The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1904-09-15
WILL You TRUST THEN,

enactment OF the present revenue law,
when it was proposed that under the
new law all property should be as
sessed at its full market value, people
were lulled into non-r resistance to it,
by the assertion that though the full
valuation were made. the levy would
be much lower
For instance: If property were as
sessed at 40 per cent OF the full value,
1T might be levied upon for taxation
OF say thirty mills on the dollar So
on valuation OF 500, the assessment
figure would be $40. A thirty levy
for revenue purposes upon this would
mean tax to be paid by the holder OF
the property of $1.20. 1t was asserted
that If the property were assessed at
the full value of 500. the levy could
be so reduced as to equaliZe the tax.
To raise the same tax under this ar
rangement levy of twelve mills would
be required.
1t was asserted that if the full val
uatiOn We're made. it would prevent
many glazing inequalities of valuation,
apd thereby enable taxing authorities
to make a lower levy. Be that how it
may, the effect has not been accom-
piished The full valuation has been
made. but the levy in many instances
has not been reduced, while in most
cases it has not been reduced suffici-
emily to make the tax paid as low as
II formerly was.
OF course. the real reason is in the
fact that the republican state board of
equalization in adjusting the levies for
the state has allowed the railroads OF
the state to escape any taxation at
all upon the most valuable part of
their assets-their franchises-a part of
the taxable property of the roads,
which the constitution Of the state
makes mandatory upon state author
tiles to tax. and which tax is even
provided for in the present revenue
law.
Regarding the increase of taxation
which the people of this state are now
suffering from, C. O. Wheden, Esq, a
leading republican attorney of Lincoln
in recent letter to the State Journal
says:
I'm 1903, the taxable value of the
property of Lancaster county as re-
turned was 1888, O7794; for 1904, it is
$14,729. 869.24, an increase of $6,131,-
791 80, or more than II per cent The
rate for state and county purposes for
1903 was 31.S mills, imposing tax
amounting to $273,41883 This year
the rate for state and county purposes
is 81 mills, imposing a tax amounting
to s309.327.24. The decrease in the
rate this year over last is 1913 mills, or
1873 per cent, while the increase in
the amount Of taxes imposed is practi-
cally 13 per cent. Tabulated as to
percentages, the account stands thus:
Per cent
Increase in taxable valuation. ). .71.3
Decrease in rate of taxation. -. 1873
Increase in aggregate of levy. -. 10
''The action of the taxing author
tiles under this law warrants the as
sertion that authority to increase the
taxable valuation of property is fol-
lowed by an increase in-the burden of
taxation in excess Of actual demands.
The levy of Is mills for county pur-
poses this year can not be defended
for the reason that the amount of
money which such levy will produce
is not required for public purposes if
public business is judiciously and econ
omically administered.
THE assessed valuation of the prop
erty of the city for 1903 was $22,380,- |
S3455; for 1904, it is SIS, las, $500. |
This is an increase of 30 per cent. |
With an increase of 80 per cent in
valuation there is no decrease in the
rate. but an increase of a fraction OF |
mill. The state, county, school and |
city tax which one business house of |
this city will pay this year will ex-
eeed the amount paid by it in 1903 by |
more than $1,000. Another house will |
pay $500 more than last year. another
will pay an excess of $4,000 more than |
last year; another will pay nearly ST. !
900 more than last year.
If the present revenue law is con-
tinued in force IL may be safely as
serted that next year the increase In
the assessed valuation will at least |
equal that Of 1901. and the rate Of
taxation will also be increased"
Now the experience OF Lancaster
al. ~