Omaha daily bee., 1902-02-26
Legislature Declines to Repeal Law Keep
ing Melody on Curriculum.
ASSESSMENT SlL HAS A HEARING
war Claims of the state TO he Audited
This Week - Bride IL a Vic
tim of Illuminating
Gas,
(From a star cOrrespondent.)

cAduluaNhonh IN mublCs Wntu the OIL was
put through the legislature two years ago
many Of the members regarded II as a joke
and were surprised that 1t should be seri-
ously considered. But the law has been
found to work we'll and to the great en-.
couragement Of music teaching in all the
schools Of the state, Some opposition
arose. however, from the rural districts,
where 1t Is found dif1cult to secure per-
sons competent to teach music. The bill
to repeal the law aroused much interest in
the house this morning and was debated
with much warmth. but 1t was finally In
definitely postponed by q vote Of SO to 3s.
The jerks bill to give the deaf school
at Council Bluffs a per capita allowance OF
s22 a month for support was passed.
The Hilsinger bill TO fix compensation
for appraisers on collateral Inheritance tax
cases was passed.
The Secor bill to require that blanks for
permit holders shall be furnished by the
county auditors and be numbered, and re-
curing that applicants for liquors must
sign In ink, was passed.
Reformatory Bin Passed.
The Emmert bill to transform the peni-
tentiary at Anamosa into a state reforma~
tory was called up In the senate and passed
by vote Of 80 to IL. Much opposition to
this bill had been apparent when II was
proposed, and several amendments we're
offered Intended to change the bill in many
particulars or to destroy its usefulness.
All of these amendments were voted down
and the bill was left as presented. which 10
. bill patterned after the law under which
the New York state reformatory is con-
Quoted. II 1t becomes q law there will be
but one penitentiary In Iowa instead Of
fuyn and mona than hatf A.. Lt.-.. ...tIt
90 to the reformatory under indeterminate
sentences. the State Board Of Control hav>
Ing power to change the sentences and is
sue paroles and pardons.
No Time-KiIIing A~dJournments.
Senator MONT called up in the senate
his resolution to provide for adjournment
Of both houses from next Thursday until
next Tuesday, in order that senators might
be home the first Of the month to attend
to pressing business. This was opposed
by q number OF members and the declara-
tion was made by one that the legislature
had already consumed more time than was
necessary and to have another adjournment
would affect the date of final adjournment.
The resolution was lost, IS to 10.
A report was received from the governor
in relation to the smallpox situation on the
Tama Indian reservation, setting forth that
something should be done at once to clean
up the reservation and pay for the Indians
property to be burned. In. accordance with
this report. Senator Garst introduced a bill
to appropriate $1,000 for this purpse.
A bill was introduced by senator Ar
thaud creating a State Board OF Osteopathy
to grant certificates to osteopaths to prac-
tice as such.
A resolution was introduced in the house
by McClurkin memorializing congress
against the proposed contract system for
rural mail carriers.
Hearing IN Assessment Bill.
The senate ways and means committee
this afternoon gave audience to the repre-
sentatives Of the railroad interests on the
subcommittee bill to change the method
Of assessing railroad property so as to ind
the value through ascertaining the market
value Of stocks and bonds of railroad com
panies. There was much interest in the
hearing. w. w. Baldwin of Burlington
spoke in regard to taxation and assessments
in general. He said the railroad companies
probably pay one-twelfth Of the taxes paid
In the state Of Iowa; IL they do not W
at least o~ne-twelfth Of the property OF the
state they are paying more than their share
Of the taxes. The Iowa state auditor in his
last report showed that the actual assess
ment on lands In Iowa is 20 per cent of the
selling value, and we know this is higher
proportionately on real estate than on other
property. The assessment on land has not
followed up the great advance in values of
lands. The assessment on the real estate
is reported at s405, 200, 900 and the actual
value is about Ave times this amount. In
regard to personal property, he estimated
II 10 worth at least 81, 500, 000, 900. The ex-
%ecutiye council has returned the value OF
railroad property at 1926 900, 900. From
these figures he deduced that the railroads
are taxed too high already. They are really
worth $500, 900. 900 on any estimate or basis
which can be made, but unless they are
worth that much no increase in assessment
should be made. There is a fundamental
principle laid down In the constitution, that
corporation property must be assessed the
same as other property. To adopt some
different rule, as for instance the rule pro-
posed in this bill. to assess railroad prop
erty at its full cash value, would be to
violate the constitution. There are about
1900 miles OF main lines in Iowa and 1880
miles Of branches. and II you should esti-
mate the main lines at $50. 900 a mile and
the branches at SIC, 900 a mile you would
not have $500, OO0. 900. II you arrive at it
=" EASfhVA Uey yVa AcaNh thS ohnC NOuClu-
sion. He cited recent purchases OF rail-
roads by the Burlington at prices showing
that these lines are now over valued for
taxation purposes. He argued strongly
against the idea that the proper way to
assess railroads is by and through the mar
ket value Of stocks and bonds. He was
followed by Mr.. Dudley, tax commissioner
OF the Milwaukee railroad, and by others,
The entire afternoon was consumed in the
hearing.
To Audit War Claims.
Governor Cummins today received a tele-
gram from Secretary Shaw TO the effect
that Adrian SiEer, an auditor OF the Treas
ury department, will be in Des Moines this
week 10 audit the Iowa war claim. Cap
tain Lothrop, who has been employed by
the state to look after these claims and
present the facts regarding them. viii also
be here on invitation OF the governor to
assist in the work. This IL In accordance
with the plans which have been made to
have the claims allowed as soon as pos
sibie. that Iowa may get the money before
congress adjourns.
The Farmers Elevator company OF Gar
den City has been incorporated with S25. OOo
capital stock by ID. H.. Hodgson and others
The Peoples Light and Heat company OF
| Muacafina has 6ied ~articlea Of iucornora.