Omaha daily bee., 1907-02-06
Terms Of the Bill Itself Explicitly
DisprOvs the CHARGES
THOMPSON SMOKED OUT ON THE PRIMARY
Advises Democrats to Scan Carefully ANY
Bill Presented.
THOMAS HAS A NEW TERMINAL Bill
HOlbrOOk of Dodge Has q Measup~
Intended to settle the Question
of DemurraEe-Drive at
Railway Custom.
(From a starr Correspondent.l

From a Stan Correspondent.)
LINCOLN, Feb. 5.-(Special. THE latast
move of the railroad lobby, is to work ON
the members Of the Nebraska legislature
through the medium OF the Chicago Chron-N
icle' which this morning contained inter- \
views with members OF the Illinois Iegis-
lature In opposition to the taxation of rail-
road terminals. The paper was bought In
large numbers and literally stamped with
the words The Omaha Scheme" and one
placed on the desk Of each member While
the article marked In general has no bear
| ing on anything now pending before the
Nebraska legislature there was in Il, In
the nature OF an interview. this state
ment:
Another thing that is likely to rnilitats
! against the country is assessment by Chi.
| cago for the use of Chicago OF railroad
terminals in that city. At present the irn-
mense railroad values in Chicago are dis
| tributed over each mile OF track in the
state for the purpose Of taxation. What
Of the state out Of the taxable BENEFITS OF
| this property II Chicago is 10 exclude the
rest of the state from participating in the
cripple the country schools which are now
| struggling TO keep out of bankruptcy.
This statement the railroad lobby at Lin
coin wanted the members TO see and It is
the same argument which the paid lobby
lists OF the railroads have been making for
I
ing before the legislature, introduced by
Clarke OF Douglas county. provides specif-
4 ically that this added tax on railroad prop
critics shall not take one cent from the school
districts in the state nor change in any
| particular the present method OF assessing
railroad property insofar as the state.
county and school districts are concerned.
the marked copies OF the Chicago paper do
not apply to the Clarke terminal taxation
bill.
The section which should ease the mind
of any member regarding the diminution OF
the school funds is follows;
Section 1S-Ths act shall not apply TO,
nor in any manner AFFECT the assessment
equalization. levy or collection OF any state
| county, township. school district or road.
! district tax, nor shall IL AFFECT any assess-s.
sTt or levy stes g, mSee SRon Sqy
! shall this act be construed ito AFFECT any
specific tax which may now or which shall
peoeerty or 1s any a% COMPANY In
| association within this statA
Jones' Pertinent Answer.
Incidentally that the passage of the
Clarke bill will add TO the taxes TO be paid
by the railroads and not take away from
the school districts. was shown nicely in
little debate between a railroad lobbyist
! and Jones of Polk county two years ago.
The railroad man was telling how the en-
! actment OF such a law would close up
many schools of the state
DO you mean to say this bill would take
| from the school funds OF the state and
put the money into omaha?" asked Jones.
YES SIR" answered the railroad man.
"Do you mean to say # will not In
crease your taxes; that 1t is merely chang
ing the method Of distribution OF your
taxes7" asked Jones.
''Yes, sir: It will not increase our taxes
/ AoIIa Lad fba mi AaC
'Then what do you carer What are you
fighting the bill for II It doesn't cost you
anything?"
The answer was drowned in the laughter
of the crowd.
Hearing ON DoubIe Shift Hill.
The senate and house met in joint ses-
sion this morning and listened to remarks
| by representatives of the Omaha CONNER
cial club and members of the Omaha nrs
department for and against the Leeder
double-shift fire department bill The Com
mercial club was here 200 strong. while
only half dozen of the boys in blue were
on hand to look after their side OF the
case. W. g. Wright, 1. w. Carpenter and
Frank Gaines talked for the Commercial
club and each laid aside sentiment and
talked purely from business mans stand
point; that Il would cost too much money,
would be a burden on the small taxpayers,
and would not work for proficiency In the
department
Captain Jaacks and Captain Morse denied
the cost would be burden. and submitted
statistics to show that to inaugurate =
two-platoon system would require forty
additional men. For the remainder Of the
year this cost would be $4,000. and after
all the were receiving the maximum
salary, $50. which is paid after a three
year service, the added cost would b
$4,000. Gaines said II the force was in
creased one-third It meant the department
cost would be about one-third more. In
answer TO this Captain Jaacks informed the
legislature that salaries paid the men was
by no means the only cost for maintain
ing the department and, therefore, the
argument by Mr.. Gaines was no good
Senator Ashton presided at the joint ses-
sion.
Thompson on Primary.
w. II. Thompson OF Grand Island, fusion
nominee for United States senator. who has
heretofore refused to make a statement
regarding his stand on the direct primary.
though assailod and misquoted by num-
erous publications. tonight, before leaving
for his home. issued a statement. Mr..
Thompson Is for a primary, he said, but he
wants the members Of the legislature 70
study carefully the details Of the law they
enact His statement is as follows;
/ am IN favor OF the enactment OF a pri-
mary law. However. 1 have not inveBti-
gate the laws in operation In other states.
With such scrutiny ae / was able 70 give
today l was not In favor Of endorsing any
particular enactment ON the question. and
have advised great care and caution on the
part OF members OF the legislature In COM
mitting themselves TO any particular bill.
IL means radical departure from the long
! established usages In the state l am per-
! sonally opposed TO any law which would
require a cand ate 10 pay bonus for the
privilege Of be--ig a candidate for a nomi-
nation. Such law would be unquestiOn-
ably unfair 10 the minority party.
II n law be enacted which should pro-
vide for the primaries OF both Darties to
be held at the same time and place. then
! ] am unalterably opposed 70 a secret ballot,
for the reason that II would enable design
ing persons 20 force Incompetent and weak
candidates on the opposition party. All %
these things should be very carefully and
| cOnscientiously gone over before any party
! OF persons commit themselves TO ths -