Omaha daily bee., 1907-03-10

has its divorce court and Texas has its
bountiful exemption laws all Of which
come into existence for the avowed purpose
Of building UP the finances or population Of
these respective states by Offering such in
ducements TO the people Of either states.
Louisiana and South Dakota may have
helped their condition by such laws or ad-
ministration. but not without giving cause
for some criticism for the reason that such
Inducements were not of an elevating
character. As an example Of the uncensur-
able inducements a mineral state is ex-
pected to pass laws favorable to mining,
as a seashore state is expected to foster
fishing. Likewise should we as a CONNER
cal and agricultural state pass laws favor
able to commerce and agriculture.
what II Offers
This bill provides that any person from
this or any other state upon request shall
be appointed as an advisory secretary to
boost for Nebraska and shall be paid a
sum equal 20 the taxes that he pays upon
his idle money on deposit in this state
Commercial clubs and real estate men
Of Nebraska would probably join in hav-
Ing prepared an attractive book-a sort Of
department store ,catalogue-like a volume
Of Nebraska and all its beautiful cities and
towns and their industries. A very small
sum then expended by them would obtain
a weekly report from Dun and Bradstreet
Of wealthy men all over this nation who
have Just converted large holdings into
cash. Real estate agents and commercial
clubs from over the state may use this
to advantage In causing correspondence to
be opened between such persons and their
ex-fellow townsmen. Our commercial his
tory, referred to above, and a copy Of this
law could be mailed to such parties with
a letter explaining that by coming here
for thirty days and becoming an advisory
secretary they could, by depositing their
money here, escape the heavy taxation at
home against which there is usually so
much discussion.
Upon reading this law and rejecting
they would observe that they would under
our constitution, be obliged to pay such
a tax here. but, however. they would have
an amount equal to the full payment re-
turned in consideration for little delight
full work of boosting" for Nebraska
wherever they may happen to be.
This law would be an appeal to a class
OF men foot-loose and able to come, men
who are bothered and annoyed so that
they are anxious to go somewhere for
probably been tied down to business for
years and on being released are anxious
for recreation, men who never objected to
paying taxes when their money, invested
In business, afforded profits, but who are
worrying over the fact that their money is
not invested and affording an income, while
living expenses go on, and who think of
Nebraska when the inquisition of assessors
is about to begin.
Salvation for the Conscience.
ANY honest, conscientious ex-business
man would come to Nebraska to avoid per-
jury and to save paying a large amount
OF money as taxes to the state on idle
money, which his banker never charged
him a cent for keeping with a guarantee
Of safety against fire. theft, embezzle-
ment and at an enormous expense of book
keeping, to accommodate checking I A \
the fund. Men from every town and city
of the United States are lodging around.
moving back and forth and doing all sorts
OF queer things to avoid such a tax on
idle money. They see court houses, city
halls, postoffices and all government prop
erty exempted from taxation, but in I'M
favorable comparison they see government
money being pursued. They must nat
urally feel that money or legal tender is
government institution to facilitate ex-
change of commodities Just as a postoffice
building is a government institution to
facilitate the exchange of letters The fact
remains, however, that money is never
entirely cornered for taxation. Omaha has
on deposit in banks over 100000, but
only $1,000, 900 is assessed. This ratio is
about the same in both cities and towns
of every state Money is so transitory that
whenever 1t is about cornered it will sim
ply move. Every city and town in the
United States can name citizens who have
been driven away from their homes by a
strict enforcement of revenue laws with
out any counter inducement, and they can
also point TO new citizens who have quietly
moved in because driven out OF a former
home Is there any reason why this state
may not receive all of this immigration
Would our plan not be more effectual and
! an honorable competition TO obtain a very
desirable class OF people? The imagina.
ton can easily picture what this woult
mean to our state.
I'm considering what It will cost to have
such a law our records show that stat,
taxes from this source are less than S25 900
they are. in fact, not quite double the tal
on pianos alone.
Post Obit. Benefits.
ION the other hand, the direct financial
benefits will exceed what 1t will cost
| Very few people expect to die before
reaching old age, yet experience demon
| strates that eleven and one-half OF every