Omaha daily bee., 1902-03-03
WORK FOR THE LEGISLATURE
Railroad Assessment Laws to Receive Con
sideration This Week.
DETAILS ARE TO Be DISCUSSED FULLY
Educational Bills Also Before the
Legislasure-City and Congress
siOnaI Campaigns - lander
suit at state Center.
From a stan Correspondents

ing this week the state legislature will con-
slider a large number OF important matters.
The center Of attraction. however, will be
in the senate, where 1t is expected that the
new railroad assessment bill will be brought
up for passage. The ways and means COM
mittee has decided to report the measure
for passage on Monday afternoon. 1t will go
on the calendar and as soon as a few other
things are disposed of will be taken up.
The bill proposes to make a change In the
manner Of assessing railroads, or rather In
the things which are to be considered by
the executive council in arriving at the as
sessable value OF the property.
In addition to the things already specified
as to be taken into consideration, the new
bill specifically mentions the market value
Of stocks and bonds on the New York stock
exchange and net earnings, as we'll as
physical condition Of the property. There
are specific directions as to how the council
shall proceed to reach the Information
in regard to stocks and bonds and
It is provided that after the actual
value Of stocks and bonds are ascer-
tanned the taxable value shall be rs per
cent thereof. In addition TO this the coun-
Gil Is authorized to secure from the rail-
road companies a vast amount OF Informal
ton which is not now obtainsble and this
Information shall be published, so that every
one may know something of the railroad
values.
The publicity clauses OF the bill are re-
garded by many as the most important fea-
ture. BY reason OF the changes which have
been made in the bill to perfect 1t the COM
mittee voted unanimously to report out the
bill and Il will have such a standing before
the senate as to command great support
Discussion will probably be only on unim-
portant details. The authors of the bill ex-
pect to get It into the house this week.
Educational Bills.
This week the senate will also give some
consideration, either in the senate proper
or in committees, to the educational bills.
The most important OF these is the COM
pulsory education bill. which passed the
house by an almost unanimous vote. This
bill has been so framed as to recognize
parochial and private schools and to not
interfere in any way with the plans Of
churches. II was at first opposed by mem
bers Of the Catholic and Lutheran churches
under a Misrepresentation, but Archbishop
Keane has Endorsed 1t and some changes
were made at the suggestion of the
Lutherans. The senate schools committee
will give a public hearing on the bill next
Wednesday. In the house a bill to provide
| for consolidation Of rural schools has been
reported favorably. but one to give pay
J direct from the state treasury for rural
schools of high grade has been sent to q
| subcommittee. The bill to establish a new
normal school at Knoxville has been re-
ported favorably and Will be called up this
week in the house, and its friends express
| great confidence in its passage.
The state r~eformatory measure is to come
up in the senate again Thursday. The bill
has been amended, but there is still OBJ
! lection to It by some OF the members.
Congressional and City Campaign.
The local campaign. which involves city,
county, judicial, state and congressional
candidates. has become one Of abuse and
money. II is believed that there has never
been any local campaign in which SO much
money was spent as this one. Candidates
are being held up" for large sums of
money by the ward workers and the stu
alton is almost disgraceful to the city. The
greatest interest is in the light between
Captain Hull. present congressman, and
Judge Prouty Of the district bench, who as
pires to his seat. Both are hard at work
personally fighting over the ground inch by
inch and have extensive organizations at
work. The msyoralty contest is losing in
terest. The socialists have come into the
field with a ticket and are preparing to
make a hard fight for a large vote. Their
city ticket has already been nominated. The
Polk county republicans are being asked at
the same time to indorse the candidacy of
Amos Brandt for state auditor, and this
somewhat complexities matters In the once
OF state auditor, where Captain Brandt is
q deputy under F. +. Merriam, who Is q
candidate for denomination.
Damage Suit for SANDER.
A Islander damage suit has been brought
by s. T. Blackmore of State Center against
NJ. V. Daktn, a prominent business man OF
the same town. Blackmore has been land
lord OF the Hotel Mark at State Center, the
building being the property Of Dakin. Some
time ago there was a disagreement and the
landlord gave up his lease. He now brinR
suit against Dakin claiming damages in the
sum OF $1,000 for malicious slander, settins
up = series Of uncomplimentary and defama.
tory statements alleged to have been mad.
by Dakin and directed toward the plaintiff
water works PIaat Sold.
The Centerville water works plant wa,
sold at public auction by Clerk q. r. Masor
OF the United States district court here, III,
purchaser being the Fidelity ana Trust com.
pany of Buffalo, the price bid being $40, 900
This Is the result OF long litigation over tn,
plant and an order made last summer b,
Judge Mcpherson for the sale Of the prom.
erty to clear the title and for the beneat
Of creditors.