The independent., 1903-04-16
THE LEGIsLATUEE

ing republican maJorfty most OF whom
patiently, and often proudly, wore the
corporation yoke; (b) the heaviest ap-
propriations ever made in the history
of the state s775,000 greater than two
years ago; s1,05S,0o0 greater than four
years ago, and $1,315, 900 greater than
six years ago; and lc) for the enact
ment of practically an entire new rev.
enue law, drawn up under the corpor-
alton eye in double-quick time and
passed under the party lash at the
railroads Dehest.
In measure the republican major
fly is to be complimented for substan-
TALLY carrying out the party plat
form of last year--it meant heavier
taxation for the farmer and business
man, and relatively II not absolutely
lighter taxation for the railroads. But
being artfully drawn, 1t is doubtful If
the enthusiastic farmers and business
men who supported the alliance OF
church and breweries ticket. really un-
derstood the beautifully worded SEN
tences which promised such strict en-
forcement of the revenue law. The
only objection one can rIghtfully make
Is that support for the republican tick
ct was secured under the ralse pretence
that the platform meant equitable
taxation.
False pretences, however, are sell
dom lacking in a republican campaign.
The church brewery combination
worked SO well last fall that the sa-
loon men of Lincoln copied 1t in the
city campaign just closed. A Merho-
dist was selected by them for mayor,
with the understanding that he should
be protected" by having two $1,000
excisemen run with him. This en-
countered some opposition from few
republicans, but with a $4,000 cor
ruption fund raised by assessing the
saloonkeepers, the combination COM
adopting opportunist tactics, sought
to win by making a flat-footed plat
form declaration pledging $1,000 Ii
cense fee and strict enforcement. They
got a few, very few republican votes,
but lost scandalously in democratic
wards. The republican excisemea
played double game and were for
s1,500 license In 1880 districts and
for "Wide-open" town in the low
lands. Since election they have fixed
the license at $1,000 and the Star is
smoothing things over by telling that
the fee doesn't cut SO very much fig
ure-but it's the control that
counts.
But this is depression. The people
of Nebraska will discover that psych-
ological waves don't pay for tax re-
ceipts. The state general fund levy
will be about 40 per cent higher than
last year on the same assessed valua-
tion. That will mean about $36G,000
additional taxes for 1903-of which
the farmers will pay more than half.
Then next year it Is expected that \
the grand assessment roll will at least
be doubled under the operation of the
new law-and mills general and l
mill university and an average of
about / for state school may be lev
led. Thus the 1904 levy can be al
most double that of last year and SO
per cent heavier than this year. And
1t can't be paid with wind.
Some of the state officers believe
they can cut down the state debt
100000 in the next two years. If
they do. let us see what it means:
$3,650000 of appropriations to spend,
$15O,O0O for interest on the floating
debt, and 100000 of debt to pay off
make total of $4,000,000. Then four
million dollars in taxes must be paid
In the next two years to accomplish
1T. It may be done-but it will take
some scratching to do it.
As general thing the fusion mi
nority stood right on the questions
as they came up. One or two mem.
bers showed collar marks where the
railroad harness had rubbed. Way and
Brady in the senate, Loomis, Ken
nedy, Vic Anderson, Hoy, Thorp, Eg-
genberger, Fries, and number of
Others in the house, could always be
found standing firmly upon the Grand
Island platform.
By no means the smallest item to.
be charged against this legislature is
the Ramsey bill. The republican pa
pers are trying to crawl out by say
ing, .That was the bill the farmers
wanted-and we had to pass it." In
a way this is true, but the farmers
would have accepted the Brady bill.
The Ramsey bill was drawn on the
wrong theory and its backing from the
farmarS' association was o1nverlv CO