Omaha daily bee., 1903-05-03
strained Construction of Law.

A@
Mr.. Connell: The general law was not in
tended to cover this, and It Is only by a
strained and forced construction OF 1t by
the railroad people that II is allowed to
cover railroad property for municipal pur-
poses. The law is evidently framed with
respect to county and state taxes.
Mr.. Chase; How Is 1t with other cities?
Mr.. Connell: am not familiar with
other cities. The district court Of Toledo.
O., has Just rendered a decision in the mat
ter OF railroad taxes. The Wabash road, in
order to escape the levy, has hitherto had 1t
assessed in the lump and prorated by
counties. But the treasurer OF the city
assessed the depots and grounds apart from
the proate. and the court has now sus-
tanned the assessment as a Just one. 1t Is
right, isn't It? / am honest In my convic-
ton that railroad property ought TO be
taxed the same as the property of citizens.
Mr.. Poppleton moved the adoption Of the
section as 1t was agreed upon and recon-
mended by the committee. Seconded by
Mr.. Chase.
Mr.. Rosewater: Mr.. Chairman, when l
was here last. it was my intention not to
take part In the deliberations OF this COM
mittee again. To me personally this com
mittee seemed inclined not to take a broad
and liberal view OF the very important
questions which are involved in framing
this charter. 1t appears to me that its
action in some respects was so narrow
gagged and so utterly Incompatible with
the great duty Il has to perform as repre-
sentative OF the taxpayers, l thought per-
haps Il would be best at once to cut short
and say nothing. Because after all the
responsibility is without legislative delega-
ton, who could readily understand that
what this committee had done was largely
In its private Interest, and not In the in
te'est OF the people who have sent the
delegation to represent Douglas county in
the legislature. But / have concluded once
more to take part in your deliberations, be-
cause l was notified that there would be a
very important matter discussed today. II
/ could have my own way. l would have
this committee take a wider latitude on
the whole question Of city taxation by sim
ply inserting four lines: That the prop
erty of all corporations shall be taxed for
municipal purposes just the same as the
property Of individuals.
Mr.. Connell There are only four lines
as Il Is. All except railroad and telegraph
companies are taxed.
One-Sided and Unjust system.
Mr.. ROsewater; l do not see any neces-
sity for even admitting for one moment
that there is such a great Injustice and
such a one-sided system OF lawmaking az
the exemption OF any class OF property
from a proper share OF taxes. l have talked
with one Of the circuit judges OF the United
States on this question, and II the railroad
people are determined TO stand stubbornly
In the way OF their own interest aud resist
/ I'll l.. H. HANa ...-WN- a. A. -
brought up In the courts. l say that the
time will come when this whole reVenu,
Law will be knocked to pieces as a fraud
Il is a mOcksry Of justice which will moi
be permitted. There Is nothing in tn,
constitution OF this state which authorizes
IL. and / have the highest legal authority
for saying that II q test case was made IL
the federal courts. not in Nebraska. but IL
Iowa or Ohio, b. some outside propert,