Omaha daily bee., 1902-04-22
sAVAoE AND THE SPECIAL
SESSION.

The threat Of Governor Savage to call
an extra session Of the legislature to
revise the railroad taxation laws unless
the railroad managers and republican
leaders who induced him to pardon Bart
ley make good their promise is not taken
seriously by the rank and file OF the Ne
braska republicans. With the present
temper of the party all the railroad man
ayers combined and all the leaders who
favored Bartley's liberation could not
deliver the goods.
If the governors reprieve OF BARLEY
vas procured OIL the strength Of pledges
made by parties that claim to dominate
the republican party, ne has been bun
coed. If, however, the governor is In
dead earnest about raising the railroad
assessments he is In position to inaugu-
rate the reform without an extra session
Of the legislature. The State Board of
Equalization, composed of the governor,
treasurer and auditor, Is empowered to
fix the value of the property and fran
chises of the railroads, and their assess
ment stands for at least one year. When
the state board convenes on May Z It
will be the duty Of the governor and his
associates not only to appraise the prop
erty Of railroad corporations, but to
equalize the assessment of all other tax
able property 80 that each individual
and corporation shall bear its just pro-
portion Of the tar burdens.
Thn oou,nor5onn ~ Tho roiIroo1 osaaso-
ment Of 1901 with the assessment Of the
preceding years affords ample justifica-
ton foy a material increase In the val
uation Of railroad property this year.
Within the past few years the railways
of Nebraska have expended many mil
lions Of dollars in betterments, extern
sions and rolling stock. The earning ca
pacity has not only been increased. but
their earnings have been larger than
ever in the history of transmississippi
~railroading.
No fair-minded person asks or expects
that the railroads shall pay a higher
proportion Of taxes han owners of other
property, but railroads should not ask,
nor expect, the Board Of Equalization
to discriminate in their favor and
against the owners of other taxable
property.
While there Is no need of an extra ses-
sion of the legislature for revision of
railroad assessments there is imperative
necessity Of a special session Of the leg
islature to devise a measure for straight
ening out the tangle In state finances
and taking steps for the safe investment
of the permanent school fund. Above all
things is the crying need of speedy on
stitutional revision by the submission of
amendments to enlarge the supreme
court and the reorganization Of the ex-
ecutive department based on experience
and commensurate with the growth and
resources of Nebraska. Whether such a
special session shall be called this spring
or later on remains for the governor and
his immediate advisers to determine.
Suffice it to say that whiie the consti-
tuition limits the debt of this state to
100000, the aggregate state debt now
exceeds 100000 and is growing at the
rate Of 100000 a year. That condition
must be faced and provision must be
made for funding this debt and the pre-
vention Of future increase. Steps must
be aiken to prevent the farming out OF
public funds for private gain, whether
by bond deals or by private deposits.
II Governor Savage would courage
ously step forward and give the people
relief he would reinstate himself in pop
ular confidence and in a great measure
wipe out the Odium which attaches to
the BARLEY pardon.