Omaha daily bee., 1903-03-05
Several Of the Bills introduced Are Of Con-
siderable Importance.
FIGHT FOR RAILROAD TAXATION
Several Constitutional Amendments Pro-
posed by Memminger
MOVE TO REVIVE THE MAXIMUM RATE LAW
Kennedy of Douglas Believes Pros
perity of Railroads Would In
duce Courts to Reverse
Their Ruling.
(From a stan Correspondent)


LINCOLN March 4.-(special)-In the
deluge Of bilis that broke loose In the house
today forty-hve we're introduced, among
them several Of great Importance. The
unusually large number was due partially
to the fact that the house had been
crowded for days past with other work as
to have little time to devote 60 the intro
duction Of new measures and partially 10
the fact that but two days remain OF the
session on which bills may be introduced
without special consent of the house. The
senate was less prolific in its production OF
new measures. only about dozen being in
troduced. One was OF considerable import,
especially to the people OF Omaha and other
cities which have just been defeated by the
railroads in the attempt to secure the pas
sage of measure that would give to mu-
inequalities the right OF taxing railroad
terminals for city purposes. This bill was
introduced by Saunders of Douglas.
In the long list OF house bills was one by
Kennedy of Douglas presenting joint
resolution instructing and directing the at
torney general to begin proceedings for the
enforcement Of the maximum freight rate
law. other bills of unusual Importance in
troduced in the house were four by Mem
minger of Madison, providing for constitu-
tional amendments, increasing the number
salaries and the salaries Of the state ON
GERS and providing for the safe investment
Of the permanent school fund.
Would Enforce Rate law.
Representative Kennedy, the lone demo-
crat from Douglas county, sets forth in his
| bill for a Joint resolution for the enforce
ment of the maximum freight rate law, that
that law has not been enforced in late
/ AAak hn
attorney general shall proceed ut once upon
the passage OF this resolution. to the en-
forcement of this law and shall furnish to
the legislature at the earliest possible date
a statement of his estimate Of the appro-
,priation necessary to conduct such action.
| IL also provides that the governor and att
i torney general shall employ any and all
necessary assistance in the way Of counsel.
clerical help and experts In prosecuting
| this case.
The bill explains that the federal circuit
and supreme courts held that when this
law was enacted in 1898 the rates which 1t
contemplated were too low, in view of the
depression, due largely to crop failures, to
enable the railroads to make fair incomes.
but that since the radical change In indus
| trial conditions the courts have modified
| their rulings so as to validate these rates
and remove any cause for their non
enforcement. that despite this latter action
Of the courts the officials of Nebraska
charged with the enforcement OF this act
have been derelict in their duties.
Terminal Taxation Bill.
Close on the death of H. R. $50 is born
another measure contemplating taxation OF
railroad terminals for municipal purposes,
constructed on the same fundamental prin-
ciple as both house rolls III and $50. This
new bill was introduced in the senate
by Saunders of Douglas. Douglas county
members assert that this is their first step
In renewing the tight and that II will re
followed by others calculated to force the
sanction of this proposition upon this leg
islature.
The Saunders bill merely provides that
the railroad property shall be assessed and
taxed on It's fair cash value for city pur-
poses the same as other property, and that
in fixing the standards Of assessment and
taxation the figures as returned by the
State Board of Equalization shall not be
taken by the city tax commissioner, except
, for school purposes. This. of course, would
eliminate that obnoxious clause in the
Omaha city charter which compels the tax
} commissioner to accept these figures, and
which is the cause Of this entire fight. in
stituted by the Real Estate exchange of
) Omaha.
, OF course, the introduction Of no number
of bills on this subject is going TO do any
good unless there is an avowed dstsrmina-
tion, and a eeaseless endeayor on the part
of the Omaha delegation to force their
proposition through. It Is seriously ques-
, toned IL the fatal mistake was not made
In allowing this matter to go until near
the close of the session. Not a few mem
bers from other sections OF the state have
declared II to be their belief that had the
b Douglas delegation buekled down earnestly
and persistently to pass this bill at the
first of the session, employing all the means
e at their disposal, such as that one so COM
e monty used, trading OF measure for meas
ure, or the reciprocity plan. the bill would
long before this have become a law, and
there would not now, be any necessity OF
e incriminating railroad Hobbies for innuenc-
b ing the legislature to defeat this PROPOSE
tion.
!. Amendments TO Constitution.
4 Memminger Of Madison. fusion m smber
Of the house, introduced four bills pro-
e posing amendments 10 the constitution.
/, II. r. 391. the first, provides for the in
IT vestment of the permanent school fund
II of the state In registered school district
bonds Of the state. II. r. 1872 provides for
changes IN the bhiaTles OF btate onceFs
l. comforting upon the legislature the right
m by a twO-thirds vote, to raise or lower
m such salaries. provided. however. that the
salary OF no oficial Is changed during his
m term Of ONCE and that no changes can be
made Oftener than once in four years
NJ II. r. 1898 and 394 deal with the member
ship and salaries Of the supreme court
e. and doubtless will be considered most i'm
Ia portant. The former provides that m,
Il, legislature may. by a three-hfths vot.
< change the salary Of the supreme cOur
. justices, and the latter increases the mem
n bership from three to hve, providing fo
the election of two justices for a term o
two years and two for a term OF foui
s. years In 1904 ard thereafter one for a tern
Of i've years annually.