Omaha daily bee., 1905-12-18
MAY WIPE OUT UNIT PLAN

CONTINUED from First Page)
tons placed on the lines has been SO low
as TO Offset any mere bookkeeping addi-
ton of terminals to the totals. The oppo-
sition of the two large railways to their
taxes has developed a state of mind
which will be amenable to the argument
that the local assessors can do the work
better than the state board. When that
is done, it is pointed out, the corporations
will have one. less very potent reason for
interfering In the selection of state offi-
Gals and the taxpayers will have the
power of preventing unfarness in assess
ments, close at home.
Tho argument for the adoption of the
, unit system from a technical point of view
has been that it permitted of a reader
md more expeditions assessment of prop
critics extending through several counties,
especially the rolling stock. 1t has been
argued that the property of each carrier
must be regarded a unit, since each
mile is dependent on every other mile Tor
traffic and the track in one county loses
its value without its connection with the
mileage in adjoining counties.
This theory of the unity of the property
in each corporation has been advanced
| railway attorneys in all their arguments
against legislation permitting terminal tax
alton. Their opponents have always con-
| tended that there was no inherent reason
| for the unit system. especially with refer
ence to terminal taxation. Should the
next legislature carry the opposition to
the unit theory further by abandoning IT,
| the legislature could require the railway.
to provide the percinct assessors with tn,
statistics similar to those now given the
| state board. The small size of the dis.
| trict would be no greater argument against
the method than As the fact that the Bur.
! lington and Union Pacific traverse severa
| states argument against the present
| system.
! Implement Dealers to Meet.
! The South Platte Implement Dealers as
! ISOLATION will hold its annual meeting a
Lincoln this week, beginning Tuesday. TIL,
| officials of the association anticipate
| large attendance. The railways have mad
| a rate of one and a third fares for tn,
round trip. The session will last two days
| Wednesday will be devoted exclusively L
executive sessions. At this session, 1t &
intimated, prices and methods OF handling
business, especially that done on credit
will be discussed The Commercial clul
will devote itself to the entertainment O
the visitors Wednesday evening.
| Cost State Nothing.
State Superintendent McBrien has re
eeived the first copies OF the educationa
directory for 1905-lsO6, a fifty -four- pag
pamphlet giving much information of valu
to educators and school officials. In add
ton to its comprehensiveness the director
establishes another new departure In tn
fact that IL did not cost the state treasur
anything. State Superintendent McBrie
called his commercial instinct into pla
early in the fall and suggested to the on
Gals of the various schools and colleges G
Nebraska that he would sell them adveI
Using In the publication. With the pre-
ceeds he has paid the printers bill
| Fixing Gas Standards.
| Tomorrow night the special committee {
the city council OF which Alderman HopI
is chairman, is expected to make it's repol
on an ordinance fixing the quality of ca
to be provided by the Lincoln Gas an
Electric company at 700 British thermi
; units and eighteen candle power. The pr'
: posed ordinance is the elimination OF
vigorous campaign for better gas, carrie
on by Lincoln citizens.