Omaha daily bee., 1905-08-01

ever, that the reductions were made be
cause Of positive evidence showing that
the assessments had been too high. He
repeated the statement that Reed had told
him that the big merchants at Omaha
could not be assessed too high, or they
would have 70 move across the river He
said that the Douglas county assessor told
him this year that he thought the assess
ment was about all some of the firms could
stand.
what Tibbetts wanted TO show.
Tibbetts stated shortly before the close
Of the hearing this afternoon that he in
tended to call experts in the various lines
who could testify as to the value Of the
various houses at Omaha. He had figures
showing the stocks over $4,000 in value. He
called J. H. Harpham, a Lincoln harness
jobber who testified that Marks Bros. of
Omaha, assessed at $4,000, were only half
high enough, and that ]. II. Haney, as
sessed at 10000 was also only 80 per cent
of the true value.
Gage County Clerk objects.
County Clerk ]. r. Plasters of Gage
county, who was in the city today, was dis
posed to complain of the action of the
State Board of Equalization in making 10
per cent increase in the average assessment
of sewing machines in the country. They
| were assessed at an average of 81 and the
result Of the increase will be to necessitate
the addition of 20 cents to the assessed
valuation OF a machine worth SO, and
varying sums for machines worth other
prices. This Plasters claims is a mistake.
since assessing officials have never been re-
qured to consider cents He asserts that,
| heretofore, 1t has been customary to place
the assessments in round numbers for con-
venience in figuring He does not contem-
| plate any appeal to the board. He ex-
pressed his anxiety to have the work of
the state board completed so that the work
| of extending the assessments may be taken
| up in the counties. The board promised to
| take the matter under advisement.
The chairman Of the county board of Red
Willow county was in the city today to pro-
test against the increase on horses ordered
| by the board, making the average assess
ment of equines about $11. Wnen he was
shown the average of S14 in the agricul-
tural counties he withdrew his protest.
Appropriation May Not Lapse.
| Deputy Auditor Cook said today that he
believed payments would be made on ex-
istlng contracts from appropriations made
by the legislature of 1903, even after August
| 81 when the appropriation would ordinarily
lapse He said that he believed It to be
the intent Of the law that such bona fide
contracts are binding. Notwithstanding the
provision as to lapses
Some of the state officers are talking of
asking the secretary of the State Printing
board to act as official indexer for the va
rious departments in order that the re-
ports issued may be properly indexed for
reference use. 1t is claimed that Secretary
| Frazier would have ample time to do the
work in addition to his duties in connection
with the letting of contracts.
Praise for superintendent.
The State Board of Public Lands and
Buildings, which has returned from trip
of inspection to the Hastings asylum, is
unanimous in its praise of Superintendent
Kern who has charge of the institution
with its 1000 inmates. The members of the
board say that 1t seems like a small city.
New Corporations.
The Exchange bank of Wilcox has been
incorporated by C. w. Gishwiller, d. c.
Shelter, l. H. Jordan. e. NJ. Crannell and
A l.. Clarke. The authorized capital stock
is $4,000.
The Jones Farm company of Indianola
with an authorized capital stock of $50, ,00C
has filed articles of incorporation in the
Office of the secretary of state. The con-
cren has power to operate farms in Ne
DfaSka ana otner States.
Attorney General Norris Brown stated
today that it would be several days before
he can render an opinion as to the validity
OF water works bonds issued under the
existing statue. The question as to the
validity of the act was raised by R. E.
Moore, a Lincoln investor.
Preparing for Camp.
Adjutant General Culver will establish
| hrtg baadnnartara a KaaTnaV Thurs.
day or Friday, to have everything in
readiness for the national guard encamp
ment, which is to BEGIN next week. A
detachment from the signal corps, acting
as engineers, will lay out the camp, Ar
rangements have been made to sink fifteer
driven wells to sheet water, in order Il
insure a pure water supply. The sane
is counted on to act as a filter bed. Unde
the general direction of the medical corps
the sanitation of the camp will be attended
to with the utmost care.
| Colonel c. ] Bills, the inspector general
of the guard. will be placed under service
orders. He will inspect the site of thu
camp before the troops are moved out, and
during the progress of the encampmen
will inspect the camp twice daily, report
ing derelictions from the rules to the com
manding oflcer of the regiment concerned
|
installation of a telephone system in tn
camp, connecting the various organizations
The brigade headquarters Will be at a con
siderable distance from the regimenta
headquarters since there is plenty of lam
to permit of this arrangement
Must Have Twenty Days Notice.
The bond clerk in the office OF the audito
has found it necessary to return consider
able number of bonds to the school district
and other subdivisions issuing them becaus
| Of the fact that the election was not he'll
| after the twenty days notice required b
the statute, as interpreted by Deputy Al
torney General Thompson. According {
that official, the twenty days must be com
puted without including that set apart 70
the election or that on which notice wa
given. This opinion is based on a decisio
rendered by the supreme court. II
stated that the bonds received indicat
that much misapprehension exists as I
the requirements of the statute The dt
partment has not been advised whethe
any bonds will be invalidated on that az
| count
An estimate by Bond Clerk LawrenC
indicates that the total registration
public bonds of all kinds has been moi
than 100000 since December l, 1901,
compared with N.122,774 for the entire b