Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-01-25
OPPOSING VIEWS In
RAILWAY TAX PROBE
Assessor Counsman, Challenged BY
Railroads, Holds to $780,
600 Per Year.
CONFERENCES AT COURT HOUSE

Devslopments following announcement
az County Assessor Harry q. counsman's
,nveutiration OF taxes paid by railroads on
nroperty listed by them as inside right
of-wavv and consequently outside Of his
jurisdiction. were marked yesterday by
conferences at the court house among
county officials, members OF the legis-
iature and representative of railroads
ana By the issuing OF statements IN which
opposing viewpoints were presented.
II became evident that whatever may
be the result OF Assessor Counsman's eff
fort TO collect from railroads county,
school and state taxes amounting 70
! $4,000 annually IN Omaha, his investi-
cation has become the principal topic OF
conversation a. enc court house. As the
matter now stands County Attorney
MaEnoy y instructed by the county board
10 write bin defining the iimits Of
railroads rights-of-way. which would re-
suit IN large increases Of valuations
County officials explained their views
Of the controversy 20 several members OF
the Douglas county delegation in the
legislature.
Counnman ouotes Norris.
Assessor counsman called attention to
the fact that United States Senator Norris
ate
a few days ago recommended 70 Governor
Morehsad the passage Of a law limiting
railroads rights-of-way TO 100 feet Tor
taxation purposes. leaving property OUT
side 70 be taxed locally.
II am not sure that I would insist on
limiting rIshta-ofway 70 100 feet" enid
Mr. Counsman, hut what we do badly
need Is some oefIufte limit, some way IN
which 80 determine what - righf-of-way.
instead Of lenvsng the matter 90 The rail-
roads themselves.
Il want 70 make myself understood
that ! am not saying that the railroads
are falling 90 pay the taxes assessed
against them IN Omaha nor that they
aros not paying any taxes at all on prop
arty inside rights-of-wny. The point n
that they are paying 10000 per year
lesa county. school and Etate taxes than
they should BY reason Of low state
valuatluns, while they are paying city
taxes on reasonable valuations BY reason
Of tho terminal tax law already on the
statute looks.
Statement from Union Pacific.
Several railroad men appeared az tho
court house and Informally explained
their side OF the controversy 20 county
officials. A. w. scrlbner, tax commls-
aloner OF aho Union Pacific. made the
following statement:
The artscle on railroad terminal tax
alton IN The Bee contains several ser
iously inaccurate statements. sono Of
them attributed 70 County Anseasor
Counsman, which would like 10 correct.
becauso they might lead 70 = serious
injustice 4 not contradicted.
Tn tho first place the railroads are
charged with evading 100000 Of terminal
taxes IN Omaha. This $4,000 referred
4, by the county assessor represents the
extent Of advantages outlying districts
receive through mlseass superintendent
Is other worie. n this 100000 were "a
be added 70 the taxable valuations loi
railroad property IN Omaha. Il would
have 20 be deducted from the railroad
valuation in the country districts.
'But let me mako this local railroad
tax matter plain b. saying that ths
tinion Pacific alone 10 paying taxes hers
In The city Of Omaha today on about
sIl.7eaooe worth Of property. Now add q
that tho uilllone an which the other
railroads are paying taxes and you viii
begin 10 have soma idea Of what Il
being done.
County Assessor counsman "a quoted
a. saying that tho union Ppciiic IL pay.
Ing city taxes IN Omaha on tRgsl 81
worth n property. Then be nays thu
$4,000 - returned b. the state author
lflea
"of this slf1eoon on which the Unios
Pacific 4 paying city takos. $4,000
represents the headquarters buildings
shop buildings and warehouses and rea
estate assessed locally. The prooeed
from that tax ara nek distributed eve
the state but ne proceeds from the bel
ancc. or about NooQeoo are distribute.
over the state Mr.. Counamnn's figures
H7li.tso. are inaccurate; he has given u
little too much there. hut Il Il probahl
due 70 mere clerical error, suppose
This t'escce referred 20 b. the .as,osso
al should be fsos.sQo % be exact II III
superintendent Omaha rocaives from II
state aNeossmont Tho Union Pacific ha
f& miles Of trackaEe In Omaha. whlc
al Nl2.5o0 q mile. the rate obtainin
throughout the state. gives this fs9s 100.
ueniss Evaalea ~ Takes.
IA % ePading taxes. the only shinx u
lailFoads seek - sNade q double tan
lion. rel ne explain ~ duoflne frc'
tho aecision Of the Nebraska supreu
epprt IL TIC Buxlinslon Richardson count
casa;
"A railroad Ini9ht have vast fsfnina
~ one point worth a. much a. the r
fnaftder Of the line. though Il exeendt
lhronah dozen counli1l. Iha niibdiViaio
III Hhica theea terminals are iccRtod
net Hader the ia4. permitted 70 reap 3
n1QanIaEe over other localities ~ re1ae
~ : mere accident o. Ioceuon. but mu
share itn advantages with ffeee othc
nrorata. That evidently u the reaeon b
hind and under thia legislation.
IN other words. the court simply meal
that because the Union Raclfic's create
lofmiasln happen % be located II omal
Is 20 reason why Omaha should take fro
lie remainder o. fne state ali fhs rrTen
derived fron ne taxation q this gaiuai
property. Ihq Law gives every achf
district ara county n the state. no M
ler how ensail. is proportionate shafs