The independent., 1903-01-15

purpose would be severely shocked by
any attempt on our part to fix maxi
mum rates, for example. That is to
say, the railroads of Nebraska"
would be shocked. Proper regard for
the welfare of persons not connected
with the railroad business 'admon@
ishes scrupulous avoidance" on their
part, "of legislation susceptible OF
being construed as an attempt to Sc
ere either higher railroad taxes or
lower freight rates. That is an evolu-
ton of the old doctrine of laissez faire
(let alone). Formerly 1t was custo-
mary to urge the doctrine on the
grounds that the state might control
but ought not Now it is, the state
cannot-and it will be mighty sorry
if it tries.
THE question of revenue is one,
says Governor Mickey, which vitality
concerns every interest in the state
and always presents troublesome
phases. At present the floating indebt-
edness of the commonwealth is large
ly in excess of the amount permitted
under the constitution and is rapidly
increasing. There is no defenslble
reason for the existence OF such con-
dition. 1t is largely due to the pre-
valent and pernicious practice OF un-
dervaluing all forms OF property and
franchises which enter into the make
up of the assessors schedules, the re-
suit being that the grand assessment
roll is merely a financial shadow OF
the tangible resources and wealth
which it is intended to represent.
With a statutory limitation on the
number of mills that can be levied.
the amount of revenue derived from
any given assessment is correspond
ingly abridged and at present is far
below the amount absolutely required
to meet running expenses.
Another important contributor;
cause" he continues, 'to the increas-
| ing Indebtedness is the further fact
that many county treasurers are eX~
ceedingly lax in the matter OF tax
collection. Large sums are allowed to
cucumber the books year after year
on which collections ought to be
forced and the proceeds turned into
| the public treasury for the general
good"
| Not word is said about the pre-
valent and pernicious practice" Of the
state board in undertaking the prop
erty and franchises of railroad, tele-
graph, and sleeping and dining car
ompanies-undervalu not only as
compared to actual value, but also as
compared to II other property on the
average. The governor does not seem
to realize that for years the assessors
have been playing a game OF fellow the
leader in the matter of pressing down
| valuations, and that the state board
| has been the leader.
| The Omaha Bee halls Governor
Mickey's statements as an "unequivo-
cal position in favor of tax reform
and applauds his Sound and practi-
| cal views" in recommending that the
powers of the state board of equaliZa-
| ton be brOadened so that it shall have
ample authority to raise and lower
assessments. The Independent can
bersome and is no more practical thar
the method of equalizing by varying
the rate of levy. But the 5-mill limit
must, of course, be raised.
Auditor Weston's recommendations
are much more practical than those of
either of the governors. Governor
Mickey wants the legislature to jump
in and revolutionize the revenue laws
by an entire change of procedure, and
do it in time for the 1903 assessments.
Eut Auditor Weston, admitting that
'it seems to be the general consensus
of opinion that an assessment of all
kinds of property at a fair cash value
is desirable" says that ''the practical
difficulties in the way are great, as
the experience of all states has de-
monstrated; and it seems probable
that the whole question can be more
thoroughly canvassed and wise meas
ures more surely suggested by COM
petent commission appointed for the
purpose and granted ample time
within which to do their work than
! by any individual or committee dur
| ing the brief and busy session of the
| legislature.
"An improvement in state finances
however" he continues; need not wait
upon legislation of this kind. An en-
largement of the powers of the board
. will solve the difficulty as far as
state revenues are concerned" And he