Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-01-04

delinquent about S50,OO0 for 1904 and 1890.
place them delinquent over 100000. Their
action In this respect Is not fair 10 the
other Taxpayers of the state and Is wholly
unwarranted when past conditions In the
state are considered. The government gave
bountifully of its land, and the people OF
bonds to beS d bese
sides this, there has never been any re-
striction whatever placed upon them In
have always up to the present time charged
what they pleased. 1t requires patriotism
at times to support and maintain ssaP PIE
their conduct, apparently lack that noble
quality. 1t IL not strange that their con-
they would ask for the protection Of the
state II their property were In danger, yet
they deny the right of the state govern
Il assesses and taxes all other property.
Everything that can be done Will be done
to enforce the collection of these delinquent
taxes, and railroad property IN the future,
so far as I am concerned will continue 70
be assessed at whatever seems to be equit-
The citizens Of Nebraska cannot enjoin
the collection of tax levied agalnst t iia,
property because they are denied d enas
of the state, seek relief through the federal
courts. Until congress shall pass a law
dsPriv1E them Of this th Rriylegte ehey
therefore, recommended that JOINT reso-
tuition be passed memorializing congress TO
from enjonlng the collection Of tax le-
We'd upon property within the state
BurIinEtOn's Evasive Methods.
The Burlington railroad for the purposes
of business is a unit. But when II comes
up for taxation II is sixteen dinerent COM
panies. At present this company does h3t
| give the earnings for the dlnerent prah zen
the whole system within the state. Inc
matter of assessing such property with
the information furnished the state board
Of antialfgatfOn and assessment Is a QlUlCulI
problem. There is no disposition on the
part Of any one to assess them unIea-
them equitably- and for what they are
worth. Railroads which operate nranch
| lines in Nebraska should be compelled 70
FURNISH for each and every branch line an
itemized statement in detail Of all the
business transactions of the several lines,
bonds Of each line and the gross and net
earnings of each. 1t Is sincerely hoped
| that this legislature will amend the
The question of equitable taxation is a
| difficult one. uniform assessment OF
property according to its value. regardiess
/ in any well governed society. All property
should bear It's just proportion of the bur
den OF taxation. Personality should not be
| wealthy nor one to be poor. Let us re-
member that It is the property and not the
| person that should be taxed. All assess
! fnents to the revenue law that will elimi-
| nate double taxation and secure for the
people of Nebraska more uniform and just
| assessment of property will be welcomed
| BY every one that has the welfare OF the
| state sincerely at heart.
In the conduct and management of the
| state institutions the governor is largely
held responsible. No Institution can be
properly conducted where there is friction
ents and head Of the different. Institutions
j that are appointed should be held respon-
sible for their conduct and for the man
governor. The laws of this state should
be amended so that in case of mismanage-
ment and misconduct the governor may
messed In the past at several different times
the pitiable condition In which governors
to remove a delinquent or Incompetent APP
pointee. trust this legislature will see TO
L that the laws are amended so plainly
that such occurrences may not necessarily
happen again.
Abolish the Lobby.
The great corporations Of Nebraska, espe-
cially the railroads and the telephone cont
Snles have IN the ohnpp past st rn SnG G1u
, sessions of the legislature. The presencf
of any kind of professional lobbyists ii
neither needed nor desired The corpora
ton lobbyists are usually men of high In
tegrity and sobriety. men of large expe-
rience In the line Of work, congenial, clever
, men. who, by their persistent and able
efforts, are able to accomplish much fol
the interests they represent. The fact tina
aSrne nS an 1 se Which Oh @
regulated freight rates In any. particular
bears witness to the effective work and
influence OF a strongly organized railroad
. lobby II is expected that this Legislature
will pass such measures as will foreve
put an end to ring rule In Nebraska. /
Is TO be hoped therefore, that there vii
be passed not only an anti-pass law an.
primary election law, but that there WI
also be passed law that will prohibi
professional lobbying.
Control of Telephones.
The t,aa Of the talanhuna a nnaans n
communication Is becoming general in Nc
braska. There are complaints In man!
rates and poor service. II is therefore rec
commended that the railroad commission
in addition to control OF railroads, be ais
companies and regulate the rates thereof.
suggestions for Railroad Laws.
In regard TO the railroad legislation tina
you are about TO enact permit be TO one
these suggestions:
passed prohibiting any railroad conpan
: from charging in the future any NOR
a between points within this state than wer
: the charges on the first day of January
= 1907; compelling them also to furnish to tn
r railroad commissioners all tariffs and elias
a sihcations In force on that date
second-Inasmueh as the constitutions
. amendment providing for the railroad com
o mission does not definitely define the power
;. and duties OF that commission, law shoul
be passed Immediately that will clearly
l. simply and unmistakably define its power
ana 0ullee. beAlQeS Oennlflk the Qutlea q
n the commission, there should be conferre
upon Il the power 10 prohibit rebates
special rates and determinations of ever
) sort to any particular person, company
Arm, corporation o. locality; and pOwe
to change. or alter, any or all schedule,
: classihcRtions or tariffs that are In fore
a on any railroad in this state at any tim'
o so that the rates, fares and charges sha
: be reasonable. just and equitable. Let TIL
. law be written so plainly that II cannC
q be misunderstood, and with such delibera
/ ton that II cannot be set aside by tn
courts.
Third--It is recommended that you d,
, prive the railroads of the right 10 enjoi
!. the enforcement OF a rate made by IN
commission pending an appeal to the stat
" courts.
L. Fourth-It Is further recommended tina
you pass a Joint resolution memorializin
congress TO pass a law that will depriy
n common carriers from enJoning the ~
Il forcement OF rates made by a state COM
- mission between points within a stat
{" pending an appeal to the federal courts.
IN sincerely believe that II WIN be Il
10 the best interests Of the state that you gi'
u your immediate attention 20 the enRc
y ment OF laws that will do away with pr
D. fessional lobbying, that win abolish n
lf free pass nuisance, and that VIII dehI
:, | the powers and duties OF the Tailros
commission, 80 that the commission c.
~ get 10 work at once. There Is great ne,
le In this state for a reduction OF freig
A and passenger rates. The people need n
- relief The commission will naturally ava
A. the action OF the legislature. For the
" reasons Il Is essential that this work