Omaha daily bee., 1900-01-09
GALLERY PLAY BY CORNELL
Auditor Has a Report Circulated Concerning
Insurance Fees.
WILL FORCE COMPANIES TO PAY UP
Must Make Good Shortage on Account
of Eugene Moore-Gossip About
Site for Public Library
Building.

LINCOLN, Jan. s.-CSpeciaI)-Auditor
Cornell is having a report circulated that
he intends to force the insurance COM
panies which paid fees to his predecessor,
Eugene Moore, to make good the shortage
to the state, under penalty Of having their
licenses revoked. The test case instituted
to establish the liability OF the companies
resulted in a victory for the state, but as
the judgment was only against one com
pany It could hardly be made to apply
against all Of them. The total amount Of
the shortage is a trine over 1913, 600. Audi
tor Cornell, according to the report that has
found its way in.o newspapers from his
office, proposes to save the state the trouble
and expense Of n large number Of lawsuits
by Withholding certificates OF authority from
all companies involved until they pay into
the treasury all that still remains due.
An attache Of the auditors office said TO-
day that he did not really believe the aud
itor would pursue such a course, which
would undoubtedly involve the state in end
less litigation and in no way hasten the
payment Of the fees. Moore paid into the
state treasury while auditor upwards of
$50, OCO, which he had received as fees from
insurance companies. His shortage at the
end of his last term was slightly over $780,
OVV, NV INC iS nv "a -
what companies should be given the credit
for the 100000 paid into the treasury.
Several OF the companies involved have
slgnified their intention OF settling with
the state, as according to the decision OF
the supreme court each company is liable
that called to pay the fees direct to the
state treasurer. 1t remains for the at
torney generals office to proceed in the col
lection Of the money, but from the attitude
shown by some OF the companies it is quite
probable that the hole in the treasury
caused by Moore's shortage will not be
filled unless by further litigation.
Matter of Library site.
The property at Eleventh and G. streets,
offered by ID. +. Thompson for the Carnegie
library building, will probably not be ac-
copied because of its inConvenient location.
1t is the intention OF the library board to
have the building erected as near as pos
sible to the center of the city and unless
some philanthropic citizen can be induced
TO donate a site that meets this require
ment steps will be taken to raise a fund
by public subscription large enough to
purchase one. The property at Eleventh
and G. streets is the most desirable Of any
that has been offered, but it is too far from
the center of population to be acceptable.
A building lot that would meet all require
ment5 COulQ not De purchased LOT ieSS tnau
So, 900. A capitalist who refuses to disclose
his identity has figured with local real es-
tate men with a view to purchasing a suit
able site and it is thought he may decide
upon one of the downtown vacant lots. The
Library board still hopes that 1t will not
be necessary to fall back upon the sub
s~cription fund proposition, although at pres
ent this seems about the only practical
plan by which a suitable site could be
procured. The city council has shown no
disposition to assist the board and probably
will not SO long as there is any chance Of
securing the property by donation or sub
scription.
farmers Institute.
Prof. A. L. Burnett of the State university
and a party OF men interested in agriculture
in Nebraska will begin a tour of the state
tomorrow to address the various farmers
institutes that hold their annual meetings
during the next few months. The meetings
are arranged according to a fixed schedule,
forming n circuit over nearly all sections
of the state. The principal topics to be
discussed before these institutes are stock
breeding and feeding, horticulture and the
cultivation OF plants grown, or suitable to
be grown. on farms.
The farmers institute movement was
started many years ago, but not until 1898
was there any appropriation made for carry
ing on the work. In that year the Board
Of Regents of the State university decided
to make an annual appropriation of 81 500
to defray the necessary expenses incidental
to the arrangement Of circuits and for
speakers. The railroads agreed at the
same time to furnish free transportation to
the instructors. Out of the appropriation
all expenses OF the office of the superin-
tendent of the institutes are paid, including
the superintendent salary, and whenever
necessary the speakers are allowed com
pensation according to the time engaged in
the work.
The first institute OF the series will be
he'd at Galloway Tuesday and Wednesday
the next at Miller on Wednesday and Fri
day and another one at Lexington Friday
and Saturday. Thursday and Friday a spe-
cial meeting will be held at Crete. Among
the speakers engaged for the latter are Prof
Shimik OF Iowa and Governor Poynter, whc
will discuss the various phases Of dairy
work.
The Nebraska State Historical society will
begin n two days session in this city tomor-
row night. The State Horticultural society
will hold morning and afternoon sessions or
Tuesday and Wednesday and the society Of
Nebraska Pioneers will meet on Wednesday
apJ Thursday