Omaha daily bee., 1903-02-11
FOR TAX RIDDEN PROPERTY
City Treasurer Gathers Statistics to Show
that Relief is Needed.
DELINQUENT TAXES IN EXCESS OF VALUE
MIR. Jennings FnvOrs Enactment OF
Law 90 clear Property and Re-
store it to Revenue
Producing Basis.

City Treasurer Hennings has been gath
erlng statistics TO show the necessity for
devising a way to collect a part Of the 81
900, 900 delinquent taxes due the city Of
Omaha. Thousands Of lots are encountered
by unpaid taxes greatly In excess Of their
value, and as illustrations he presents FIVE
striking examples, using the fair cash val
uations as made by Tax COMMISSIONS
Fleming for the 1903 assessment. A lot
valued at $3.50 has 1915 in taxes standing
against t.; another piece Of property worth
s9,375 has taxes against It to the amount
of s10.690.16, and there is one small lot
which $3.50 would buy that has S615. 96
marked up in delinquent taxes.
The city treasurer has been greatly inter
ested in the proposed legislative measures
designed to secure. not only the collection
Of back taxes in Omaha and the placing of
the property in position where IL may yield
regular revenue. but the state as well.
Present Law Inadequate.
'It is estimated that there are from 81
900. 900 to $40, 600, 900 state, county and city
taxes delinquent in Nebraska he says.
Probably one-third of the property con-
cerned never could be redeemed under the
present laws. We should get a bill through
the legislature to clear up this property
and to get It paying taxes again.
besides the benefit Of a large amount
n back taxes which we could collect under
the so-called scavenger bill, 1t would de-
crease the levy for taxes in future years,
OF course, under our present constitution
this can be accomplished only by regular
court proceedings.
THE best remedial legislation proposed
that have seen is a bill in the hands of a
representative from a western county, which
he proposes to introduce into the house
this week. From my point Of view, after
careful consideration, IL is a measure that
should be passed, and I believe It should
Ave the hearty support OF the Douglas
county delegation"
Synopsis of the New Bill.
MIR. Hennings has a synopsis Of this bill
as follows:
The county treasurer shall prepare a
complete delinquent list OF taxes each year
and this shall be bound and Kept as a
h record shall have suitable columns
against each tract, as well as the total
amount due. 1t shall have columns for
5 6snn entry rom 2t pay yaT sale OF the name and
address of the purchaser and his assignee.
az we'll as other columns for entries OF
The record shall have a formal statement
attached to 1t and shall be filed with the
clerk of the district court. 1t then be
comes "a petition and is the commencement
of a suit to enforce the taxes. =
Notice of the filing of the petition and
of the amount due on each tract is then
Those who wish to contest the taxes must
file answers by September ]. A default
decree is entered against all land when no
Lands defauIted are sold under an order
al court, after advertisement, in November
each year.
delinquent lands must bring full amount
OF taxes, interest and costs, but when four
or more years are delinquent lands may
be sold TO the highest bidder regardiess
of the amount due and without appraise-
In the latter case the bid may be raised
by any person within eighteen months by
cling with the county treasurer an ofer
Of a premium. The highest premium must
be accepted.
sales draw interest at II per cent per
annum. The period of redemption is three
Years for the ordinary sale and two years
for the sale where four or more years are
included.
come purchaser where their taxes are In
volved and are not required to advance
money. All such sales may be assigned
by the treasurer to any purchaser at any
When taxes are contested the court
enters a decree after a regular trial. The
business of the court and several pro.
visions are found in the act to get ar
early decision.
The owner and occupant OF every tract
OF land is served with notice by the sheriff
COR by publication) that the time OF re
demption will expire on a certain day.,
II there Is no redemption sppheatioI
deed made under the courts order. Thii
deed is an absolute title 20 the property.
There are provisions discouraging thi
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