Omaha daily bee., 1902-03-19
MANDAMUS CASES
Argument on Fire and Police Commission
Postponed Till Today.
MODIFICATION ASKED IN TAx MATER
John r. Mcintosh Files Motion 90 Have
City Council Act Otherwise Than
Raise values Of Corporation
Property Alone.
tFrom a stan correspondent.l

LINCOLN, March 1S.-(Special .)-Argu-
ment on the application Of c. c. Wright for
a peremptory writ of mandamus to compel
the governor to appoint FIRE and police COM
missioners for Omaha will be heard by the
supreme court tomorrow morning. The case
was on call for this afternoon, but because
of other business preceding 1t was laid over
one day. Attorney General Prout will APP
pear for the governor, while the ~relator,
Mr.. Wright, will be represented by Frank
T. Ransom and w. F. Gurley. Ed P. Smith
will probably argue in favor OF the govern
or's contention that he has no right to make
the appointments.
Omaha Tax MandRmus.
John F. Mcintosh this afternoon filed a
motion for a modification Of the original
writ Of mandamus in the Omaha tax case, a
review Of which has been printed in The
Bee. He would have the city council Of
Omaha. instead Of raising the values of
corporation property to 40 per cent Of their
cash value, do as set forth in the follow
ing:
That from the evidence before you you
determine the fair cash value as of the date
OF such 1902 assessment for taxation for the
city of Oman of all the personal property
and franchises of each of said corporations
within said city of Omaha, and subject to
taxation therein for said 1902 city taxes,
and that you also ascertain the standard
of valuation adopted and employed by the
tax commissioner, his deputies and the
board of review of said city In making the
assessment of all taxable property within
said city for said 1902 taxes, and bring the
amount of the several assessments of the
personal property and franchises of the
said several corporations within said city
and subject to taxation therein for said
1902 taxes to said standard, and certify
the respective amounts so ascertained to
the tax commissioner of said city as the
| CprrnCtad and anualiZad QSSaaamanf
Seeks to Enforce Child Labor Law.
Deputy Labor Commissioner Watson is
making persistent efforts 10 enforce the
provisions Of the child labor law. Today
he directed to each known employer OF
child labor in the state a copy of the Law
on the subject, together with a brief COM
munlcation asking them not to shirk Their
responsibility. The law requires that all
working children Of or less than IA years
shall attend school at least twenty weeks
in each year. Mr.. Watson says: "It Il
the duty Of the state to provide education
for the humblest child within its territory
and l ~fervently hope that employers will
cooperate with the bureau to the end and
that the letter and the spirit Of the Law
may be duly respected"
Effort to EquaIize Water Rates.
The Lincoln city council is engaged in tn,
seemingly difficult task Of equalizing wateI
rates. The objection to the various propo'
sitions SO far advanced is that they dis
criminate against the small consumers b!
providing a lower rate for those who use
more than a stipulated amount of watei
each year. There is a general public de
mand for a fat rate regardless Of tn,
amount Of water consumed and 1t is likel!
that an ordinance making this kind Of
provision will soon be passed asa com
promise. The present rate for city is p
cents per thousand esHlps.s q