The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1906-01-18
ARE At
BAY IN NEBRASKA
Burlington and Union Pacific
Have Each Lost Out in
the Courts.
ROADS MUST PAY TAX
But " They Appeal Their Cases, Man.
Schools Dependent Upon Tax for
Operating Expenses, May
Have TO Close.

Lincoln, Neb.. Jan. l1.--Herc ut Lin
coin the belief exists that the state has
ut last got the political roads. the Dur
lington ana Union Pacific. at bay. For
three years these two roads have done
almost as the pleased with the politics
81 Nebraska. when they could not get
what they wanted from the dominant
party. the republicans, they went over
nne had democrats do II. This was
comparatively easy under the old
regime. because Il was the pleasant
habit OF the roads TO keep two or more
democratic leaders on their payroll.
After Bryan secured control OF the
democrats. however. they found them
selves opposed TO n power they could
not reach. Since then they have dealt
almost exclusively with the republic
ans.
First Sign OF a Break.
The absolute control of the roads over
several legislatures and their refusal 10
allow the enactment OF laws that did
not affect them directly. but which
were intended To curb the rapaclty OF
other interests aroused an intense feel
ing In the state. and presaged n revolu-
ton. The first OF II came last summer
when the railroads failed TO nominate
Dufiie for supreme judge. Letton. the
new member OF the court. won as an
independent. and his candidacy served
to vitalize the forces opposed to rail-
road domination.
To add TO the sorrows OF the rail-
roads the state board raised their taxes
AS much as they did everybody else's.
They objected. threatened and finally
did go into the federal court with an In
junction. Judge Munger's denial OF
that injunction leaves the roads facing
"a pretty precarious situation.
What the Railroads Wish.
They want 10 name Willard 10 sue,
coed himself as United States senator:
they want to name the three railroad
constitutional amendment submitted
this fall carries: they also want To- have
something To- say about who shall be
governor and members OF the state
board that fixes their taxable valua-
ton.
II they appeal the injunction suit
they can hold UP the payment OF taxes
for three or four years. II they do
this twenty per cent. OF the district
schools OF the state VIII either have To
close their doors or else curtail To the
minimum the number OF months In a
year.
Schools Dependent on Them.
In many OF the districts the railroads
are the heaviest taxpayers. This Is
due TO the tdCt that tnty 90 not pay IN
each county the actual value or APP
proXimate value OF their property hold
ings. Instead the state board finds out
the total value OF the railroad In the
state and divides II by the number OF
miles In operation. This gives a fixed
figure per mile. and this adheres alike
TO every mile In the state. For instance.
the main line OF the Union Pacific Is
valued at $4,000 n mile.
In "A number OF school districts In
the extreme west there are from seven
to fifteen miles OF the roal In the dis
trict. and the value OF the remainder OF
the property In infnltesimal Ia COM
parison. The road does not mind this.
because IL would have to pay some
where. and by this means IL gets n
great deal OF it's value located outside
the municipalities upon which II es-
capcs the payment OF city. town or
village taxes.