Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-02-12

Amending Terminal Tax bill.
Clarke of Douglas county will amend lis
railroad terminal taxation bill before urg-
ing it's passage in the house, and when
he makes the changes he has I'm mind. he
believes there can be no objection to the
measure except. OF course. by the railroads,
which will have TO pay more taxes ip every
city and town and village in the state than
they do now. and he believes there will be
no question that the bill VIII stand the test
of the courts. He proposes to cut out OF
the bill reference to all car companies and
leave it's provisions TO apply only to rail-
roads. This will avoid the reference TO car
companies, which, II is believed, may pre-
vent the bill from accomplishing that for
which 1t is intended. He has figured as a
matter OF fact that the revenue derived
from the city tax on car companies would
be 80 small It would hardly pay to Jeopar-
dize his bill with that section in it. In
order to get more revenue out of the Pull
man company. however II may be a bill
will be introduced to amend the present law
so the Pullman. .company's right to do busi-
ness in the state can be taxed. as It's phy-
sical property is now assessed and taxed.
Railroad Commission Bill Filed.
The railroad commissioner bill was intro
duced in the house and senate this after
ond time will be placed on general fils.
without the formality of being referred TO
the railroad committee. This is a measure
which defines the powers and the duties OF
the state railway commission. While the
committee has voted on all OF these rail-
road measures TO stand as a unit and push
them through without amendment. it IL
not improbable strenuous efforts will be
made to change this bill in several partic-
ulars A large part of the members want
to make the present railroad freight rate
the maximum rate. leaving the commission
power TO reduce these rates on any one
commodity without permitting the railroads
TO increase the rate on some other COM
modify. Another change which is thought
desirable to which public attention has not
been called is in that section giving au-
thority to the commission to employ attor-
neys in addition to requiring the assistance
OF the state legal department. Some mem
bers believe this power should not be given
to the commission, and one OF the COM
missioners who was interviewed also OBJ
jected to It, inasmuch as the attorney Ecn-
eral is elected to look after the legal bus
mess of the state and state officers and
boards, this commissioner thought the at
torney general could attend to the legal
business OF the commission and should
other legal talent be desired or necessary,
| the attorney general should have the power
TO employ the same.
| It is evident this legislature viii not pass
reapportionment bill The resolution
which was introduced Friday TO have
committee appointed to get up a reappor-
tionment bill, was tabled this afternoon by
vote OF 81 to % in the house.
! Both the house and senate got down to
/ business at O'Clock after having been ad-
journed since Friday. and the first an
nouncement in the house was the post
ponement of the discussion on the en-
I ployer's liability bill until February H.
/ This was done because OF the Illness OF
/ McMullen of Gage. who stands sponsor for
/ the bill recommended by the Order OF
= Railway Conductors Evidence had already
/ been secured to show that the Burlington
4 railroad intended 10 have on hand this af-
4 ternoon numerous employees to protest
against this measure in the name OF their
fellow employees. though really in the In
| tsrests OF their employers.
Move 10 Clean Up CapitO.
Dodge OF Douglas. filled with righteous
Indignation az what he termed the dis
! graceful" condition OF the state house, in
/ stituted proceedings this afternoon which
may result In the old building being
/ cleared OF bats and cobwebs and dirt and
! microbes OF twenty-five years standing
and In the walls being decorated with his
I tOrical paintings. windows put IN the dome
| and other improvements which will permit