Omaha daily bee., 1902-04-20
FOR ASSESSMENTS
State Board Collecting Figures to Fix
Valuation on the Railroads.
BIG COMPANIES ONLY LIST PROPERTY
Expected that City Of Omaha VIII
Make an Effort 60 Induce Board
20 Leave out Bridge and
Terminal Line.
CFrom a stan Correspondent

From a STAFF Correspondent
LINCOLN, April 19.-(special members
OF the State Board Of Equalization are plan
ing to begin the work OF fixing the valua-
ton Of railroad property, for the purpose OF
taxation, but it is not likely that any formal
meeting OF the board will be held until
sometime during the first week in May. The
board is comprised of the governor, auditor
and treasurer. Governor Savage, as Is well
known, has been studying the records OF
railroad assessment for many years past ana
has collected figures which he declares VIII
show unquestionably that the valuation as
determined by former boards has been I'M
reasonably low. Treasurer stuefer and Aud
itor Weston have also given the subject con-
siderable thought and the latter has gone
20 the length OF sending a representative
TO Des Moines to examine the system OF
railroad assessment in Iowa. II IL not de-
MED that the governor will insist on a cub
~stantial increase in the assessment, but the
other members Of the board have given no
intimation as to what course they will pur-
sue.
Roads Fix No Value.
Nearly all OF the railroads in the state
have submitted their returns to the auditor
in compliance with the law, but only a few
,of the companies have made any statement
as to the valuation OF the property. The
Burlington, Rock leland and Union PACING
companies list their property only, leaving
the value to be determined by the board.
The law governing the assessment OF
railroad property requires the officers OF
railroad companies to list and return to
the auditor for assessment and taxation all
mileage, rolling stock. buildings and other
property. As soon as practicable after the
returns are made the board is required to
meet for the purpose Of fixing the value
and assessment Of the property, at the ac-
tual value for each mile Of road or line.
the value OF each mile TO be determined by
dividing the sum of the whole valuation
of a road by the number Of miles included.
II Is provided that in making up the valua-
tion or assessment the board shall examine
and consider the returns Of the companies.
or information that may have been obtained
by the auditor in default of the return.
together with such other reliable informa-
tion relative thereto as they may be able
90 procure. The work must be completed
on or before May 10 or so soon thereafter
as possible.
Fight over Bridge Line.
It is expected that an effort will be made
TO exempt the Omaha Bridge and Terminal
company from state taxation on the ground
that the property Of the company in Ne
bIaska is confined TO Douglas county. The
company has made a return to the auditor.
however, giving It's valuation at 73.562. as
against 374.6sO last year. The Fremont. Elk
horn q Missouri Valley Railroad company
las certified its valuation at 50, les. 100. Last
year the valuation OF the road was fixed bv
the board at 1854 1853. but these figures In
cluded the valuation Of the property Of the
Chicago q Northwestern In Washington and
Dodge counties. This year the latter rail-
roads property is certified at S75.o 6o.
Governor Savage this morning listened to
q delegation Of veterans Of the civil war
who appeared with a plea for executive
Clemency In behalf Of william Rhea. Some
of the men are comrades OF Rhea's father.
The governor promised to give the plea
careful consideration along with the others
that have been made recently. but said he
would probably not announce his decision
until Monday.
Attorneys are expecting the supreme court
TO announce soon that 1t will not recognize
the unreported opinions OF commissioner
as presidents OF law. In these opinions
the court concurs only as to findings or
conclusions. but not as to the law expressed
therein. The question has been aEitated
by lawyers recently and II brought s~quarely
before the court may bring forth the dec
l~aration that has been expected for several
months.
supreme Court Call.
The call for the next sitting Of the SUI
preme court. beginning May s. contains
eighty eight cases. which will be taken In
the following order:
shelby against Creighton. Douglas; Conk-
ing against Levi, Furnasi Wolf against
Haslack, Platte; Concordia Loan and Trust
company, against Halgren. Phelps; Jollife
Goldgraber. Lancaster; Vradenburg against
jefferson; Johnson against Nelson. saund-
Josselyn against Creighton, Douglas; State
ex rel Young against Royse. Custer; Dale
las, Brown against Council Bluffs Savings
bank. Douglas; Beer against Dalton. Lin
against Mayhem, Douglas; Hinman aEains,
Austin Manufacturing company. Lincoln;
LINEN Trust company Of New York against
Douglas; Gadsden against Johnson. Coifax;
m Mutual Insurance company
caster: Fremont Earrings misunderstanding
company against Thomson, Dodge; Swan
Yards National bank against Thurston
county, Ihurston; Citizens State bank
asssiRss More, Boone; Courier Printing and
ssater against Isrck' Rsd N MiiIi;oI D0f Pain:
City against Engle. Merrick; Davis against
Armstrong, Boone; Logan against Nebraska
Moline Plow company. Adams; Ellsworth
against Newly, Saline: Fullerton against
Branson, Lancaster; Mcintyre against Ma
lone, Otoe; Parker against Nothomb. Sew
ard; Peoples Building and Loan associa-
ton against Marsh. Hall; Dittman Boot
and Shoe company against Gran. Nemaha
Kelly against Dawes county. Dawes; First
National bank of David City against Sar-
gent, Butler; Omaha against Reed. Doug
las; st. Joseph a Grand Island Railroad
company against Mccarthy, Hall: Kellogg
against Spargur. Da ives; Spargur against
RI