Omaha daily bee., 1906-04-14
RAILROADS MAY GET BOOST
Increased Earnings Should Bring Increase
in Assessed Valuation,
MICHIGAN CASE FORMS BASIS FOR WORK
BOARD Meets First OF May and Mem
bers Have Already Been Studying
the Reports which Have
Been Filed 20 Date.
CFrom a star Correspondent

LINCOLN. April 13.-CspeciaL) THE at
tentton OF members Of the State Board Of
Assessment has been attracted to the great
increase In the net earnings of the Union
Pacific railroad, as shown in its report
filed with the secretary Of the state board.
and It IS going 10 take some tall argu-
ment on the part Of the railroad represent
atives to convince the members Of the
board that the road is not worth more
than IT was a year ago.
SO far only the Union Pacific. the Mis-
souri, Pacific and the Santa Fe have filed
reports but it Is presumed the other roads
will show an increase in revenue, as have
those which have filed. This will likely
mean that all the roads viii get a material
boost at tho hands Of the board.
The report of the Union Pacific shows
that road has made an earning Of some
$500 a mile for every mile OF track It has
I'm the state over what II earned in 1903
It's earnings, shown by the reports
increased in 1904 over 1903 some S1,1OO a
mile, while this year over 1904 shows an
increase of some 500 mile
The board will meet the first Of May
and some members Of the board at least
have already become familiar with what
is contained in the report and will be able
TO act promptly and intelligently.
In discussing the assessment of railroads
this morning Governor Mickey gave out
the impression that he would stand for a
material increase in the valuation of rail-
road property over the assessment of last
year.
THE decision in the Michigan case" said
Governor Mickey shows State Boards of
Assessment have greater discretion than
the Nebraska board has ever used. It will
be of material benefit TO state boards in
considering how to get at the value Of a
railroad corporation. 1 have written for a
copy OF the opinion and will get one just
as soon as It is printed.
There is no use of the railroads COM
planning about their taxes being too high
when their net earnings show how much
money they are making. The time has
come when the railroads Of Nebraska will
have to pay their just share OF taxes, and
there is no use of them fighting that propo-
sition. They might just as we'll come in
and pay up like the rest Of us Other
property in this state has been assessed
at its full value and the railroads never
have. I think the time has come when
they should be put on the same plane as
other property"
In his talk the governor indicated he
would be in favor of an increase in the
II the reports OF the other roads showed
any increase in their net earnings in the
state as did the Union Pacific.
Mitchell Appeals to Governor.
Constable Mitchell the only colored man
elected in Lancaster county on the republi-
can ticket. has appealed to Governor
Mickey to get him to stop Constable
Hunger from acting as constable, or re-
sign as deputy game warden. Mitchell said
he could not get any work in the constable
line because the justices Of the peace
turned all of It over to the white con
stables. Hunger is one of these and
Mitchell hopes to have him lose one OF the
other OF his jobs. AS Hunger is the oldest
constable in the county and only does
work in that line when he is solicited by
the attorneys, the governor likely will no
Interfere. Hunger is out of the city mos
of the time.
DIR. spaIdinE Represents State.
DR.. s. X. Spaldlng of Omaha, state healtl
inspector, has been appointed by Governo
Mickey to represent the medical fraternit!
OF the state at the council of medicine a
Chicago. May -.
Superintendent McBrlen went out 20 Cret
this morning where tonight he will orat
TO a number OF teachers. Deputy Bishop 4
attending the district meetings and talking
agriculture in the public schools.
Officers Must Pay Messengers.
State officers who have in the past beef
in the habit of calling a messenger DO,
when wanting to get a message or a pack
age delivered, will in the future do tn
little stunt themselves, or pay the boy
This is the bunch sent out by the secretar