Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-04-22
Big Boost for Rural Schools in the Western
Portion Of the State.
RAILROAD MANAGERS UP AGAINST IT
Called on to Prove Two Different Valus-
tiOns on Property.
ONE BASIS FOR RATES, ONE FOR TAXATION
Both Boards viii He in Session at the
same Time and There VIII He No
Chance for a Revision of
Appraisements.
CFrom a stan Correspondent

(From a stan Correspondent
| LINCOLN. Neb., April H.-(Special.) THE
recent legislature enacted more legislation
relating to the public schools OF the state
than all the past legislatures OF the state
combined. In all seventeen measures we're
passed and approved affecting the common
schools anG Of these seven are OF the most
vital Importance. superintendent McBrien
has just issued circular dealing with the
new school laws, and he sets out the seven
/ important acts in the following paragraph:
! a. A law providing for a library in every
public school district; (2) A free high school
/ law; (S) A law enlarging the scope and in
( ereasing the number Of junior normal
! training in high schools; (5J 4 law provid-
| ing state aid 10 weak districts by sppro-
priating $4,000 therefor; (6) A law making
/ the minimum entrance requirements to
state normal schools a two-year high school
education or its equivalent; CO law rails
/ Ing the standard OF certifcation OF teach
ers by private and UNCONVENTIONAL schools
! by providing for more rigid inspection
| by the state board of examiners for life
| certificates.
The law which appeals most to the west
ern portions of the state, where the poor
districts are located and where in the past
It has been impossible to hold a seven
months school, even though the maximum
levy is made, is the measure appropriatlng
$4,000 for aid This will permit every
school district in the state to hold a seven
months school. The McBrien circular con-
tains the following statistics on this sub
ject:
During the last year there were SOe school
districts maintaining three months Of school
| or less; $40 districts maintaining from three
| to six months Of school. There will be
| about 1000 districts in the northern and
western counties entitled to state aid under
Ia o. n
pupils in these 1000 districts is about fifteen,
which would mean that 1900 boys and girls
school privileges under this law. This
makes II possible for all boys and girls In
education, which means at least two years
more than they are now receiving.
Hard Time for Railroad Men.
The State Board OF Assessment will meet
the first Monday in May to begin the valu-
alton of railroad property for taxation pur-
poses, The work OF the board will be par
ticularly interesting because, while the as
sessing board is in session the state Rail-
way commission will be busy fixing up a
schedule Of freight rates to put into effect
While the freight men are telling the COM
mission how much money is invested in
the roads and how valuable the property is,
in order to keep freight rates up the tax
agents Of the railroads will be across the
building telling the state board the railroad
property is practically worthless In order to
keep the assessment down. The commission
has set May for the time It is to take up
freight rate making. and at that time the
assessing board will be in the midst Of ito
work The Burlington and Union Pacific
have not yet reported to the state board,
but II is understood these reports will be IN
during the coming week. Both have their
agents out looking up land sales to try to
10 he - fboF
dervalued In order to keep their own prop
erty from being increased to any great ex-
tent.
Eyes on the Plum 'Aree.
Between now and May l IL is probable
Governor Sheldon will find time to jar loose
a few plums and II he does there likely will
be some new faces around the statehouse.
Just who will get appointments out of tho
extra large number who are applying no
one knows unless It be Governor Sheldon,
and he won't tell. The governor delayed
making appointments until he had an op-
portunfty to look over the field and become
familiar with the work that has been done
and which must be done 10 bring the vari-
GUS state departments and the state insti-
tutions up to the highest standard possible.
He is now more familiar with the state in
stituttOns and the departments probably
than any other executive ever has been.
That some changes will occur in some Of
the state institutions there seems to be no
doubt, and It is also very probable that the
governor has in mind certain persons for
places in the statehouse. Numerous persons
still haunt the capitol in the hope that light
ming will strike but there ls no indication
that these visits will do any good and there
Is every reason TO believe much time Is
being wasted by some OF these parties 30
far only a few minor appointments have
been made, but the legislative work is
now out OF the way and the governor is
only about a month behind IN his own pri-
vate correspondence and private affairs, it
is likely there is going to be something do
ing in the appointing line very shortly.
Fight over saloons.
II the plans OF the Anti-saloon league
are carried out the people Of Lincoln
shortly viii be in the throes Of a saloon
or no-saloon fight The oficers OF the
league proposed to have the question voted
on at the coming election and already the
republican candidates for the excise board
have agreed 70 refuse to issue license
should the majority OF the voters declare
against the saloon. II the proposition is
] submitted to the voters the hght in the
present eappaign promises TO be the hot
test this old town has seen IN many moons
The democratic city committee has noml-
mated Judge Tibbetts for city attorney.
Judge Tibbetts refused to accept the nomi-
nation at the hands Of the convention. but
It is understood he is willing now TO be
sacrificed.
state Onces Close Today.
Inasmuch as tomorrow is Arbor day and
therefore a holiday in Nebraska. the en-
ployes OF state will do no work and the
state house will be deserted except by a
, few heads OF departments who will put up
, a blum at working. As tho state house
yard is full of trees no formal planting
will be done there and the day will be
observed only by the usual lack Of work
around the building
Schuyler business Men Organise.
SCHUYLER, Neb., April H.-(special)-
The FIRST meeting Of the Schuyler CONNER
4 eial club was held In the city council
LsbambaE fOE the RnrROEs VI OEEAn1tnG Z