Omaha daily bee., 1903-02-11

ask them u they mean that TINS great piOp. |
erty IL just 20 get city benefits, ana not
70 bear any part OF the city burdens. Ask
them n Il would be impracticable 70 value
this property within the city II the CON-
case Of the ST. Louis Terminal company.
Ask them II Council BLUFFS would hnd a
way to value this property IL It were there.
Then tell them II the law is impracticabie
=" II tbesy aux yoI 60 let we'll enough alone,
tell them II is not well enough that their
city taxes are outraseousiK uhe9ual' aar
son and corporation to pay his proper
tionate share Of taxes. say 70 them mat
tionate. city tax the railroads pay Is IN
n thew say they prefer the present law. |
ask them why they should be unwilling to
60 before the same assessor that all other
city property owners go before. Point
them to the motto OF the state.
II they claim the bill, II passed, will be
unconstitutional then suggest to them MAJ
the federal court and prevent its enforce
ment. And give them a chance to try II.
Weeks work on Revenue Bill.
II the impending revenue bill reaches the
legislature before next week even the com
mittee that is grinding It out will be sur
prised. still It may come under the wire on
a scratch. Tho chances are, however, that
it will not be ready to leave the joint COM
mittee before the fret OF next week. This
10 said on the basis OF the committees
statement.
The subcommittee composed from the
Joint committee that carved out the bill
put in a busy day and night whipping into
shape the numerous fragments. It's work
will. II was said tonight. consume two or
three more days, when the measure will
revert to the committee at large and after
running thu gauntlet there go to the reg
ular revenue committees of each house.
At last the subcommittee has settled the
method OF telephone assessment and set
tied IL, many think. by dealing a rather
hard blow to the Bell company. The prop
6sltion Is to assess all tangible property
and in addition the gross earnings as rep
resenting the franchises. 1t is thought
by some that this proposition will be
strenuously opposed in the Legislature on
the ground that It ~contemplates a hardship
on the Bell people.
The plan to have county assessors has
been approved by the subcommittee and
will be embodied in the bill, as also will
the Iowa plan, recommended by John N.
Baldwin, to list property at full value and
assess at one-fourth.
A member OF the subcommittee tonight
said. mo special bill or law has guided
US In our work. The people will find that
the bill, when submitted, will be based on
no single act, but will be derived from the
laws OF various states. And I believe they
will find a bill that they can ommend and
/ feel sure It will pass the legislature.
We have worked hard and faithfully and !
think the legislature will indorse our work
by passing the bill"
Blow at Home Rule.
Shelly Of Douglas demonstrated his anti
home rule proclivities this afternoon wher
he introduced In the house the bill that has
been anticipated, providing for the estab-
Iishment in South Omaha of a governor
appointed board Of fire and police com.
missioners. The measure apparently hai
the approval of the remainder Of the Doug
las county delegation, especially in that II
deals a blow at the policy of home rule
government.
The bill ~contemplates the appointment
Of a board Of Eve, not more than three o.
whom are to be from the same political
party. One Of the essential features Of II
is that It prohibits the mayor Of South
Omaha from acting or serving on the. board
as an active or ex-oficio member, ant
furthermore excludes the city's chief ex,
ecutlve from any relation whatever with
the board. which, like the ~reigning regents
In Omaha. Is to be a state creature. under
state dominion, since the members will b.
amenable only to the governor and to tbai
oficiai directly. The jealous endeavor o
~ 49, OOabheo COahNS "a
mental in this piece of projected Legislation
to "harpoon" the present mayor OF Soutl
Omaha was manifested in a remark mad
by one Of this number this afternoon fl
speaking OF the bill. He said, with evi
dent pride: "Oh, but 1t will make som,
people smoke when they see how 1t leave
Mr.. Mayor ont in the cold"
This suggested the query: rs this
bill for an act to enable certain dis
gruntled politicians to vent their splice
on their successful opponents?"
This bill further provides q three-yea
term for the members and a salary of SO
q year each. The members are to be ap
pointed for the first board immediatel
upon the passage of this bill and serv
until the FIRST Monday in April, 1906. tt
regular time for appointment thereafte
shall be the first Monday in April. TIL
board IA to have power Of appointing an
discharging the chiefs of the fire and polio
departments and all their subordinates.
is specified, however, that no one shall
discharged without cause or a fair hearin
and that politics shall not influence II
board In its actions.
Opposed to Gilbert Bill.
81 am heartily opposed to this Howell
Gilbert act compelling the city of Omaha
buy the local water works there and o.
crate them. / want to be thoroughly III
derst6od on that point"
Such 10 the statement Lieutenant Go
ernor MeGilton today made to a corr
spondent OF The Bee. Continuing, he sal
r'Bnt' let II not be understood that I a
opposed TO municipal ownership of su
properties. I am. on the contrary. heart
in favor of this system. But that need n
impel me to favor this acts ! think this q
does not contemplate the true theory
principle OF municipal ownership. The iii
IL not yet ripe.
Yesterday when I advised the membe