Omaha daily bee., 1917-06-03
REAL ESTATE men
SEEK INFORMATION
Want to Know Of the Plans and
Policies That Are in
Operation in This
City.

The Omaha Real Estate board has
been the center OF inquiry from a
number Of the leading boards Of the
country, as to policies and plans Of
operation. Organizations Of real
estate men throughout the country
pursue two general lines of activity.
First, as to those matters affecting
the development and improvement of
the community, and, second, as to
those matters affecting the ethics and
conduct of the real estate business.
The Omaha board until its recent
reorganization, under the old name
and organization of the Omaha
Real Estate exchange, gave consid-
cradle attention to the first fine Of
activity and did much toward the de-
velopment and advancement of the
city, county and state. Its leading
members and leading committees
concerned themselves as to matters
OF taxes, public improvements and the
advancement of public interests.
While the constitution directly for
bade political affiliations, some of the
members thought that the activities of
the old exchange came dangerously
near being political.
To Real Estate Only.
Under the present organization and
control the board devotes itself al
most exclusively to interests that
pertain to the real estate business and
only occasionally takes up concerns
that are public.
The Denver real estate board in a
communication to the local board
asks for advice and help, stating that
for the last twenty-nine years it has
given so much attention to public af-
fairs, no other organization of Den
yer having taken a more prominent
part in promoting matters of public
improvement, that it has neglected
its own affairs. 1t has been asking
help from the boards of the coun-
try and in a recent communication
says that it has received from the
Omaha organization the most valu-
able ideas received from any of the
seventy-fve of eighty different boards
with which II has been corresponding.
The Minneapolis board through its
committee on taxation and public ex-
penditures has been after the tax sit
uation. So far the investigation of
this committee, which is being made
countrywide, shows that the tend
ency of city authorities is to impose
continual increase in the percentage
of taxes upon tangible real estate and
a constantly decreasing percentage on
intangible personal property, leading
to generalization OF real estate for tax
purposes and may result in future dis
aster to real estate interests in any
city that permits it. 4
Sends Out Data Sheet.
The Minneapolis board has sent out
a data sheet" asking from other
boards the valuation of real estate
and other particulars. 1t also fur
nishes valuation compendium of
opinions of leading authorities on
Principles of City Land Values"
Principles and Problems of Real Es-
tate Valuations" and similar topics.
These will all be presented at the
next meeting of the Omaha real es.
tate board and will no doubt be re-
ferred to committee for considera.
tion and future report. This may
bring the Omaha board back to some
thing of the old policy of public
duty, particularly when it is linked
up with real estate welfare.
The Salt Lake City board is in cor
respondence with the Omaha board
with reference to a school bond elec.
tion that is pending. The following