Omaha daily bee., 1907-05-06
ASSESSING The RAILROADS
State Beard Meets To-day to Take Up the
Task for the Current Year
MAJORITY OF MEMBERS NEW At The WORK
Opinion Prevails, However, that the
board win Reach a Conclusion
This Year In Less Time
Than Usual.
(From a Stan Correspondent.)

LINCOLN, May 5.-(Speciai )-Beginning
tomorrow five state officers go under
the limelight as members of the State
Board Of Assessors to place value on all
the railroad property OF the state for tax
ing purposes. More than the usual interest
attaches to the meeting this year, and the
work of the board because the majority of
the members are doing this work for the
first time Governor sheldon, Treasurer
Brian and Secretary Of State Junkin. The
other two members, Land Commissioner
Elton and Auditor Searle have had two
years experience. Inasmuch. however, as
the railroad question has been the chief
topic in Nebraska for so long, and the es-
pecial study OF state officers during the
late campaign. it is predicted the present
board will have less difficulty in arriving
at a conclusion than has former boards,
which in some instances have not been
able TO answer the arguments put forth
by the railroad tax agents. II Is under
stood public hearings will he given the
railroad representatives, but these tax
agents will not be permitted to make nu-
merous appearances. In other words they
will be given a chance to have their say
and then the board will do the rest.
The conclusions OF the board will be Of
importnce, more than usual because OF
the erect the NaluAUOn HNeu VIII nave
upon the work OF the State Railway com
mission which likely will take the boards
figures into account when making or
changing freight rates. Mr. Eustis of the
Burlington admitted before a legislative
committee last winter that his road had
a commercial value and a taxing value
but as both the railway commission and
the board will be in session at the same
time, some people are wondering how both
values can be used just now,
Dedication of New Park.
Friday May 10 has been set apart Off
cially as park day and all Lincoln will
Join in the dedication Of the new health
and pleasure resort to be known as Ante
lope park which the Park board, the city
! council. county commissioners and private
citizens have been working on for some
months All the stores viii close at
o'clock in the afternoon all the bands in
the city will Join in the music festival, and
the people generally, providing the weather
is favorable, will eat their dinners that day
under the shade trees and on the grass.
| To help matters along everyone is asked
either to contribute something to the beauty
OF the place in the way Of trees flowers
and shrubbery or give half days work
! or some small change. To make the occa-
sion more memorable, Mayor Brown, Sena-
tor Burkett and w. ]. Bryan will speak
during the day and the public schools will
1 be dismissed in the afternoon and the
/ pupils taken to the grounds.
Governor Not Worrying.
Notwithstanding the dire predictions
/ made by applicants for state jobs regard
ing the condition of the health of the
governor should these applicants be kept
4 in suspense much longer, the executive
/ in keeping up bravely and the government
( is going along. Though the position he
/ occupies is trying man, the governor
has declined the many offers of outsiders
+ and we'll meaning friends to relieve him
! of the duty of naming heads of depart
! ments and employees for other positions
Some who predicted the bottom would
drop out of the oil business unless the
new oil inspector was named al once, have
found conditions still the same and the
worst yet to corne. dozen or so of men
call at the office of the governor daily
to tell him what to do and while they
seem to worry because he doesn't do it, the
/ governor sull seems patient and not the
least worried. It was reported yesterday
another man who had been loaang on his
prospects for some months went back to
( regular work and is satisfied.
: Investigating Court House.
! The grand jury has been grinding away
for a week and so far the members have
been close-mouthed about what they are
doing Election matters have been looked
into thoroughly and a day or two ago. the
jury began to take a look at some of the
records at the court house, but just what
! will come out of this last move no one
seems able to guess The lnquisiton may
take I'm a whole lot OF things not talked
of at the time the jury was called and
a great many people In Lincoln are very
deeply interested.