Omaha daily bee., 1906-02-14
MORTENSEN NAY MAKE TEST
'Friends Urge Him to Secure Ruling on His
Eligibility for Governor.
TWO WAYS OF GETTING BEFORE COURT
Hardware Dealers 20 the Number of
Three Hundred Holding n Com
vention Mt the Capital
city.
(From a STAFF Correspondent


LINCOLN, Feb. 13.-Cspecial) -Friends of
State Treasurer Mortensen have advised
him to test his eligibility to be governor
of Nebraska by an appeal TO the courts for
n decision on that section of the constitu-
ton which bears on the question. Mr..
Mortensen is anxious that the court pass
upon the question in the near future and
suit is likely to be filed within short time.
Mr.. Mortensen's advisers have pointed
out two ways which the question could
be brought to the attention, of the court
He could get a petition signed by 5000
electors and file the same with the secre-
tary Of state, setting out in his petition the
fact that he is now treasurer of the state
having been elected to serve until January
The secretary of state could refuse to put
the name on the ballot for the reason Mr..
Mortensen is treasurer, and then applica-
ton could be made to the supreme court
for a mandamus to compel the secretary
10 place the name on the ticket.
The other way. Mr. Mortensen's attorneys
pointed out, would be for some friend of
the treasurer to get out an injunction or
apply for an injunction setting out the
secretary of state is about to place the
name OF Mortensen on the ballot by petit
tion and urging II be not done because he
IS treasurer. This suit would have to be
filed in the district court but It would only
take a short time to have II carried
through the supreme court Friends OF
the state treasurer have consulted about the
matter and Mr. Mortensen is anxious some
kind Of a suit be started so his eligibility
will be passed upon before the state con-
vention.
Idaho Bonds Purchased.
The state treasurer today took over the
remainder OF the Idaho state bond issue,
which the Board of Educational Lands and
Funds recently purchased. The bonds this
morning amounted to $4,000 and the total
amount bought by the state was s41O.5Oo
The bonds net the state 31s per cent for
five yeats. the term of the option, and
Zen 4 per cent.
Assessors Apply for Blanks.
A number OF county assessors have writ
ten to the secretary OF the State Board
of Assessment for general personal
schedule blanks and have of course been
turned down. The state board merely
furnishes samples of these blanks SO the
county clerk can have them printed, but
II does not furnish the blanks. The state
board furnishes all other blanks and has
during the last few days been mailing
them out together with blanks to be
furnished the railroads upon which the
companies are TO make out their annual
reports The law provides the railroads
must have their statements in by April
Is
Hardware Dealers Convention.
The fifth annual convention of the Ne
braska hardware dealers began at the Lin
dell hotel this morning and will continue
over Wednesday. Mayor Brown welcomed
the delegates and the response was by
Nathan Roberts OF Omaha The annual
address of President Max Uhlig condemned
the parcels post and advocated the APP
pointment of a committee to look after
freight matters. At the afternoon session
addresses were, delivered by the following:
]. II. McGrath of Hastings, A. G. Hunt OF
Campbell. A. f. Meyers of Falls City, J. c.
McPhedson of Haigler. p. A. Krause OF
Albion. Tonight an illustrated lecture was
given by 8. r. Miles of Mason City. 1t is
expected fully. 300 delegates will attend the
meeting before the close and all the avail.
able space at the Lndell is filled with ex.
hibits.
Promise New street Railway.
Those citizens of Lincoln who incorpo.
rated some months ago to build street
car system are evidently in earnest. II
was given out this afternoon by w. Z
Sharpe of the board of directors that the
work on the system would be started a.
soon as the weather would permit and
already some of the material is on tn,
ground The company was organized be
cause the service given the people of Lin
coin at this time by the Traction compan,
ts so poor. Interested in the company ar,
some of the most influential and wealthy
men of thu city.
n Congregational Laymen Assemble.
The second annual convention OF the Con
Eregational laymen began at the First Con