Valentine Democrat. (Valentine, Neb.) 1900-1930, 1905-06-15

| contract with the Lee Broom and Duster
| Company for the employment of the
| convicts at the penitentiary at the rate
| Of so cents a day, which prevailed under
| the old contract. The Sterling Manufac-
turing Company, of Illinois, had an offer
| to paw 80 cents dozen for OyeTallS SUD-
| jet to its acceptance. and the members
| of the board believed that it would net
| the state n satisfactory return tor the
| labor of the men, but it was rejected be-
cause the board did not have the availa-
BILE funds with which to install the ma
chinery and did not wish to offend the
numerous Nebraska manufacturers or
overals and shirts. While the amount
called for under the new contract IS the
same as the consideration under the DID,
some of the conditions are much more
favorable to the state. Under the old
one the contractor could practically die
tate how many men he would employ
over 80, and the board had nothing to
say, even though some of the convlcts
were idle. Under the new contract the
broom company is to take all the men'
offered by the board. but has the right
to a minimum of 900 thereby insuring,
him q practical monopoly. AT the same
time the state is protected against the
possibility of having a large number of
idle conyicts OH its hands.
Friday the state board of equalization
granted a special hearing to Tax Com
missioner Dudley, of the Milwaukee,
who protested against the assessment of
its trackage facilities at Omaha on the
ground that the statute fails to grant that
power to the board. At the conclusion
Of his argument he was informed by Gov.
Mickey that the road comes into the state
to get its business and that it should be
taxed in fairness to the other railways
and the taxpayers. Dudley filed q state
ment under protest and the members
of the board intimated that the assess-
ment would be based on the rolling stock
used on the GLIB miles over which the
road operates in Nebraska. Dudley took
the ground that the action of the board
in assessing Il road with bare trackage
rights would revolutionize the taxation
of railways in the state.
Friday Attorney General Brown flee
q brief in the supreme court sustaining
the biennial election law on the ground
that the legislature had the discretion to
construe the constitution in the interest
Of the public, and he also raises the nove
contention, regarded as the main hope
of the friends of the statute, that the
provision of the constitution relating td
elections is not mandatory, but only iii,
rectory, to be disregarded If the legisla.
ture in its judgment saw fit to do So. Ii
is contended that the main purpose %
the convention was to provide for the
forthcoming election and not set up
fixed rule for the future. Still another
contention is that the courts are bound
to allow the legislature to construe the
political sections of the constitution.
Labor Commissioner Bush has al,
that his department will under
take to supply Nebraska farmers witk;
harvest laborers. Some inquiries are be.
ing made, but the harvest is still in the
future. AS soon as the demand becomes
more specific an effort will be made e.
bring it in touch with the supply. The
department will cooperate with the labor
bureaus of surrounding states in direct.
ing the surplus labor supply as far az
possible. Bush is not in possession OF
sufficient data yet to enable lin to APP
proximate the number of men needed to
care for the crops. Last year, through
the wide publicity given the efforts OF.
the bureau, hundreds of collegians were
led to apply for vacation jobs on tho
farms
Secretary Dobson, of the state board o.
irrigation, has received protest FROM
he owners of the Eaton Il McGrath ca
nal complaining because the Western In
igation Canal Company is allowing IT!
surplus moisture t. find its way into the
waterway. This is tls
lrst time that q complaint has CONT
rom that section of the state because
If an excess water supply. The canals
Ire located on the South Platte River
which in ordinary years goes dry during
he height Of the irrigating season. Lit
lie trouble is anticipated from thai
source this year.
Notwithstanding the action of the.
tate insurance department in revoklns
he license of Van B. Lady, the Omaha,
nan who represents New York nsur
nee company, it is probable that 10, Sc,
ious resistance would be offered III ths
vent that he takes action to secure a re-
lstatement or new license Auditor
earle states that his purpose was chief
? to vindicate the department from the.
barge implied in the alleged statemen!
Lady that the company could purr.
base a right to do business in the state.
Geo. L. Shumway, one Of the leading
len Of SCOTS Bluff County, who ha.
cen in Lincoln says that the govern
ent will construct 600 miles of later
Is for the interstate canal, cross sections
)r which are now being laid out by the
lgineers on the Nebraska side OF the
ae The construction of these srlaIle!
version bitches will afford employ,
ent to the settlers, who are awaiting
lie completion Of the project to till theiJ
nds.
II. G.. Leavitt. according to advicag.
ON SCOTS Bluff County. will inaugur+
e work on the Farmers Irrigation ca.
Il within few days, despite the recent
port that an effort was being made tc
mpromise the differences between
eavitt and the interior department by
Getting a deal to supply his land witt
3tpr The farmers ditch will c1,~-Iz