Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1908-12-12
BBIAN'S IDEA OF TAXATION
Would Change Completely the System
Now in Vogue.
CORPORATIONS FINANCE STATE
Gregg Has n scheme to Get the Long
Term ON the state Educational
Board-RuIIng on Per-
sOnaI Taxes.
(From Staff correspondent.)

| LINCOLN, Dec 1f.-(Special. 1.-THE tax
| ing system Of the state is to be completely
revolutionized II State Treasurer Bran's
! recommendation to the governor is carried
| out. Mr.. Brian suggests in his biennial
report that the public service corporations
/ should be taxed sufficiently to pay the ex-
penses of the state government and that
property in the counties should be taxed
| to support the county governments only
Mr.. Brian's membership on the State Board
of Assessment, which, he says, "is one OF
the most undesirable and responsible boards
of which 1 am a member" has caused him
| to devote considerable study to the question
of taxation. Here is the plan he proposes:
I feel. that the people Of the state do not
understand the conditions that arise in
making a fair and just assessment of rail-
roads and a fair and just equalization of
other property in this state. | also realize
that 1t is impossible for this board to know
accurately the values of different property
in different part of the state and that by
seeing the values upon paper and compar-
ing them with other counties is the only
way we have of knowing whether one
county is bearing its just proportion of state
taxes with the other counties. In order to
overcome this difficulty which arises be-
fore this board annually, and more par
ticularly every four years when the read
justment of real estate values Is made,
would suggest that each county assess
to meet the conditions in their part or the
state which do not arise in other parts, and
In order TO accomplish this purpose be-
ueve that'f the public service corporations
in the state were required to pay the eN-
penses as created by the state and each
county pay the expenses as created Dy that
county upon the asse ssed value of all prop
erty within the county except these cor
porations the difficulty in equalization be-
tween the various counties in the state
would be overcome.
uon,a Other Recommendations.
In his report Mr.. Brian says the state
debt will be wiped out by July a. 1909 and
, consequently there will be no need of the l.
mill levy next year, as provided for in the
sheldon act He recommends a specific
appropriation for the state university in
stead of the 1-mill levy; the purchase OF
a large freproof safe for the storing OF
bonds, which are now held TO the amount
of $s 100000 in a safe which is not fre-
proof; he recommends that the law be
changed so state surety companies may
furnish a part of the treasurer's bond, as
there is no one company in the country
which can give the entire bond and the
companies refuse now to be jointly re-
sponslble His plan is for several COM
panies to assume a portion OF the risk. In
the matter of bonds for state repositories
Mr.. Brian recommends that banks be per-
!
mated state officer to secure state de-
posits or that it be optional with the banks
whether TO give personal or surety bond.
He would establish a storage room at a
central point and permit the state institu-
| tutions to receive their supplies from this
warehouse which should be in charge of
! competent storekeeper This would permit
! the state board to buy in wholesale lots.
| He would change the present law governing
the cash funds of the state institutions by
permitting the heads Of institutions to
| check against the funds for emergencies
when a permit had bee nsecured from the
state board He would have storage
room for the benefit of the state printing
board in charge OF a secretary. stationery
/ books and supplies should be contracted for
| in the same manner as at present but all
supplies should come through this storage
room and be checked out by the secretary
of the board.
Regarding state finances Mr., Brian says:
In making this report l call your atten-
tion othe rapid reduction IN the state
debt, which ON December l, 1910, was sl'slo,
| eording to the registered warrants IN TINS
office, Is Sis, ,51O33 making net reduction
I during the two years OF N'lss,l lOo% In
made from December ], 1897 to July "a, 1905
l would say that the state debt VIII be
! iieve that the i min levy made for the re-
demption of the state Indebtedness will have
answered its purpose and IL Will not be
necessary to make this / mill levy next
/ would also call your attention to inter
est returned upon state deposits In A the
CONTINUED on Fourth Psge)