Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-07-24
DOUGLAS PROTEST FIzZLES
Lincoln Parties Fail 70 Gene in with Any
Formal Complaints,
GOVERNOR MICKEY DENIES INTERVIEW;
Repudiates In a Roundabout way the
Alleged strietures on Fellow
Members of state Board
of Assessment.
FrOm a stan Correspondent.


LINCOLN, July 2S-(Special.) 1.-THE in
ability OF the Lincoln papers to make good
on their stories that Douglas county Is as
sesssd too low and the taclt denial made
by Governor Mickey OF interviews printed
during the last month, charging Searle,
Eaton and Galusha with being tools OF
the railroads, were the features OF the
meeting Of the State Board OF Equalization
this morning and the latter feature was
sufficiently humorous to cause smile
when It was found Governor Mickey had
been blufing instead Of holding a pat hand.
Tax Commissioner Scribner called the
governor. He began to read from local
paper an interview with the governor. de-
nouncing the majority members of the
Board of Assessment This started imine-
d!ately after the executive had made his
s,eIeotyped speech that Il want TO be
fair and honest and onsy want to do my
DUTY, giving every man right to his opin-
ion"
IF you are Fair and Just and want to
be honest. why do you bring politics into
tao assessment Of railroads. inquired Mr.
ScIfbner. why do you say the republican
party should not nominate such men, or
why do you mention any political party In
tnts =.atter?'
do you believe everything you see in
There is a record OF what | did on the
Board OF Assessment a..d you just take
that and don't take the newspapers
with this tacit denial of the interviews the
which he has been quoted since the meet
inss Of the State Board OF Assessment
Lave been concluded, the governor quickly
changed the subject and Auditor Searle
ard Land Commissioner Eaton had moth
ing to say. The governors gig back was
in the presence Of a good-siZed audience
and a smile almost audible went around
the ROOM
Lincoln Fails to Make Good.
Harry Reed, assessor OF Douglas county.
was called before the board at the re-
quest Of the News-Journal Of Lincoln,
these papers having been printing a TRADE
against the Omaha assessment as part
OF their political program.
with Mr. Reed were Attorneys Baldrige.
Kennedy and Gaines. and after Mr.. Reed
had been questioned Informally concern
ing the assessment Of cattle. Mr.. Bald
ridge asked for the complaint which the
Lincoln people had fled with the board
against the Omaha assessment.
They haven't hled any complaint that
know Of" replied Secretary Bennett.
Il don't see that we can do anything
at all, then" said Mr.. Baldrldge. "if there
IS nothing for us to answer. But l Will
Just say this for the benefit OF the board.
You have an abstract OF the assessment
OF Douglas county. made under oath by
the county assessor That Is evidence
On the other side there IL nothing filed.
Some talk has been made. but nothing that
can be considered evidence. 1t looks to
me like the sworn statement OF an ofh-
cial would be taken by this board In
preference 10 street talk made by people
who know nothing of the value OF Douglas
county property. l should think this board
would prefer to take the sworn statement
Ct the assessor of Douglas county than
to make a guess at the value OF property
about which they know nothing"
M. 1serinrrre Suggested Mr.. 7Morten-
sen. ayou ought to know something of the
assessment in Douglas county. What dc
you think about IT.
II will just say, gentlemen" answered
Scrlbner, IF all the real estate in the
state had been assessed as fairly as has
that in Douglas county l would not b,
here making a complaint I think Mr.
Peed has done his duty and done It well
What property he has valued he has val
ued good compared with the other counties
OF the state. though do not doubt mucf
property has escaped, though the assess
ment is as good as any in the state"
As the calamity howlers in Lincoln faileC
In make any kind Of a showing the boarc
took no action regarding Douglas county
promising to notify Mr.. Reed II any com
plant was filed.
seribner Files Figures.
Mr. Seribner took the ground that IN
board under the revenue law. had a rich