Omaha daily bee., 1905-06-05
BOARD USES OWN JUDGMENT
Denial that Pnblic Olamor Fixed Railway
Valuation Last Year.
SUMMON NEWSPAPER MEN TO TESTIFY
Democratic Cnmpnipn Committee Gets
Busy in Behalf of the Alder
manic Candidates-Funera
of Furnns.
SUMMON NEWSPAPER MEN TO TESTIFY
(From a Staff Correspondent


LINCOLN, June 4.-(Special The mem
bers of the State Board of Equalization, in
reaching an assessment for 1904, used their
Independent judgment notws hstanding the
allegation Of the railways that public
clamoG. particularly that of the press, led
to an excessive valuation. In discussing
the matter, Governor Mickey, speaking as
a member Of the board, says that he used
his own ideas to the valuation, because
under the law II Is not only his privilege,
but his duty to act independently. None
OF the board members deny that the de-
mands of the public and the press had
their effect, but only In encouraging the
board to break away from the old-time
precedents of railway assessment which
favored the corporations at the expense of
other taxpayers. In the past it had been
the custom to listen to the advice of the
railway men and then affix a valuation to
which the tax commissioners would agree.
The rights of the people were ignored, and
the effect of the public clamor was to
awaken in the members a fuller realiza-
ton of their duties to delye into the situa-
ton and get at the true honest value.
w. o. Jones of the State Journal and H.
T. Dobbins of the Evening News have been
summoned to appear as witnesses in the
!
believed that the railways are seeking ev-
idence Of the public clanlor which their
petition alleges led to an excessive assess
ment
Woodmen Hold Memorial Service.
The annual Modern Woodmen memorial
service was held this afternoon at the
First Congregational church, after which
a battalion of foresters marched to wy
I Il a Q he
Talbot and Rev. l.. p. Ludden made ad-
dresses. At the cemetery several squads
of foresters were detailed to decorate the
graves of Woodmen, and the names of the
absent dead were read by Recorder E. l..
Troyer, after which taps were sounded.
Governor Mickey, who was to have made
an address, went to Brownville to attend
the funeral of Ex-Governor Robert w.
Furnas.
Use Campaign Circulars.
The democratic city central committee
has been very active during the past few
days sending out circulars setting UP the
merits of the bourbon aldermanic candi-
dates who are to be voted on at the spe-
cial election to be held Tuesday. They are;
hopeful OF electing two or three members,
because of the disaffection of one of the
elements defeated in the recent republican
primaries. Tho election of democratic
mayor for the first time in many years has
inspired them with considerable hope
The members of the city council whe will
be retired through the election of the seven
new aldermen provided for by the recent
legislature have retained counsel and an at
tempt to test the validity of the new char
ter amendment Is anticipated. The law
yers working on. the case may resort to
an injunction suit TO prevent the issuance
of certificates of election.
Funeral of Furnas.
This morning at 3 O'CLOCK a special Bur
lington train took the body of Former Gov
ernor Furnas to Brownvfle for interment.
Governor Mickey, several state officials,
officials of the Masonic grand lodge and
many OF the former friends and associates
OF the deceased accompanied the funeral
party. The body was taken from the rail-
way station to the cemetery, where brief
Masonic services were held by the officers
of the grand lodge.