Omaha daily bee., 1906-07-12
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Governor Mickey is represented as
very much inceused over the following
letter circulated in York county prior
TO the republican primaries ten days
ago:
My attention has been directed to a CON
troversy between the supporters and oppo-
nents Of Hon. Norris Brown which tends
to place me In false light before the
voters OF York county. II is absolutely un-
true that l have either before my depar-
ture for Europe or since my return held
any communication directly or indirectly
with any railroad oficial or anybody pre-
tending to speak for the railroad corpora
lions concernins my candidacy for United
states senator My attitude toward the
railways and all other public carriers Is
well known and has undergone no change.
For more than a quarter OF a century 1
have carried on the educational campaign
of railway supervision and regulation.
was the only Nebraskan who advocated
the enactment Of the interstate commerce
law before the committees OF both houses
Of congress in 1886 and have unwaveringly
battled for principles and policies cham
pioned by Theodore Roosevelt.
Without disparaging the services OF Mr..
Brown as attorney general, need call your
attention only TO the fact that there would
have been no Nebraska railway tax cases
/ had It not been for the fight waged by me
| before the state boards OF assessment, that
resulted in an increase of more than nine
| teen million dollars in the assessment OF
/ Nebraska railroads. II is a matter OF no
toriety that the railroad attorneys in their
/ plea before the courts for setting aside
this assessment claimed the board had been
subjected to undue pressure in making this
/ Increase, and inasmuch as I was the only
man that appeared before the board urging
that assessment II is equivalent, to saying
that a majority Of the board exceeded theiI
authority because OF the influence exertet
by myself and The Bee in behalf of equita.
BILE taxation. make this statement merely
TO dispel the false impression created hS
parties who are conducting the campaign
for Mr. Brown, for which, however, / d.
not believe he is personally responsible.
f. RosEwATER.
According to the Lincoln reporter o.
the World-Herald, Governor Mickey II
represented as making these remarks
What makes the attitude of Mr.. Rose
water particularly ludicrous lie the fact tina
the last railroad assessment. He seems Z
have lost all desire to see the railroads pa,
their taxes and has nothing to say in com
mendation Of Treasurer Mortensen and my
self. who favored increasing their assess
ment to $4,000, 900 this year because II wa
shown that the net earnings had gone u
many millions. Since Mr.. RosewAter en-
tered the race for senator he has lost al
interest In the subject and It looks a
though he had Joined the other crowd.
, II Governor Mickey's remarks ar
correctly reported. 1t only shows tina
he is altogether too sensitive and lack
ing in appreciation of conditions. TIL
railroad assessment for 1906 was mad
in the month, of May. when Edwar
Rosewater was not within 5000 mile
of Nebraska, and while Mr.. Rosewate
is versatile. he is not long distanC
editor. AS a matter OF fact. he di
not know what happened before tn
board and does not know even now 8
what valuation the railroads were a!
sessed this year. 1t was certainly nc
to have been expected that he woul
, within a few hours after his retur
, take up an issue already DISPOSED {
| for this year. |tfps,A
If it is really true that the railroad
are undervalued this year. who is
v blame? 1t is passing strange, HOY
: ever, that other candidates for Unite
= States senator. who we're within .eas
}. reach of the state capital, kept di
creetly away. Where, for exampl
s was Judge Crounse? Where VIZ
s Gilbert M. Hitchcock? And whel
s we're the others. and why did no OF
o of these people appear before IL
board, whether democrat, populist I
republican, if there was rank unde
y valuation?