Omaha daily bee., 1909-02-18
HEARING ON TERMINAL TAX
Council Bluffs Sends Strong Delega,
ton to Boost for Bill.
NONE TOO CONFIDENT OF SUCCESS
Considerable Opposition 60 the Meas
ure Develops Among Railroads
and Also in Rural
Communities.


Council Bluffs will have a strong repre-.
sentation in Des Molnes today at the hear.
ing before the ways and means committee
OF the legislature on the railway termina
taxation bill. introduced by Senator c. @
Saunders OF this city. In addition to the
municipal officers a number Of leading
members OF the Commercial club went last
evening to Des Moines.
The municipal party consisted Of Mayor
Thomas Maloney, city Treasurer True. City
Solicitor Glenn F. Kimball. Councilmen Bell
niger, Jensen. Morgan, McMillen, Olson,
Skodsholm and Younkerman and City Clerk
A. w. Casady. other arrangements pre-
vented Councilman Rigdon from going. The
party left over the Rock Island and Will
make their headquarters in Des Moines at
the Slavery hotel.
This morning the legislative committee
of the Iowa League OF Municipalities will
hold a meeting to arrange for the presenta-
ton of its case before the ways and means
committee. City Solicitor Kimball is chair
man OF the league committee, which is
composed of the city solicitors of all the
cities represented in the league.
The Council Bluffs delegation will not
end its work with the hearing before the
committee. 1t is the intention of Mayor
Maloney. Mr.. True and Mr.. Kimball to
remain In Des Moines for a few days to
make as far as possible a thorough canvass
OF the members of both houses of the leg
~islature.
Mayor Maloney and other city officials
are not over-confident that Senator Saun-
ders' bill will pass. as It is known that
- A. - Iii - AN,alIo-ahl AVnnaitinn
The bill is not altogether such as was con-
templated and urged by Treasurer True
and other city officials who nave been fore
most in the effort to secure a revision Of
the present system of taxation of railroad
| properties in cities.
Mayor MalOney's Views.
Before leaving for Des Moines yesterday
afternoon Mayor Maloney, in discussing
Senator Saunders bill, said:
While 1 favor the proposed bill with ref
erence TO the taxation of railroad property,
because the plan of distribution Is better
than that under the existing law, as II gives
to the places where the greater part OF
the property Is concentrated a larger track
| mileage, and therefore,, a larger percent
age of the value of the taxable property,
yet 1t Is not, in my judgment, the best
measure that can be devised for that pur-
pose, nor is II such a measure as has been
advocated in our city.
AS / view the matter, II is a misnomer to
|, call Il a terminal tax law, for IL / under
stand the existing law the ~anguaee is so
general that all terminals and other prop
erty of the railroads are taxed under the
old law. But 1t Is only a different plan
OF distribution which will increase the total
mileage OF the roads over which the values
are distributed, and give to those places
that have terminals. switch yards and the
like a better percentage of the whole than
they have had under the. law now in force
| and for that reason Is more preferable.
1t may increase the taxes of the roads a
little, but ! don't look for 1t to increase
them very much, as l presume the exc
cutive council look largely to the earning
capacity OF the roads In fixing the values
of it's properties.
I believe that in the taxation Of railroads
they should be put upon the same footing,
as near as possible, as the individual tax
payer. And | am satisfied that IT can be
done In a manner more creditablo than that
proposed by the present bill. The amend
present law Is to have the executive coun-
ell. instead of distributing the taxable
! age in each taxing district. distribute the
same in proportion to yhat the actual value
of its property in each taxing district
bears to the total value of it's property in
the state.
The proposed bill. while 1t adds a great
many more words cf detail in description of
the property to be taxed that were in
cluded in words of general description now
in the law, and in that way sounds good. ="
II is open to the old objection of giving
TO all places along it's line the benefit of
the values CT permanent improvements,
such as shops. etc. that are located in one
particular district.
There is no good reason why the value
OF extensive improvements such as are
found In cities, should be distributed 10
adjoining townships that have none of its
property within its borders, but the bare
track, and which requires an expenditure
of public money from the beginning to the
end of the wear. The real DrOtQCtinn and
benefit which the roads get from taxation
by way of police. fire, water, light and
the like comes from the cities along their
lines where their valuable improvements
are collected.
The assessment OF values of such prop
erty must, Of necessity, be left with some
such body as the executive council, and
there need be no change in that particular.
And the detailed statements of the property
Of the roads can just as wen be made
with reference TO Its location as to the
particular taxing district.
The objection is sometimes made that
persons living In the country districts would
oppose such a measure, because they would
thus be deprived of the 5enefit of the taxa
ton Of property located outside their dis
tricts. But n the lawmaking power recog-
nizes that II Is wrong for one TO take
property that does not belong to him,
why should It recognize the right to take
taxes by those who are not morally en-
titled to them2 II is said that the railroads
would oppose such a plan, because It might
AaA ~ AAANA - $500 N@1N
bear the burden OF my share of our city
taxes. why should not they, who certainly
enjoy as much or more protection, nay
their Just share of such taxes? I claim that
the only way 10 attain such a fesult Is by
some such plan as above suggested.
Auditorium Election.
At a meeting OF the directors OF the
Auditorium company held yesterday after
noon in the rooms OF the Commercial club,
f. H. Doolittle was elected treasurer TO
succeed Paul c.. DeVol. who resigned the
office in view OF his approaching removal
TO Battle Creek. Mich
George f. Hamilton was elected a mem
Der Of the Board OF Directors to fill the
vacancy caused by MIR. DeVors resignation.
Henry L. Plumer OF Lewis township was
also made a member of the board.
Frances willard Memorial.
The Woman's Christian Temperance union
will hold an important meeting this after
noon at the home Of Mrs. y. r. Nugent, 1921
Fifth avenue. A program In memoriam of
Miss Frances Il. Willard. founder of the
womsn's Christian Temperance union, will
oe given at the close OF the regular bust.