Omaha daily bee., 1903-02-26
RESULTS OF TAX CAMPAIGN
Real Estate Exchange Committee Reports
Progress OF Tax Reform
POINTERS TO MEMBERS OF LEGISLATURE
Committee Declares Public Sentiment
Demands Legislation that VIII
Enable cities to Tax Rail-
road Terminals.

At the meeting OF the Real Estate eN-
change yesterday the tax committee sub
mitted the following report, which was
unanimously adopted:
The results Of this years work are at
this date: That the citizens Of Omaha are
thoroughly aroused and demanding OF. the
Douglas county delegation I'm the legisla-
ture their untiring and most efficient ef,
railroads In the city Of Omaha as well as
In every city and village in, the state. 10
pay their fair share Of municipal taxes,
which hitherto they have failed to do.
Omaha people are not alone In desiring
this law, for MAS meetings are being con-
templated in other cities in the state, and
some Of the newspapers that at hrst pub
lished the railroad paid editorials are now
boldly taking a stand favortng such an act.
After being thus supported. II Is the pre-
valling opinion of the purliC, and especially
of those best informed throughout the
state. that the success OF n measure giving
the right to the cities Of Nebraska to col
lect their fair share Of municipal taxes
from the railroads lies entirely with the
republican members Of the senate and
house of representatives.
As a result OF the campaign OF last year
city taxes were reduced on each $1,000
worth OF nearly all property from $3.50 in
1901 to S2 in 1902, and county taxes re-
on each H,Oco worth Of property to pay
all regular taxes than the year before, OF
IL per cent less.
About city Tax Rate.
The city council has now made a levy
of tS.75 on each $1,000 worth. Of all prop
erty except railroads. on which no levy has
yet been made. AS compared with city tax
Of 1901 of $3.50 per 5000 this Is a reduc-
tIon of S4S5 on city taxes, ar nearly SO per
cent reduction since the start, or over %
per cent less than last year. This last
item Is not yet fully accomplished, but Is
rather an illustration of what success In
court means to this years taxes, and what
success in legislation will accomplish for
future years. .
by the late decision in the federal court
restraining the city council from making
the levy on the railroad terminal property,
because, as the Judge remarked in open
court, there was no attempt or the part
of the complainants to make a showing
turely brought" Hence the real merits OF
the case are yet to be adjudicated. and the
city has, therefore,. RETAINED from maHing
the case will result in a favorable verdict.
These results have only been accom-
plished with the support of the press ana
public. There is still work before us. II.
r. $50. or its equivalent, must be passed.
We must continue the tight in the courts.
A question is never settled until II is set
tied right.
Following this report. a resolution offered
by A. p. Turkey and @. G. Wallace was
adopted, as follows:
whereas. The annual tax levy Of the
city of Omaha for all city purposes as
fixed by the mayor and city council, Is TO
ID oIiAI ON al NAANANAbA W A.
Resolved, By the Real Estate exchange,
that we congratulate the citizens of Omaha
upon the results thus far obtained and
upon the bright prospects for the future
In the development and building up of a
greater Omaha; be II further
Resolved. That we most cordially COM
mend the painstaking efforts and the con-
sentative action OF the tax commissioners
the Board OF Review, members of the Board
of Education and the la and city
council In materially assisting in bringing
about this very much desired relief from
taxation.
The tax committee announced that It
needed funds to pay expenses incidental to
the fight being made in the federal court
and a committee consisting of w. T. Graham.
C. s. Benawa, M. J. Kennard, w. II.
Thomas and II. A. Westerield was APP
pointed TO raise the money. With less than
half OF the total membership OF the ex-
change present, $500 was raised in five
minutes.