Omaha daily bee., 1903-05-03
VALUATION OF RAILROADS
State Board of Equalization Takes Up the
Work on Tuesday.
PEOPLE OF STATE LIKELY TO Be HEARD
Printed Copies Of New Revenue Law
Ready, but Legislature Fails TO
Provide Postage to send
Them out.
PEOPLE or STATE LIKELY TO Be HEARD
PROM a star correspondent.)

LINCOLN, Neb., May 2.-(Special)-ThC
State Board OF Equalization will meet Tues
day, May 3, instead Of on Monday, May 4
as announced tho first OF the week. The
meeting at this time is for the purpose OF
canvassing the returns made by the various
railroads Of the state and determining the
valuation for assessment. In July the board
will again meet to equalize the levy of the
various counties. The members of the
board. Governor Mickey, Treasurer Nor
Jensen and Auditor Weston have not yet
returned from st. Louis where, with the
other state officers. they went to attend the
dedication Of the Louisiana Purchase Ex-
position. Governor Mickey is expected
home tonight and the others will be hero
before Monday.
The coming meeting Of the board will be
one Of the most important ever held in the
state and more interest is being taken in
It than is usual. The great question at is
sue is the one that for years has been be-
fore the people Of Observation-Disclosures rail-
roads shall be allowed to continue to get
the benefit and protection Of government
without paying a just share OF the taxes Of
the state Heretofore they have escaped
this.
The last board, composed Of Governor
Savage. Treasurer Stuefer and Auditor wes-
ton again exempted the railroads from a
large share Of their taxes, Notwithstanding
the fact that a determined effort was made
by friends Of equal taxation to prevent Il;
notwithstanding that incontrovertible evil
dence was placed before the board to show
that the railroads were escaping the major
part OF their taxes. But this failure on the
part of those who favor the equal distri-
button of tie burdens OF the state has not.
they say, satisfied them that the state board
, treated the people fairly. The loss Of that
~Nbattle, they say. has made them more de-
termined than ever to secure the Just tax
alton OF corporation property.
Campaign of Education.
The campaign OF education that has been
waged since the meeting of the last board
with Just as much vigor as before and the
fact that John N. Baldwin utterly failed in
debate 10 show that the railroads were pay
ing their just share of taxes, say the friends
Of equal taxation, will bear fruit. Another
point they believe will be in their favor is
the fact that this board will be composed
Of two new members. one of whom has de-
clared for the taxation of railroads, and
the other has declared himself as favorinp
the taxation Of all property according tc
the constitution.
The fight last year was made partially
TO get the stare board in making I'D the
assessment roll to include in it the value
OF railroad and telegraph franchises. Not.
withstanding evidence was offered to the
board to show the constitutionality OF this
the franchises escaped. What the present
board will do of course is not known al
this time. The board last year held ex.
ecutive sessions and at these sessions rail.
road attorneys delivered their arguments
Whether this boaPd will receive argument
behind closed doors is not known and as all
the members are out OF the city IT cannot
be ascertained at this time.
The board last year did increase the as
sessment Of railroad property to a certain
extent. but far below the figures expected
by the people. The total increase was
t1e5, ssO.4O. 1t Is expected that both tn,
people and the railroads will be we'll rep
resented before this board and some in.
teresting debates are looked for.
A comparison with the assessment o
1901 shows the following increase in tn,
valuation per mile: Chicago. Nebraska 4
Kansas, $780,; Lincoln q Black Hills, $40
N. W. & Western. $500; Republican Val
ley, Kansas & Southern, $50; Nelson
branch of Rock Island, $500; Omaha Bel
Line, $500; Kansas City & Northwestern
$50; Kansas City & Omaha, $500; Siou,
City. o'Neill & Western, 800; the Lin
coin branch OF the Missouri Pacific wa
reduced 5000. and the Springfield and Papil
fion branch 800 per mile; the Pullman
property was increased $4,000 in total valu
Table of Valuations.
The following table shows the railroads
the assessed valuation per mile and tn
total assessed valuation as returned by tn,
state board for last year:
Assessed
Valuation