Omaha daily bee., 1906-08-01

best. wish to add. however that in my
opinion the Law is very much superior 70
any previous law on the subject In this
state, and IN all essentials the very best
which could be enacted under our constitu-
ton. II you examined the constitution and
provisions covering the raising OF revenue
you will agree with me that the legislature
has very little real discretion. AS to how
the law should be executed and obeyed,
do not think that among honest men there
could be two opinions. The law demands
that all property shall be listed at It's real
value In the ordinary course OF trade.
Such value every merchant IL supposed 70
fiN or ascertain at least once a year, and
have no doubt that when Omaha mer-
chants take their annual inventory they
enter upon their books the real value OF
their assets. Every one familiar with the
situation remembers what deplorabe
situs ton we were I'm under the old law, and
when the new law went into effect, the
merchants Of Lincoln as whole accepted
IN good faith and returned 20 the assessor
the real value OF their property. l be-
ieve the same Is true of large portion
Of the state.
II was therefore, a good deal Of a shock
to those who had tried to play fair to 1nd
that as a whole the larger merchants Of
Omaha returned their stocks at figures so
low as to make them appear ridiculous II
Is useless to bubble as to how we know
this. Any man familiar with the situa-
ton, who has ordinary intelligence and
possesses himself with only fair means Of
securing the facts, can very closely state
the value OF any mercantile concern in the
state. This point am sure IL is needless
to argue.
When l appeared before the state board
a year ago | urged them, in fairness to all
concerned, to send for the Omaha mer-
chants complained of and to take their di-
rect testimony. This, II seems TO me, would
have been a very simple and fair way Of
settling the matter. For some reason, how
ever II was not done.
| l do not agree with you that the feature
/ Of the law which puts great power in the
| hands Of the county assessor is a bad one,
| neither do / think that Lancaster county
| should be condemned because 1t elected an
/ assessor who although far from infallible.
! has made an honest effort to obey the law
/ and his official oath. How can an honest
man swear that he has 100000 worth Of
| property when he knows that he has $780,
| 600, and how can an honest assessor accept
! his statement Let me insist upon it, my
! friend, real progress Is not made by con-
demning the honest man, but by compelling
| the dishonest man to do his duty. All that
! the Omaha merchants have gained by their
| fragrant differentiation has been the saw
! ing of a few thousands on state taxes,
| which any one of dozen of them could
| have paid individually without embar-
/ certainly agree with you that the cor
porations are not paying their share, but
| ! want to go on record as saying that l
| think their present assessments are fully
| as high as the average OF all property in
the state perhaps higher; and that under
| our present Law more can be honestly done
| in that direction. OF course l am not in
! formed as to the personal views you had
| heretofore held on these subjects, but IL is
! interesting to note an anti-corporation ar
gument from an Omaha business man.
! There is popular impression abroad that
perfect harmony has existed between the
! business men of Omaha and the men who
| preside over our great service corpora
| lions, and to a considerable extent the
! policies of our state. II the present situa-
! ton will put an end to this alliance the
| new revenue law will not have been
! enacted in vain, even though 1t fail in
/ some other directions.
! As to any antagonistic feeling between
! Omaha and Lincoln, If II exist at all, it
| must be largely onesided, for I feel sure
! that no ungenerous feeling of rivalry exists
| in Lincoln Our own firm has never failed
| to give loyal support to Omaha's enter
! prises, having bought merchandise from
| your wholesale houses whenever 1t could be
/ done to advantage.
! In conclusion, let me say that II you and
| your associates feel that you are assessed
| unfairly or are in danger of being assessed
| unfairly, why not act on the suggestion
| which mentioned above as having made to
! the state board last year and come down
| in a body to appear before them. With
! the friendliest personal feelings toward you
and ali other merchants with whom have
the pleasure of an acquaintance, | am. sim
cereiy yours, J. E. MILLER.
! Rains on Assembly.
The Epworth assembly began its meet
ing at Epworth Lake park this morning
in a great downpour of rain, which
stopped proceedings for a few hours,
though none of the tent jewellers was
drowned A number of visitors went to
the park after the rainstorm, but there
was little doing Tomorrow evening
Booker T. Washington will deliver an ad-
dress and hundreds of visitors are ex-
| pected.