Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-04-14

heads Of various state institutions 20 de-
post their cash funds with the state treas
urer. such money to be paid out on war
rants Issued upon proper vouchers, has
met with the hearty approval Of those who
believe IL will result IN more careful
handling Of state money. Another reform
instituted by the board which the members
expect TO result to the best interest Of the
state is the abolition Of the special permit
to the head Of the Institution 20 buy emer-
gency supplies These permits hereafter
will be given by the board proper after
an investigation.
How to Find owner of Mortgage.
Attorney General Thompson has given tho
following opinion regarding a way TO find
the owner Of mortgages in answer to an
inquiry:
LINCOLN. April 12.-L. H. McKillip,
Seward. Neb.-Dear Sir: I have your letter
OF the 9Th inst, In which you ask Tor an
opinion on the following. proposition:
Where the records OF "a county show
mortgages payable to various banks and
the bank officials. when interrogated by the
assessor concerning the same, declare that
the mortgages have been sold, but decline
to disclose the names Of the owners, what
| is the assessors duty and how can the
names Of the real owners or the mortgages
be asCertaincd2
The law contemplates that every owner
OF mortgage obligation Shall pay a TAX
| thereon. The assessor Is not compelled to
take the unsworn statement Of any person
that he does not own specific property. II
upon investigation he rs unable 10 escer-
tain the names Of the true owners Of such
mortgages he should make list Of the
same, stating the names Of those who APP
pear to be the owners thereof from the
county records, and present the list ana
report TO the county board Of equalization
The board having the list and report be
fore It, has sufficient Information to enable
| n TO exercise the authority vested In Il by
sections III 122 and 10 Of the revenue law,
and can by process compel the attendance
Of such persons and receive their sworn
testimony relative to the ownership OF the
| this method il win not be difficult TO ascer-
| tain the names OF the real owners. After
obtaining this information and giving to
the owners the notice required by statute,
| the board can add the property to the
assessment roll The board may also act
| assessor but the above Is one way in
| which the assessor may substantially aid
/ in getting taxable property entered for tax
Bonds TO Build Bridges.
Eugene Delatour, county clerk of Deuel.
county, has written Treasurer Brian for
! information regarding proposed bond
! issue TO be made by his county for the
construction of two bridges across the
Platte river. The county clerk said the
commissioners were considering submitting
a proposition to bond the county for $4,000
to pay for the bridges.
Legislators Dropping In.
Representative Marshall Harrison Of Otoe
county, one OF the wheel horses of the re-
cent legislature, was here last night en-
! route home after trip out in the state
on business Inasmuch as Mr.. Harrison
voted aye on all platform measures and
! good many more equally as good he shows
| no bad effects of his contact with his con-
| stituents.
Judge Hamer and Representative Tom
| Hamer were here today to file an appeal
in the case Of L. s. Kennison, convicted
! Of the murder OF Sam Cox. Kennison was
sentenced to twenty years in the peniten-
tiary and was refused new trial by the
! lower court.
Report on Insurance.
The report of Insurance Deputy Pierce
| just received from the printers shows the
total amount OF risks written during the
! year 1906 by fire companies doing business
in the state to have been 500. 1858, 729. COM
pared with $3.50. 2S3, 40 for 1906 The pre-
miums received amounted to S266s, sO3,
against 81, 4SsSO2 for 1905; losses paid, ST.
&c. SOB, against $1,S77,36s for 1905.
Assessment OF Land Contracts.
! Reports have been received at the office
Of Secretary Bennett of the State Board
! or Assessment tnht certain parties down IN
Saline county have sold farms for which
a part payment has been made and a con-
tract covers the indebtedness. This con-
tract the owner refused to turn in to the
| assessor to be listed as property. The sec
rotary holds the contract is an item Of
credit and should be assessed the same
] any other credit, and has so notified the
county assessor of Saline county.
Lumber Case Not Dropped.
Attorney General Thompson said tonight
to prove the Nebraska Lumber dealers as
ISOLATION an unlawful combine. notwith-
standing the findings Of Referee A. M. Post
in favor of the organization.
I'VE viii not drop this matter by any
means" Mr.. Thompson declared. This is
the first opportunity we have had TO lay
the matter before the court itself. and 1
shall do so by filing exceptions TO the refer
ees' findings. The state is hopeful of being
able 10 convince the court that the Ne
braska Lumber Dealers association is a
trust and its workings are conspiracy in
restraint Of trade"
Freight Trains Collide.
Eastbound freight No. 30 on the Rock
Island ran into an extra freight at Twen-
ty-seventh and Holdrege streets at O'Clock
and both engines we're badly smashed The
crews OF both engines jumped and no one
was hurt No. 80 had been ordered to wait /
in Lincoln for the extra, but the crew dis
ri he gnnlr TgIa nd will