Omaha daily bee., 1902-10-04
MICKEY OPENS CAMPAIGN
Addresses q Large Audiencs at Humboldt
on Issues Before the Peeps.
SPEAKS LARGELY ON STATE MATTERS
Necessity of Some Action TO Increase
State and wipe out
p the Present Floating
Debt.

HUMBOLDT, Neb., Oct. 3.-CSpecial Tele-
gram.)-The size OF the crowd which as
sembled at the new Samuelson opera house
this evening to hear Hon. J.. H. Mickey and
Congressman Burkett, surprised the people
themselves. as this section was visited dur
ing the afternoon by a drizzllng rain, which
chilled everyone and made the roads very
sloppy. The rain continued until after the
speaking was over. but in spite Of all the
townspeople turned out in large numbers
any many came In from the country. w. II.
Hogrefe. the republican nominee for repre-
sentative, was present and made a short
speech at the opening OF the meeting, i'm
pressing his hearers quite favorably. The
Caliope quartet OF Lincoln furnished some
catchy music. which kept the crowd in the
best Of spirits. The talk Of Hon. ]. H.
Mickey was well received.
Congressman Burkett was better known
and was warmly greeted by numerous
friends and acquaintances in all parts OF
the hall. His speech was delivered in his
usual pleasing style. completely devoid Of
abuse, although a keen shaft Of ridicule at
times helped to illustrate a point.
Mr.. Mickey said in part:
Every tax payer and citizen is interested
in the disbursement Of state moneys. The
ANbAoAaNuAt v n las btNtIdl gtdlo 20
appropriated in the neighborhood Of 81. O0O,-
600 for each biennium, the greater part Of
which is required to maintain the several
state institutions. This enormous sum Of
money is raised by taxation. 1t is imper-
alive that It be expended economically and
honestly. No contract for supplies for any
state institution should be let except to the
lowest bidder who should be compelled to
execute a bond to the state to faithfully
observe the terms Of the contract. Such is
the policy Of good faith and business honor;
and l am glad to say that such has been
the strict policy and practice Of the pres
ent republican administration. I do not
believe that money should be taken out Of
the state treasury unless the state gets full
consideration for every dollar taken. Our
state institutions are maintained for the
benefit Of the inmates, wards Of the state,
and not for the benefit and support Of politi-
cal favorites or relatives of the several
superintendents and their subordinates.
Business principles alone should govern the
management of these institutions.
That our state revenues are in bad
shape, no one disputes. not from the fact
that our present law does not provide for
an adequate revenue, but rather in the
fact that we are all, or nearly all, a lot
VI NAA sui hSIS anu nave aitOWvu Dy COu1~
mon consent a system OF assessment OF
property to be put into practice that has
for years put us down to such a low valu-
alton. that in many school districts, towns,
cities, counties and even in the state, It
has been dif1cult to provide revenue suf-
fcient to properly meet the needed ex-
penses. When the levy is limited by statute
and the assessment is Ito to leo Of the
real value, an indebtedness Is sure to ac-
cumulate. Our constitution provides that
the Indebtedness of the state shall not ex-
coed $100, 900. and yet the fact stares us
in the face that we have allowed our liabil-
tiles to increase at the rate OF about $780,
900 per year for many years, and today
we face an indebtedness Of about $4,000. 600.
This we have borrowed from the school
fund and owe II today. There is a very
grave doubt in the minds Of many about the
| legality of this course, and 1t is evident that
this matter must be given attention and
the fund replaced. The question arises, how
shall we do It? Our assessment roll reveals
the fact that in 1890 our total valuation of
all property assessed was $1S4. 10, 3O4.54.
This year. 1902, the assessed valuation was
$17s, 976, 567.s1, being 81. 793. 1861 less than
in 1900. The mere quoting Of these figures
shows that something is wrong either in
our revenue Jaws or IN Inelr appllCatlOn,
or both; probably both.
Everyone knows our property has in
creased in value in the last twelve years,
and yet a large decrease is shown. when in
real fact the valuation has at least doubled.
Assessment of Railroads.
"In he assessment Of property. the
property OF railroads and other corporations
should be assessed at such rates as will in
sure their bearing their full share OF the
burdens Of the state. More than this We
have no right to ask; less than this would
be unfair and unjust to all other classes Of
property. The republican state convention
used the following language In this ques-
ton:
The franchises. as well as the tangible
property OF all corporations. should be as
sessed 30 as TO bear their just and due
shares Of the cost Of government, state.
taxable property as contemplated by the
constitution.
THAT is the position OF the republican
party upon the question. I accept II and
stand upon 1t. II seems TO me that the true
basis for the assessment OF property is what
It is actually worth In the market and not
simply what 1t would cost to replace at the
present time, nor what 1t originally cost
when built.
"The question OF how the permanent
school funds of the state may be safely in
vested is one Of the most perpleXing ones
with which executive ofhcers have 20 deal.
II is OF vital importance to the school in
terests and also would be a great relief to
the state treasurer II 1t were possible to
keep this fund invested in such a way as TO
leave but a small balance in his hands at
any time. Under the limitations OF our
present constitution. this is extremely diff
heuit to do. The present treasurer. with
an increased amount in the permanent
school fund has been able to keep an
average uninvested balance OF $31 ,O59 less