Omaha daily bee., 1903-03-21
lFrOm a stan corresrondentl

l.
LINCOLN, March 20-(Special Tele-
gram)-The revenue bill passed the house
by vote of 20 TO 21 at O'Clock this
evening. IL went directly TO the senate.
where II was read for the first time to-
night at a special session held for that
purpose. The final reading OF the bill in
the house occupied about two hours. Il
was placed upon its passage Immediately
after II was read and, save for score OF
explanations of votes, the roll call pro-
ceeded uninterruptedy or the seventy
votes the affirmative sixty-seven we're re-
publican and three fusionists OF the
twenty-one negative votes two were re-
publican and nineteen fusionists. six re-
publicans were absent and not voting, also
two fusionists. Loomis, the fusion leader
was one of these. He was sick and unable
to be present at Ioll call. He sent writ
ten request, however, that his vote be re-
corded against the hill. which was not al
lowed under the rules
The roll call disclosed many surprises.
Several members who had been the most
| aggressive opponents OF the bill voted for
1t. Perry Of Furnas, who championed the
! Caldwell amendment to the section deal
ing with railroad taxation and who made
/ one Of the strongest speeches that ever
was delivered against the measure, sup
ported IT.
Sweezy, who proposed an amendment OF
his own to the railroad section and de-
clared that IF my amendment is not
adopted l will vote against the entire BILL"
supported it. Rouse OF Hall aud Fishback
| of Clay, both OF whom had shown hostility
to the bill and others who had voted that
way, lined up for II. Caldwell Of Clay, au-
! thor OF the Caldwell amendment, and Mel
son of Douglas were the two republicans
who stayed with their determination to
fight the bill TO the last.
! Nelson and Kennedy we're the only Doug
las county members who voted against the
| bill. Even Ten Eyck who introduced II.
r. 271 and II. R. $50 and who made some
splendid fights for those measures, con-
templating Just taxation OF railroad term
inals, which It is admitted the revC nue. bill
does not providel gave his vote for the
passage Of the bill. The three fusion mem
/ bers who voted for the bill we're Mem
m.nger of Madison Mikesell OF Dixon and
Shipey OF Hitchcock.
Less Opposition Than Expected.
The negative vote was much smaller
than was anticipated. OF course in view
! OF the tremendous pow. WOW maintained
by the organs of fusionists that the mi
nority would line up solidly against the
revenue bill. their twenty -four votes were
counted on and at least six republicans.
AS was said, a score of the members sent
up written explanations of their votes
Most of these were members who voteS for
the bill, bu. whose former attitude bad
been against it. The glst of these ex-
plantations was that while Il was recog-
nized the bill did not contain the best and
most equitable methods of taxation, II was
! a step in the direction of revenue revision
and therefore should, in lieu OF anything
better, receive their support. AT least a
dozen such explanations as this we're given.
Nelson Explains Vote.
Nelson of Douglas submitted this ex-
planation with his vote against the bill:
This Law is a great Improvement over tho
old law, but the improvements are all di-
I rected against the small property owners.
| The bill is defective in failing to permit
the deduction OF unsecured and non inter
est bearing debts. II is also defective in
requiring the assessment OF some corpora
tions upon the value OF their tangible prop
erty plus their gross proceeds for one year,
while the constitution requires that cor
porations be taxed upon the value Of their
property.
THE bill grants no relief as TO the local
taxation Of railroad property in cities and
Of terminal properly in the city OF Omaha
from taxation for such local purposes.
"The so-called Thompson amendment re-
quiTing a statement OF the net earnings OF
railroads In Nebraska will afford no relief
as the auditors reports show that such
statements have usually been filed by many
Of the roads. The bill requires the rail-
roads to furnish such large amount OF
data as to confuse the State Board OF
Equalization and to leave the public i1
doubt as TO the basis OF their assessment
Believing that this revenue bill will i'm.
pose additional burdens upon the average
taxpayer and will affOrd no remedy, 80 far
as railroad taxation is concerned, I there
fore vote no."
Vote ih Detail.
The vote on the bill was;
Yeas: