Omaha daily bee., 1909-03-12
OCCUPATION TAX NOT
POLITICAL DEVICE
Councilman Eimman Explains the
Proposition to the Southwest
Improvement Club.

1T Is charged that the occupation tax Is
a political device. l deny II absolutely
said Harry B. Zimman at a meeting of the
Southwest Improvement club last evening.
The ordinance was drawn by a demo-
cratic city attorney and introduced in the
council by a committee including two dem
ocrats and one republican. 1t Is charged
that 1 favor the occupation tax because l
am a candidate for office. At a recent
meeting of the city council 1 said, Pass
the ordinance and l will withdraw from
the race Is not that enough proof that l
did not propose it for personal reasons
During his calculation of the occupation
tax proposition Zimmsn was frequently in
terrupted by F. w. Fitch, who first chal-
lenged the speakers right to refer to a
decision of the supreme court on the tax
as involving a political question, and a few
minutes later himself argued that the SUI
preme court had not held such a tax
valid.
Mr.. Fitch occupied a peculiar position
throughout the evening. He decried in one
breath discussing any political question
before the club and the next minute ar
gued against the tax and also against dis
cussiOn by citizens in general Of the occu-
patton tax proposition. His concluding
feat was q personal attack upon Zimman,
who had not attacked him or INDUCED in
any personal references of any kind. Ques-
tons which he fired in rapid succession at
the councilman were all answered by the
latter, and the attempt to make capital
thus was abandoned.
Before Zlmman was asked to speak to
the members of the club thai body for
mally rescinded it's action at a recent
meeting with regard to the occupation tax,
not caring to commit itself as an improve.
ment club to either side of the proposition
Vice President Malone. who presided, ex.
pressed himself upon the point by saying
that "as individuals all the members OF
the club favor ar occupation tax" To this
Fitch alone registered an objection.
Mr.. zimmsn in his address discussed tht
question with regard to an the companle,
which would be affected. dwelling first
upon the street railway company and after
that the gas, electric lighting and Bell tele
phone corporations. With regard to the
occupation tax in general, he said:
A occupation tax Is a tax TO replac,
the franchise taxes which the city of ON
aha neglected to secure when II granteC
the franchises. twenty, thirty and fort,
years ago without any restrictions. Is 4
unjust to ask a corporation like the stree
railway company, which claims a valu,
Of $26,ooo,O0 and a perpetual franchise, q
pay s per cent of its gross receipts? Lool
at what they are doing in other cities"
The speaker then showed at length wha
Baltimore, Chicago. the District Of Colum
bia and a score of other communities ar
doing with respect to making public serv
; ice corporations contribute to the city treas
ury.
A discussion OF the validity of the IA,
, followed and the supreme courts stan,
r with reference to the Lincoln wester,
Union case was quoted. Fitch had oh
jected to this, but later raised the poin
himself by one of his questions and CAV
Zimman an opportunity to reply.