Omaha daily bee., 1906-12-03
STATE PRESS COMMENT.

the government in the Observation-Disclosures
land fraud trial Is exceedingly strong
and apparently sufficient 20 secure con-
viction, which would be the last stroke
In breaking up the cattle ring that has
dominated northwest Nebraska
The Viking; The republican party Of
Nebraska has assumed a great responsi-
bility for the conduct and acts OF the
incoming legislature. This time II will
more truly than ever be weighed in the
balance" We hope Il will not be found
wanting" but make good" all its anti
election promises.
Grand Island Independent: President
ROosevelts action IA filling the vacancy
on the civil service commission by the
appointment OF a democrat, thereby max
ing the commission democratic by one,
is not radical 1t shows that the presi-
dent means what he ssys-politlcal affili-
alton should not have anything to do
with the branches of the public service
under the rules of the commission. 1t
is Rooseveltian because It demonstrates
thoroughly that the president is sincere
in his beliefs. Perhaps it's an uncom-
mon thing to do, but it's a mighty good
example to the commission itself and to
the country at large.
Thurston Gazette: We wonder why a
newspaper should be a railroad organ,
Does the annual mileage book, valued at
from fifty to one hundred dollars, act as
bribe or retaining fee7 Newspapers
owe their existence to the patronage of
the farmers, merchants and business men
to whose interests the railroad graft Is
diametricslly opposed. Two courses are
left to the public in managing the rail-
-F-h
the editor free transportation so that he
will feel under no obligation to the rail-
road, or withdraw all patronage from
every railroad tool and let them look TO
the railroad for their entire support. Re
duce their circulation and advertising to
zero, Farmers and business men It is
up to you.
Grand Island independent: Says a
present day exhorter against all labor
unions: There are about seventy-eight
millions of people in this country who are
not members of any trust, either Of labor
or capital Opposed to them are perhaps
1000, 900 of citizens, members OF the labor
organizations" This statement, unauall-
fed is contained in the press bureau
matter of a committee of capitalists
which is trying to save the country from
it's American laboring men. We. believe
our fair-mlnded readers-not those who
blindly assert that capital is organized
and combines its forces in a survival of
the flttest-but those who are open to
receive evidence, will be glad to learn
that there is now really only one genuine
octopus in the country, only one trust,
the Labor trust. The two millions OF
citizens belong to that iniquitous AFFAIR.
The "seventy-eiRht millions" are free and
independent common" people. There
are no other trusts than the Labor trust
at all 1t is encouraging, indeed. And
If you have any belated thanks to offer ii
certainly should be for this.
Tekamah Herald: We notice that some
Of our weekly exchanges are affordins
space to railroad articles against the plank
in the republican state platform favorina
the taxation of railroad property for city
and village purposes. The railroads are
attempting to show that the kind Of legis-
lation proposed would work an injury tC
rural communities. This Is not the case
and they know 1t. Their effort is an at
tempt of willful deception. II the proposed
reform measure is enacted into law the
State Board of Equalization will assess
railroad property, just the same as they
have by ascertaining the total value of thf
respective lines and apportion IT on the
mileage basis. For instance, we will take
the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis q
Omaha; it's mileage in Nebraska is valued
at S4S,6OO per mile. This includes right-of'
way equipments, terminals and stocks anc
bonds. One-ffth of the above value is the
assessment basis, and upon that valuation
every county through which the road runs
makes it's levy, and will continue to do SO
II the proposed legislation is enacted. The
difference being that in every city or towr
In which the road has depots, sidetracki
and other improvements that the city ol
town can assess those improvements, and
that they bear the same ratio of taxatior
for city purposes that any other property
in the city bears and no more Suppose
that Tekamah had a depot and other i'm
provements worth S5O,O0O the city could
only assess under the present law, on tht
mileage basis of three-quarters OF a mile
the one-fifth being $3.50 Under the new
law the $4,000 improvements would be as
sessed at $4,000 in addition to the value
of the roadbed and proper share of equip
ments and bonds. 1t is silly in the ex
treme for these hirelings to attempt tC
throw dust in the eyes of those not posted
on the situation. The enactment of thu
proposed legislation will not take a dollal
from any school or road district that Il
now obtains under present methods. but
1t will require railroads to pay cities anC
villages on their property located within
the corporate limits of each municipality
which is only Justice and a fair compensa
tion for the fire and police protection which
they receive. This claptrap Of saying thai
II the republican party will enact sucf
legislation that It will sound Its own deatt
warrant has the earmarks OF the railroad
tool who pays for the space. The time IL
past for such threats to have any weight
No self-respecting newspaper can affort
to give space TO fight the best interests Of
its subscribers.
FEATURES OF THE LOCK CANAL.