Omaha daily bee., 1909-01-08
Assessment ~ Railroads.

a good many of which are for the welfare
OF the whole state.
Assessment "f Railroad.
SO far as the lands and the raiIro,d.
are concerned, l am firmly of the opinion
that the railroads, with the execution ~
the Union Pacific Railroad company. ara
assessed as high in proportion to their
actual value as are the farm lands OF this
state L believe the assessment OF the
Union Pacific Railroad company should be
still further increased, in JustIce To tbs
other taxpayers of this state. and have an
maintained while acting as a member OF
the assessment board.
80 FAR as the election OF assessors by
precinct Is concerned. that is a different
matter, and to that I have no objection II
you deem 1t wise to make the change.
III any amendments to the revenue law
are made, the object should be to secure.
u possible, a more just and equitable sys-
tenn of taxation.
A glance at the grand assessment rolls Of
this state will convince anyone that Il is
more necessary to devise ways and means
whereby the owners of personal property
may pay more nearly their proportion ~
the taxes than to make amendments which
VIII restrict and tie the hands of the Board
of Equalization.
In lO6 the personal property of this
state, other than railroad and private car
service was $5,O6S,OOo; in 1907. So, 1s6, 900.
any in 1908, $50, 593, 1000.
Anyone WHO is familiar with the condi-
lions In this state knows that the actual
value OF personal property in 1908 was
greater than II was in 1907, yet the grand
assessment rolls shows a decrease OF $685.
600.
The holders OF the invisible personsI
properly evidently have discovered various
ways of concealing their property. When
the new revenue act was passed in 1903.
and first put into force, there was a great
Increase in the assessment of personal
property. It's we'll worth your while and
attention to find out what manner and
methods the personal property owners are
employing to conceal their property from
assessment. and TO amend the law, N need
be, so that such action can be prevented.
Record of LeEislatIOn of
am pleased to inform you the Railway
commission estimates that shippers and
passengers OF this state have been saved
100000 as a result OF legislation passed
by the last legislature, reducing passenger
fares to 2 cents a mile; express rates, Is
per cent; and freight rates, on grain. live
stock, fruit, lumber and coal, and other
commodities in carload lots. Is per cent,
Experience has demonstrated that the
terminal taxation law which was passed by
the last ltklSidluIe mas PROVIDED a more
equitable system OF taxation, and on the
whole has been beneficial to the taxpayers
residing in the cities and villages.
The last Legislature also passed an act
to control lobbying and to prevent corrupt
practices affecting legislation; abolished
the free pass evil by enacting an anti
pass law; enacted a statewide primary
law, requiring political parties to nominate
their candidates by direct vote OF the peo-
Pile, and gave the Railway commission
power to put an end to rebates and dis
ordinations in transportation. to make
and TO fix rates, and to control them
properly in all particulars. Telephone. tele.
graph, express and street railway COM
panies were also placed under the control
OF the Railway commission.
That legislature passed a pure food law,
and an employees liability act. 1t enacted
laws providing for a juvenile court to
properly care for neglected children; pro-
vided for free high school privileges foI
normal training In high schools and as
sistance for weak scnool districts; pro-
hibited pooling by bridge contractors, ana
provided a way TO remove officers for
wiiful neglect OF outy ana failure 10 en-
Primary Law.
The primary law should not be repealed,
but in som particulars should be amended.
Provisions should be made for a rotated
oallOt. Inc snoulu
be selected by the voters at the primaries
instead OF being appointed by the county
candidates. as now provided.
There should be a different provision
than that now contained in the law regard
Ing platform conventions. Now, each
county is entitled to one delegate. This Is
not representative. Another objection Is
that the platform convention IL not held
until after the primaries. 4 party plat
form should be promulgated before the
candidates are nominated. Provision should
be made 30 that the platform convention
shall be held before the primaries or the
matter Of plAtform-making left to the
candidates nominated by the respective
parties.
Sterilization or DelInqusats
Those dependent upon the state have
been Increasing year By year. and more
particularly the insane and o~onviots. This
"a a matter for exceedingly serious eonsid-
Grafton.