The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1899-01-13

possible in order that they may re-
ceive the careful and conscientious
consideration their Importance de.
manC3.
In 1896 the legislature passed an act
offering Il bounty of onc dollar Per
ton to be paid to the growers of SUI
gar beets upon the theory of encour-
aging the development of the sugar
Industry in our state. For some rea
u. Jest known to itself the legisla-
ture failed to make provision for the
payment Of Claims which might arise
from the passage of such an act The
sugar company acting under the pro
visions of the bounty act made their
contracts with the growers to pay
them one dollar per ton extra for the
beets grown and delivered them, and
IN the beet harvest of 1895 the COM
pany did pay the growers the extra
dollar per ton for beets. The COM
pany presented its claims for the boun-
ty to the auditor and some Of them
were allowed by him, but finally he
refused to allow further Gains under
the act, and in the suit following his
refusal our supreme court decided
that the claims could not be paid,
there having been made nc a%ppropria-
ton to meet them. In the harvest of
1896 the contracts of the company
with the growers were made provis-
ioral, agreeing to pay them 81 per
ton extra provided the court sustained
the payment of the claims. The curt
deciding against the payment of the
claims, holding the payment uncon-
r+s4t-+;CnnI fOr tho rnocon 4hot +Lo To-.
islature creating the law failed TO
make appropriation in compliance
with its provisions, the company not
only refused to pay the extra dollar,
burt actually kept back 81 per ton from
payments in the latter part of the sea-
SON to reimburse themselves for the
amount already paid on the 1896 crop.
thereby giving the growers but 81 per
ton for beets instead of S. as they
contracted to do should they be sus-
tanned by the court. Now these claims
for bounty under the act of 1895 are
in the hands Of the sugar companies
and those for 1896 in the hands OF the
actual growers OF beets The sugar
companies have sought relief in the
highest court in the state and that
court has decided against them. These
farmers made their contracts and
raised the beets III good faith. making
their estimates for profitsin the bust
ness upon the promise of the extra
dollar per ton which they should re-
ceive as bounty from the state. L am
individually, ard the party of which
[ am a member, is opposed absolutely
to the protective policy of taxing one
industry for the upbuilding or adj
vancement Of another, but my party
s not now, nor has it ever been at any
time, either in theory or practice, i'll
favor of Republication in the smallest
The Legislature having male
a bad bargain for the state should not
seek to be relieved of that bargain by
a subterfu9e or upon t~ecfinicalities.
The sugar bounty act CT 1895 has ere
ated a number Of just claims against
the state, which are now in the hands
of the farmers who grew sugar beets
[ recommend that you make prOvls-
for the payment OF all claims aris-
ing from the act of 1895 which may
be presented by the actual growers of
beets in the state, whenever such
are properly attested by GER
of weights from the proper
authorities.
Taxation is generally spoken of as
a burden. 1t should not be so re-
in a we'll regulated state, but
as q sacred obligation of citi-
to be discharged with alac-
It is only when inequalities eN-
when some are overtaNed. paying |
than their share, and others are
through the operation of law, |
hat taxation becomes unjust and a
burden. Our revenue system contains
large number of defects which should
De remedied. l trust you will give
your best thought to a thorough re-
Tision of our revenue system to the
md that every kind of property in
he state shall contribute its just
towards the expenses of state
[ would especially ask
your earnest consideration of some
)fan OF equalization of assessments in
Ill parts OF the state. Under u
plan the same kind of proper
y varies in valuation in different
counties from ten to thirty per cent.
This is grossly unfair, but for It's
no means at present exists.
There is no broader field for the Xer-
Use Of true craftsmanship than in the
'~reation of a just and equitable sys-
EN- of revenue and taxation. 1t is Il
that affects every citizen in
lividually and the material interests
# the entire state.
A prominent industry of our state
md one which is destined to become
more and more a leading factor in
wealth production to our people is the
There is nothing in which the
of the state have engaged
which has assisted them more to be-
by keeping them free of
lebt by furnishing them regularly
the entire year with 4
teady cash income. Yet in its infancy
he dairy industry in Nebraska mas
made wonderful growth. Last year
t assisted the material interests Of
he state by the distribution Of nearly
millions of dollars among the citi-
ems of Nebraska. This industry asks
10 special protection as a struggling
nfant industry, but is perfectly will
ng to stand or fall upon its own mer-
IS. What it asks is as a matter of
light that other industries be required
O do the M The laws now upon
,ur statute books are probably ade-