Omaha daily bee., 1906-03-15
FOR ASSESSMENTS
State Board Orders Taxation Of Reserve
Fund Of Fraternals.
MORTENsEN MAKES FORMAL WITHDRAWAL
Insurance Companies Paying I'D the
Reciprocal Tax which Has Been
Contested So Long I'm
the Courts.
lErom a star Correspondent

tFrom a STAN Correspondent
LINCOLN. March a. Especially The
State Board Of Assessment this afternoon
adopted rules for the guidance Of county
assessors and incidentally instructed them
to assess the reserve funds Of fraternal
companies. The rules adopted by the board
answer the questions raised by the county
assessors at their recent meeting held in
Lincoln. Secretary Bennett was instructed
to send out to the county assessors the
following letter:
II has been taken for granted by some
assessors that insurance companies are to
be assessed only upon their gross pre-
miums tor Nebraska business curing the
preceding year. This Is erroneous. The
assessment Of the gross premiums, Is an
assessment, not upon the valuation of the
property OF the Insurance companies, but
upon their business. IL is not in lieu OF
the assessment of the property which they
own In the state and county, but in ad-
dition thereto-State against Fleming " n.
w. Neb., 1,O63; Achen and Munich Fire lns.
Co. against City of Omaha, lOl ". w. Neb.,
premiums shall not be made, however,
against fraternal beneficiary associations
and mutual insurance companies that oper,
e'e on the assessment plan, have no capital
stock and make no dividends, and whose
scheme OF insurance does not contemplate
the return Of any earnings or pro1ts TO
the policy holders. The last named class
Of companies and associations shall be as
sessed only upon the value of all their
once furniture and fixtures or any other
personal property. such as credits due or
70 pecone que Ho ~ sDRs OR eise9hs
whether held by such associations and conf
panies as reserve funds contingent FUNDS
emergency funds or in any other manner
Such property is subject to assessment ana
taxation against them and shall be listed
and assessed by the assessors.
l. Taxation being the general rule eX-
emption the exception, where there Is any
doubt In the mind of the assessor as to
certain classes of property being exempt
from taxation under section 13 of the rev.
enue act, he shall assess the same.
saloon licenses should be listed as g., a a
placed thereon Is purely matter for the
sound judgment and discretion of the as
SCISSOR, the same as that exercised in fix
ing the value of other property. Opinion
by attorney general, June TO- 1905.
The actual value of notes. bonds or mort
vested shall not be reduced or diminished
by subtracting therefrom the debts owing
by the person assessed who owns such
notes. bonds or mortgages credits evil
denced by book accounts and the like may
be offset by debts of like character only.
Lancaster county against Mcdonald lo5
Each deputy assessor shall upon actual
view, list, value, assess. and return all
property subject to taxation in the town
ships, precincts. districts, cities or wards
and villages assigned to him in the manner
provided in this act Section "a, revenue
In listing live stock and other classes of
property covered by items 8, g. z, 8, 8, 10, II,
o. So. 81 &. s. and 81 of the p personal
schedule correct numbers must be given.
Under item No. 40 please list automobiles
separately, giving numbers and value.
Rent due Is taxable as credit but rent
to grow due is a part of the land and in
to taxation. scuily against People, 1884,
ILL.,. s49.
Resolved by the State Board Of Equal
ization and Assessment. That all property
moneys or. credits owned or controlled by
mutual or fraternal insurance companies,
socletier CT associations. clubs or lodges
except such as are expressly exempt by
statutes, shall be listed for taxation.
$50 AIortenaen Out of Race.
State Treasurer Peter Mortensen is not a
candidate for the republican nomination
for governor. Mr. Mortensen made this
announcement this afternoon. Mr.. Morton
sen concluded not to enter the race after
the question of his eligibility raised
and after he had secured Judge Strobe and
Attorney Clements to look into the matter
and see IL there was any method by which
the case could be passed upon by the SUI
preme court before the date of the repub
lican state convention. The lawyers filed
an opinion with the treasurer saying they
knew of no way the case could be taker
up. Their opinion, together with a state
ment from Mr.. Mortensen. follows:
Opinion of Attorneys.
Hon. Peter Mortensen, Lincoln Neb
Dear Sir-The question of your eligibility
TO the office of governor should you b'
nominated and elected has been raised by
some OF the newspapers of this state Somi
Of your friends are DESTROYS Of your nomi
nation at the next republican state conven
ton and have requested the undersigned I,
advise them how to test your eligibility {,
the office Immediately following the eXpira
ton of your term of office as state treas
ureT.
Section 2 of article v of the constitutio,
OF this state reads as follows:
None of the officers of the executive de
partment shall be eligible to aay othe
state office during the period for which the!
shall have been elected"
So far we have been. able to discove
this particular section of our constitution
has never been construed by our suprem