Omaha daily bee., 1903-01-16
Lancaster and Other Members Expected to
Support the Measure
EBATE STARTS ON SEARS RESOLUTION
Matter is Finally Postponed Without Action
Until Today.
NO OPEN OPPOSITION TO IT IS LIKELY
Sentiment I'm Favor of Revenue Leg
isIatIon and wIping Out of state
Debt Too strong to An
taROniSe.
CFrom a starr Correspondent1 }

CFrom a Staff CorrespondentD
LINCOLN, Jan. 15.-(Speclal.) THE per-
sistent popular demand that Omahas tax
commissioner be empowered to make his
own assessment on the railroad property
within the corporate limits Of the city in
stead OF having TO accept the figures OF
the State Board Of Equalization, as the
present law provides, has impressed itself
upon the Douglas county legislative dele
cation with sufficient force to lmpel the
introduction of a bill in the house for
this change in the statutes.
Ten Eyck, who presided at that secret
council of the Douglas men the other night,
introduced the bill 1t provides for the
repeal of that provision in the city charter
of Omaha requiring the tax commissioner
to accept the valuation and assessment of
railroad property in the city limits as
fixed by the state board. II is understood
that the delegation, after reviewing the
situation and getting it's bearing as to the
relative strength of the factions favoring
and opposing this important proposition,
decided that 1t would be best, for obvious
reasons. to lend aid to this demand.
While It IS of course too early to predict
the outcome OF any bill, the general i'm
preston is that this measure will pass. II
will have the support not only OF the men
from Douglas county. but those from Ian
caster as we'll, as there is a strong demand
in Lincoln for just this sort Of a law, and
of course other strength can be relied on.
The commercial interests of Lincoln are
earnestly appealing to the home delegation
in both houses to do all in its power to
secure the enactment of a law such as is
contemplated in the Ten Eyck bill, and
while no promises have yet been given, 1t
is believed here in Lincoln that the Lam
caster delegation will not fail to Join hands
with it's colleagues from Douglas in the
earnest support of this or some similar
measure.
Bill to Repeal Tax Limit.
Ten Eyck is the author of another bill
Of more than passing interest. 1t contem-
plates the repeal OF the limit OF state
taxes for the general, sinking or school
fund. The limit on the general fund levy
now is 8. mills, on the school fund a mill
and on the sinking fund z of a mill.
Douglas of Knox drew attention to the
Introduction today of a bill providing for
the repeal of the limitation TO two-thirds
of the capital stock of the Indebtedness to
be contracted by railroad insurance, bond
and trust companies.
Sears Defends Resolution.
The initial debate of the session in the
house was precipitated today, when Sears
of Burt called UP his resolution of the
previous day prohibiting the passage Of any
public building appropriation b:i before the
enactment of a revenue law pro, ding am
pie means OF releasing the state from its
present enormous debt and raising by taxa
tion money enough to meet the various
appropriations referred to. Having moved
its adoption, the former speaker made a
forclble and impressive speech in its sup
port. He defended his resolution largely
on constitutional grounds, holding that as
the states limit of Indebtedness already had
been exceeded by the startling sum of
81 800 900, retrenchment was imperative.
He sought to block the way OF no worthy
appropriation measure, but insisted that II
was not compatible with the principles OF
wise and economic legislation to proceed
with the introduction OF appropriation bills
while the state was groaning under this
tremendous debt OF nearly 81, 1000, 600 and
no provision was made for meeting the new
| demands.
Sweezy Of Adams wanted the Sears reso>
| luton postponed for ten days, In the mean
| time resting in hands of the judiciary COM
mittee but this was objected to by the
! chairman OF that committee Nelson OF
| Douglas. Gregg Of Wayne and Thompson
| Of Merrick, who favored a motion Of Gregg
/ that the matter go over until Friday only.
when it be taken up as the special order.
| Sweezy afterward assented to this and,
! explaining his views in private later on,
! said:
"I am not opposed to Sears resolution,
but op the other hand. am heartily in
/ favor of something Of that kind. realize
! as much as anyone that revenue legislation
must take precedence over almost every
| thing else, and that some wise and ade.
quate means must be afforded this state
for release from this big debt. My pur.
| pose IN making this move was to give every
| member in the house ample time TO reflect
1 on this matter, since II is fraught with
/ such grave consequences. My plan Is to
go slow in everything that pertains to the
states interests. and especially do l ad-
here to that policy in this case. Then
secondarily, / represent a people out there
at Hastings who are mighty anxious for
improvements on the insane asylum and
want money to make those improvements
So l was afraid II voted for Sears motion
today l might jeopardize my own inter-
ests."
Lively Debate Exoscted.
The Sears resolution therefore comes up
IN the house tomorrow. when some lively
debates may be expected Yet there is no
prevailing sentiment to indicate that this
or some resolution very similar, will not
make it's way through the house. 1t has
been pretty generally conceded that, as Mr.
Sears says. this action is necessary at this
time as a salutaTy guide and foundation fer
subsequent legislation. The conviction OF
the Imperative necessity for immediate
remedies OF the states financial Ills mani
testify Is deep-seated and general and IL is
evident that II would require a pretty
courageous spirit 20 take the lead against
this movement. There are certain infiu-
ences at work 10 this end, though That
seems as generally settled as does the
other fact. Yet IL appears that the launch
ing Of anything like open and avowed OPP
position on the floor Of either house would