Omaha daily bee., 1903-02-09
TAXATION OF RAILROADS.

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work on.
Kearney Hub: II the proposition to as
sess railroad terminals is a bad thing for
the people OF the state, possibly It can be
explained why the railroads have so sud
denly taken up the cause OF the people.
Some people are suspicious OF the fight
being waged by the railroads against the
so-called Omaha idea.
Beatrice Express: The ordinary tax
payer, who earns his dollars by hard
knocks, and hates to see them get away,
cannot understand why the corporations
should be granted special privileges, for
the money of the corporations come easy,
and there is plenty of 1t. The burden Of
the poor would be greatly lightened II the
corporations were required to do their full
duty.
Springfield Monitor: The legislative com
mittee that is trying to draft a revenue
bill for Nebraska is composed OF eight
lawyers, one doctor, two lumbermen and
two farmers. 1t Is said the committee is
fully able and competent to get up a bill
worthy Of the people, but the question Is,
will the members do what they are capable
OF doing or will some corporation worker
slip in and spoil things so far as the people
in general are concerned?
Albion News: Does anyone seriously pre-
sumo that IL the additional tax II is pro-
posed to assess against the valuable ter
minal properties of the railroads was
merely to be deducted from what they al
ready pay on their whole system. that
they would be tearing their neither gar
ments and spending money to defeat the
change. They make a very plausible argu-
ment, but is It true, that is the burning
question?
central City Nonpareil: The members
Of the legislature who are losing consid-
cradle sleep just at present over the prop
osition to formulate a new revenue meas
ure are al agreed as to one of the main
causes for the present inequality In the
system Of taxation, end thnt is the son-of-
a-tinker who lies to the assessor every
year about the amount of property he
owns. II he could be made to tell the
truth the whole question would at once
be solved.
Hastings Tribune: There isn't anyone in
the state. unless 1t is the railway mag
mates and other capitalists, who does not
desire a change in the present method of
taxation and as the law stands today the
poor man, or small property holders, is
compelled to pay his full quota of taxation
while the more wealthy ones and capital
lists have a way of paying about one-half
Of the amount they should put up. Almost
any change made in the present system
would be for the better.
Imperial Republican: The revenue laws
Of the state certainly need revising. The
states finances have been getting in just a
little worse shape each year, with no relief
in sight. While the state has gradually
been growing in wealth and the cost Of
government largely increased, and the as
sessed valuation shows a gradual decrease
for a number OF years, we are forced to
the conclusion that some means for raising
the assessment to a figure that will yield
sufficient revenue for state purposes is
absolutely necessary. This is what the
present legislature seems to understand and
is planning to curtail expenses and enact
suitable revenue legislation.
Rushville Recorders: Last week we pub
lished a brief article from Lincoln, in
reference to the Omaha taxation of rail-
way terminals scheme. We published the
article in good faith, and ignored Mr.. Frank
Harrison's reference to remuneration for
putting 1t before our people. We have
never yet been paid for editorial space and
never hope to be. Perhaps in our haste
we might have overlooked the fact that
Mr.. Harrison was a journalistic free lance
employed at present by a railway lobby;
but this is not to say that railroads have
neither views or rights in the discussion
Of matters of taxation affecting them
selves. We have never yet subscribed to
the doctrine that a railroad is a ~soulless
corporations; neither have We asserted that
the railroads should be allowed to escape
their full share OF taxation. In all mat
tiers Of taxation we have only one idea
and that is that all should be treated alike,
even in the matter of discussion.
Auburn Post: The people from all parts
of the state are demanding a revenue law
Of our present legislators, and 1t seems to
the Post that It would be an act of wisdom
on the part OF our lawmakers to adopt the
Kansas revenue bill in its entirety, as that
bill is the result Of two years study on the
part Of a commission appointed by the last
legislature to investigate the revenue sys-
TENS Of various states and draft a bill. The
commission consisted of three member OF
the house, two Of the senate and three state
officers, the treasurer, attorney general
and the state auditor. Ten thousand dol
lars was appropriated for the expenses OF
the commission, which visited all Of the
western states and studied their revenue
systems and talked with the officials and
found wherein their weak points lay. Inc
commission found only one state where the
revenue system was satisfactory, that being
Indiana, and they needed some changes
The Kansas commission took the Indiana
law as a basis and drafted one of Its own
every section Of which has been unani-
mously agreed to by the commissioner
AS all OF the conditions OF Kansas and
Nebraska are almost identical, the rail.
roads and rivers run east and west through
the entire length Of the state, the large
cities are in the east and the west is giveT
up to grazing, it would seem as though
Nebraska might profit by the labors of thu
Kansas commission and adopt it's revenue
bill almost entirely.
Ord Journal: The railroad tax bureau 1
getting in its work again and is sending
out articles to prove hat the taxing o
depot grounds, side tracks and the like II
Omaha would deprive other portions of tn
/ state taxes that are due them, and man!
papers are taking up this cry without stop
) ping to think. We all believe in Just tax
alton, or at least we all advocate II Il
speaking on the subject. Then why is
right for the railroads who have vast prop
S critics in the cities where they get the sam
4 fire protection as other property there, hav
s the same advantages everywhere and the
pay taxes on no more property there tina
WaLAW - - A