Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1903-04-02
LEGISLATIVE NEWS.
Especial Correspondence

The new revenue bill has at
last passed both houses, and at
this writing it seems certain to
receive the governors signature
and become law before the end
of the week. 1t is not drawn to
take effect until next year, which
will give time for the officials to
become familiar with its provis-
ions. 1t will in some respects
bring about a revolution in
county elections, as it provides
for a new official In each county
in the person of the county as
SCISSOR, who is to work in con-
junction with the county COM
missioners in the appointment of
the deputy assessors, and in the
supervision of the work. The
county assessors will in turn work
under the supervision of the
secretary of the state board, who
is expected to keep in touch with
the work in all the counties.
One good effect Of the revenue
agitation is noticed in the re-
ports of the meetings of precinct
assessors now being held over the
state. The usual practice has
been for these officials to meet
and under the old full valuation"
law agree to assess property at
from one-fifth to one-twelfth of
its cash value. The reports this
year indicate generally ten
dency to an increase in the valu-
atoms of personal property.
Should there also be an increase
in the efforts to collect, the new
revenue bill will have done
good work for the state funds
before it really goes into effect
as law.
Now that the legislature is
about to adjourn it is not out of
place to mention the general
character of the membership. 1t
is apparent that last year the
people of the state were aroused
to the necessity of electing re-
representatives. of good habits and
good character, and who would
not trade off their word in the
session for jobs and other per-
quisites. The result is that a
better lot of men never came to
the state house. There is no
boozing and rowdyism such as
has sometimes marked past
sessions. Not one-half of the
members even smoke, and there
is no suspicion of "hold-ups" or
"hold-up' bills. The old-style
lobbyists with their free whiskey
and free lunch and dance tickets
have met with cold reception.
The republican party has reason
to be proud of the men it has
sent to Lincoln and of the con-
scientious work they have per-
formed.
The House in a fit of gener-
osity pushed the appropriation
bills through, calling for ex-
penditures amounting to a total
of nearly 81, 900, 900, as compared
with So, 1000 appropriated by
the last Legislature. A great
many members voted for these
large amounts with the full
knowledge that the Senate would
not agree to such lavish expendi-
lures. The upper house and the
governor are now joining to-
gether in the pruning process,
and it is believed that the bills
will be cut down to reasonable
limits.
1t was expected that the adj
journment would take place at
the end of this week, but the un-
expected delay of the revenue
bill in the Senate, and the work
now in sight IN trimming the
appropriation bills, made it inn
possible to get through so soon,
and the date fixed for next Tues
day by the conference committees
is the earliest practical date.
Interested lobbyists attempted
to force an early adjournment in
order that the prodigal appropri-
ations and claims be rushed
through, but they were easily
frustrated.
The interesting features of
this week will be the appropria-
ton bills, the elevator bill, the
militia, and the normal schools.
OF course the liveliest skirmishes
will be made by those who OBJ
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