Omaha daily bee., 1907-03-06

that 10 tax the railrcad properly locally 10
town located IN township where rail-
road property is already taxed for township
purposes is double taxsticn and would not
stand the test OF the courts. The opinion
dug up by Mr.. Clarke Is from the supreme
court OF Indiana and IL directly in line
with the terminal taxation bill. The cause
is entitled The Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chi
cago q ST. Louis Railway company against
the town of Waynetown e al. II was
suit brought to restrain by Injunction. the
sale OF property Tor the payment OF taxes.
In the syllabus Of the opinion the court
said: Lt
The fact that railroad company paid
taxes to the township upon its property
located within the corporate limits OF
TO prevent the town from collecting the
taxes due II.
In the body Of the opinion this state
ment is made:
II the amount Of the assessment and COM
putation of taxes thereon were correct.
which must be taken as admitted IL the
absence of a denial we cannot perceive
how the appellant is injured by, the irregu-
larity as to say that payment Of taxes to
Wayne township on all Of its railroad in
that township. including that part in the
corporate limits Of Waynetown. is equally
A well-defned rumor Is in circulation
that Governor George L. Sheldon is re-
sponsible for the action OF the railroads
In accepting the ,2-cent fare law without
appeal to the courts, It being taken for
granted all OF the roads will follow the
example set by the Burlington. II is told
on reliable authority that Governor Shell
don. who during the session has had little
TO say. but who has been saving some
who'd, welded the big stick on the giant
corporations and forced them to come 70
time. and thus saved the state the ex.
pense and annoyance or going through the
courts the first thing with the 2-cent bill.
The big railroad off1cfhls appeared before
the governor and asked for a hearing on
the question. II is told on gooA authority
that the executive was perfectly willing
TO allow the roads 10 make any showing
they might desire but Il is said he also
told them their showing would do no good.
as he himself had studied the matter
pretty thoroughly. The ofiicials wanted the
governor to veto the bill. and he EN-
phatically refused TO grant this request.
Then. 1t is said. and there is every reason
to believe the story is true, the railroad
men offered TO put in a 2h-cent rate II
the governor would refuse to sign the
measure. but would veto II. Again the
executive showed his backbone and re-
fused. and then he began TO do the talk
ing He demanded that the railroads ac-
cept the 2-cent rate without q contest IL
is the general impression that by giving
the railroad men five days In which to
prepare for the change Governor Sheldon
forced them to consent to take the 2-cent
rate without court trial. Whether II Is
his due or not, Governor Sheldon is being
congratulated for the outcome of the fight.
The State Board Of Public Lands and
Buildings has been organized with Cover
/ 49,. IL.
sioner Eaton secretary and the manner OF
doing business has been completely revo-
lutionized. Heretofore It has been custo-
mary for a state superintendent needing
supplies TO buy the same and later get
permit from some member of the board.
| The heads of these institutions have been
| informed that, hereafter they will get the
permits first and the permits will be is-
sued only by the, beard and not by a. par
tioulsr member, which practice has been In
vogue for so long. Heretofore IL has been
the custom for the land commission, as
secretary Of the board, to open all bids and
tabulate them previous to the quarterly
| buying. This has been! changed and the
bids viii be opehed In the presence Of the
board. The secretary OF the board holds
his position by, the grace Of the members
and not by statute, hefl JeoHstitutlon and
therefore he is subject TO the orders Of the
|
board IT his. bpaya lis feomResed OF Governor
Sheldon, Secretary of State Jupkin, Land
Commissioner EatosI. Treasurer Brian and
! Attorney General Thompson. At the first
/ meeting the new members dug deep into
the practices Of the old board and at once
! decided to change the order Of. things. All
Of the heads of the state institutions were
brought in and given to understand busi-
ness methods would prevail in the future.
The following letter endorsing Senator
] McKesson's bill to require elevator COM
panies TO report their prices daily to the
labor commissioner has been received by
him: . 'ir
ST. Paul, Mimi, March 3 19O7-Dear SEN
! ator Mckesson: The Enclosed clipping from
! the Minneapolis Journal attracted my at.
| tention as H. deals with a subject that
| know is OF the greatest Importance to the
! grain producers OF the country Here in
1 Minnesota we have the matter OF grading
well regulated. but i'm the matter of prices
things are not what they ought TO be.
1 Wherever the line companies prevail there
has been a tendency to underpay, and I
have thought Of just such a law as you
propose: Publicity will do more to check
the evil than anything else. II l am not
copy Of your bill; our legislature Is now
In session and they may take up this mat
ter. l observe that you will require re-
ports TO the labor commissioner. Here in
TO the Railroad and Warehouse commits
sion who are the supervisors Of the grain
interests Of the state. We have here a
country elevator department of which I
opportunities for noticing local price man
EQUATIONS have been abundant
Thanking you in advance for any fayors
SHOWN l am yours truly,