Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-10-31
ton Of stih money market for a pro-
tracted period in the future
WAT II MrANs EoR oMAHA.

WHAT IT MEANS FOR OMAHA.
The fight for more equal taxation
which has been waged in Omaha and
Nebraska for the last Ave or six years
has made great Roadway, but it still
remains to force the railroads to pay
city taxes on their property the same
as other property owners. Terminal
taxation for municipal purposes would
not take a penny OF revenue away
from any county or school district in
the state, but it would compel the
railroads to pay city taxes, which they
now evade almost altogether. The
most valuable terminals being located
in Omaha, this city would naturally
be the largest beneficiary, but every
other city, town and village in the
state with few, II any, exceptions,
would also benefit proportionately.
A republican state convention has
for the first time given platform rec
ognition to the demand for terminal
taxation. Every candidate running on
the republican ticket is tacitly bound
to carry out this promise, and to make
it more emphatic, more than four
fifths of the republican candidates for
the legislature have subscribed their
names to a written pledge that they
will, if elected, support and vote for
measures that will carry out this plat
form promise, as well as the others.
The taxpayers OF Omaha, therefore,
have an opportunity such as is not
likely soon to recur to make a win
ming fight for terminal taxation. Sue
cess in this would add to the annual
revenues of the city in the neighbor-
hood of 100000 a year, which the
railroads now keep in their own peck
cts while other property owners foot
all the bills of city government, in
whose advantages the railroads share
more than pro rata.
If the railroads paid city taxes in
Omaha the same as other people the
tax rate could be brought down ma
terially without impairing the city's
finances The city tax rate could be
reduced/2 mills and still leave a sur
plus revenue to take care of needed
improvements.
If the railroads were compelled to
pay city taxes like other people Omaha
could do a great many things which II
is now prevented from doing because
of fpsvA3 o{ont rosOurnas
1t could double its police force for
more adequate protection to life and
property.
1t could establish a two-shift fire
department without any question as to
money to pay for it.
1t could enlarge the area of lighted
streets and give new street Tampa to
outlying districts.
1t could keep it's pavement in con
slant repair and clean the streets all
the year round.
If the railroads would pay theii
city taxes like other people Omaha
could compensate its municipal EN-
ployes more adequately.
1t could put, its city hall in state
of good repair. . as..s .sa
It could build a workhouse thai
would drive hoboes out of the city and
a hundred and one other needfu
things.
What is said here about termina
taxation in Omaha applies in onl!
lesser degree to Lincoln, and Has
tings, and Beatrice, and Norfolk, anC
all the other thriving cities and town.
in Nebraska that are right now beint
cheated every year out Of taxes tn,
railroads ought to pay toward the sup
port of their city governments.
Is it any wonder the railroad
should have tied up with the demo
Gratis to head off terminal taxation an,
protect the graft they now enjoy a
the expense of other taxpayers? n