Omaha daily bee., 1917-06-27
MRS. JOSLYN TELLS
TAX BOOST UNFAIR
Omaha's Richest Woman Pro-
:. tests the County Assessors
Valuation Increase From
$6e2,716 to S4,b52,542.

Mrs. Sarah H. Joslyn, "Omaha's S
richest woman" through her attorney,
Arthur Mullen, Monday night pro-
tested before the County Board OF
Equalization the "star" tax boost
made by County Assessor Fitzgerald.
The valuation OF property owned
by the widow OF the late George A.
Ioslyn, multimillionaire, whose estate,
the largest ever probated in Nebraska,
consisted mostly Of corporation
stock, was raised by the county asses
sor from s562,7lS to $4,552,542.
The equalization board took the
case under advisement after Mrs. JOS
lyn's attorney had made lengthy
protest.
Attorney Mullen cited figures show
ing the total amount OF corporation
stock returned in Douglas county for
the 1917 assessment was $783,78O, OF
which Mrs. Joslyn returned $3OS,4Oo
He said it is a matter of common
knowledge ON the part OF assessors
and boards OF equalization that own
ers of stock in foreign and domestic
corporations have not been assessed
and that il is the policy not to assess
them.
Violation Of Duty.
1T would be a violation OF the
duty OF the board Of equalization to
permit Mrs. Joslyn's increase to
stand" he declared.
Figures we're read before the board
by Attorney Mullen showing the
amount OF corporation stock returned
by individuals in other counties.
Lancaster county, OF which Lincoln
is the chief city, shows only $4,000
in corporation stock returned by in
diyiduals, according to Mrs. Joslyn's
attorney. He said II is common
knowledge there are many rich people
in the capital city who are large hold
ers Of stock in corporations.
No Return in Many Counties.
Nineteen hundred dollars in cor.
poration stock Attorney Mullen
pointed out, was returned in Dodge
county and SIS worth in kearney
county He cited scores of counties
where no corporation stock was re-
turned
The hoard was asked to accept Mrs
Joslyn's return and reject County As.
SCISSOR Fitzgerald's raise because, At
torney Mullen said, the county as.
sessor's boost "overvalues the per.
sonal property, was discrimination
was an arbitrary assessment and was
in violation Of the rule Of equality and
uniformity"
Mrs. Joslyn's attorney told the
board she was not trying TO shirk pay
ing her Just share OF taxes. but that
she felt she had made a fair and i'm.
partial return.
More Reductions Voted.
Reductions totaling hundreds o.
thousands OF dollars we're voted BY
the board Tuesday morning over VIC
lent objections Of County Assessor
Fitzgerald.
Beebe. & Runyan Furniture com.
pany, raised from sl50,000 to $350,o00
was reduced to the sum returned ant
comol;mented by members OF III,
t:n..:a 81 ,Le fa;rnes
equalization Doaru OH the iahhes
OF il.
The county, assessor voted no" OF
rolf call to reduce the raise.
The session was marked by ire
quen. .it. om ~ ha..d
sor and other members OF the ooaiu
'FitzQerald's protest1tions were votct
,iou,n II oract;caiIv every instance.
down III practicaily eyeiy ins,as s.:.
some representative reuuctioii'
voted in the last twenty-four hour
-. a. fnJio,.s. NY
src as ,oioMs ,,,n r.,.. .,,.,, nse
,a Masu, ,aoMS M s,nna ~
Sonai from ss'ooo 70 tI,oov; - 49,,
a, y, smi.n company ~h0iesae 1e"''
ers. from tloo,voV 70 sso'Vgu.
Uncle sam breakiast Fooo company
from tab,o 10 tlasoo.
Burdick-Parker LeatnF company Hoh