and village
tax of the state ION that SIS, ZOO, COO they
say is distributed over the various coun-
ties,' is $9,657.7S.
w. G. IRE presented a very ~succinct
statement Of the glaring inequalities Of this
railroad taxation question. He showed that
in 1901 the Union Pacific paid one-three-
hundredth of the whole city taxes in Omaha
and in 1903, if the present law was main
tanned, would pay one-two-thousandth. He
also showed that from 1881 to 1903 the
Union Pacifc's city taxes had sIumped
$40, $3.50, or "a per cent. The road, accord
ing to his figures, would pay this year. In
school taxes, with the present law in force,
$155.50! By an equitable method of taxa
ton Mr.. IRE declared this great educator
and public benefactor, the Union Pacific,
would be obliged to contribute in city taxes
$260,000 a year. The speaker further showed
that while other taxpayers Of Omaha pay
$40 on every 81, 900 worth of real estate,
the railroads pay the bagatelle of 8 cents.
He closed his effective remarks by asserting
that the railroads Of Nebraska are evading
95 per cent of their municipal taxes.
Not First Effort of the Kind.
Edward Rosewater was the next speaker
invited by Chairman. Mahoney to address
the meeting. He was greeted with loud
applause.
This is not the first time we have tried
to bring the people of Omaha together on
this question:" said Mr.. Rosewater, for
fifteen years ago 1 remember we exerted
the same sort Of an effort, instructed our
Douglas county delegation in the legisla-
ture to see that we secured a new city
charter that would guarantee to. us the
rights and benefits for which we are still
pleading tonight. We would have been
successful at that time, but for the polit-
ical treachery of certain individuals who
could not resist the sinister influences that
were brought to bear.
The ratio Of taxation. has advanced by
a steady process through a period of years,
until these inequalities OF which we are
talking tonight are so glaring that even a
blind man could see them. Why, l was
talking with a high railroad official Of this
city the other day and he, who owned real
estate here in Omaha. said 1t was a shame
that the present taxation methods discrim-
mated so terribly in favor of the railroad
corporations. He admitted IT, even. Now
we want to impress these facts upon our
legislators, and especially on the members
from Douglas county. We want to make
them thoroughly understand what is ex-
pected of them. Let them know that un-
less they work with all their might for this
bill they need expect no further political
favors at our hands.
"In the last ten years Douglas county
has paid into the state treasury in taxes
81, 629, 495. 81, of which Omaha has paid four
ffths. We have paid more than 10 per
cent Of the cost Of running this state. And
what an Insignificant part Of this has come
from the Golfers of the rich railroads.!
"In rejecting upon some of the argu-
ments used by the railroads in their vain
attempt at showing that they pay all the
city taxes they should, / want to call your
attention to the situation in some other
cities of the country. In Pittsburg an as
sessment of $15, 000, 900 is levied on railroad
terminals; Philadelphia collects annually
in city taxes from the railroads $675, 0OO,
and Omaha how much? Why, a little over
SO, 900. Then down in New Orleans, where
the facilities and terminals are not any
thing like as valuable as in Omaha, they
levy taxes or an assessment of 100000,
and in Indianapolis on $4,000, 900 and over.
You must carry this fight through the
state. The flag of equality must wave