Omaha daily bee., 1910-03-27
Nebraska
Ps8LIC CANNOT SELL ROADS
People Already Own Land Along
Them Now Being Used.
WOULD REVERT IF NOT USED
Governor shaIIenberEer Has Long
Had Roads Hobby Himself
Gossip from the state
Capital.
CFrom a STAFF corrarpondentl }


Hithccocks plan for making good roads
would be all right" said a prominent
democratic lawyer here Ni7 morning, lex
cept that It is no good. Mr.. Hitchcock
favors selling to adjoining property own
ers a rod Of land on each side of the road,
leaving the road four rods wide, and then
devote the money thus raised to making
roads The objection 10 that scheme is
simply this. The public cannot sell roads
or any part Of roads. The minute the
property ceases to be used a public
highway It reverts 10 the adjoining own
ers. so the adjoining property owners
already owning the land naturally would
not buy II again"
Not only did this democratic lawyer
take a shot at the Hitchcock good roads
plan, but friends OF Governor Shallen-
berger have entered serious objection TO
the senatorial candidate attempting to
steal his campaign slogan.
Governor Shallenberger has pet theory
Of making good roads and he gave his
ideas. publicity before Mr.. Hitchcock got
into the senatorial race. When asked this
mlEning II he intended TO permit the con-
gfNsssman- n-editor-senatorial ancdidate to
crowd him off his good roads platform
Governor Shallenberger said:
"The more candidates that talk good
roads the better II is, even II the plans
VARY with the nuInDbT Oh CdnuluhAtb tain
ing. In fact, I am glad Mr.. Hitchcock
u advocating good roads" ...
Governors Auto Tax Plan.
Governor sha4lenbergers plan for good
roads provided for tax on automobiles
based on the horsepower OF the machine.
This plan he will recommend in his mes
sage to the next legislature, though up to
the present he has not worked out all Of
the details of the scheme. He will sub
NIT to the legislature his knowledge OF the
plan as worked out in the east and leave
the details to that body. His suggestion
Is for every automobile to pay tax
amounting to 81 a horsepower the first
year, to be reduced gradually for thre
years the usual life OF an automobile
This is Ito be in lieu Of all other taxes on
this class of property and is to be de-
pdstted in the state treasury. Then the
money will be prorated to the various
counties, the state giving Of the tax an
amount equal to that raised by county
for good road purposes.
Since he first gave utterance to that plan
the governor has received letter from an
automobile club in Omaha endorsing the
plan, but suggesting that wagons and other
vehicles should be taxed the same way.
7- Roads of Clay and Sand.
@As a matter Of fact" said the governor,
in discussing his proposition this morning,
such a tax would be very little different
from the taxes now paid on automobiles.
A ten -hourse-power machine would pay $40
the first year under such an arrangement
Tiss, ustal tax would be about per cent
oH a, valuation of one-fifth. II the machine
isSvalued at 1900, one-fifth fthat would
be 500. The. tax on that would be "a. 50 l
bStleve that when the automobile owners
realize that they are paying practically the
Same amount OF taxes they will endorse the
idea. In the east the impression seems 70
be that the larger machines should pay
more than the smaller ones, because the
/, former tear up the roads and do more dam
aea than do the smaller machines. AS a
matter of faot, It simply amounts to paying
the tax into the road fund instead OF the
general fund Besides, It will cause the as
sessmen4 Of all automobiles"
The governor Is very much impressed
with the good road built out OF Fairburyr
which was constructed OF clay and sand
The Rovernor believes that q road Of clay
and eand covered with oil will make az
ROOD a road as anything that has been tried
An the state, and the cost is less than for
any other road. ,.
Farley for state Treasurer.
The report has reached Lincoln that w
L Farley il being talked OF out In Hamilton
county as a probable candidate for the
republican nomination for state treasurer
Mr.. Farley was a member OF the Legislature
a 1907 and was the chairman of the com
n,ttee which drafted the statewide pri
mary law When the house passed ar
amendment to that bill providing that the
primary should be open so the member
OF oF4e party could vote for candidates OF
the otAposition ticket Mr.. Farley strenuouslI
fought the amendment, which was latel
killed in the senate
Railroad Reports Slow.
y REPORTS OF the railroads OF the value
OF their property to be made to the Stat
Board OF Assessment are coming in yer!
slowly. County assessors have reported
the valuation OF railroad property unde
the provisions Of the terminal tax law ii
only few instances.
VETS to Hold Meetings.
Ex-senator Charles Towne of New Yorl
will speak in Lincoln in opposition L
prohibition on April 6, ex-Mayor Rose o
Milwaukee will speak on April and
Clarence Darrow, attorney OF Chicago, vii
speak next Sunday, April 3.
In the absence Of William j. Bryan from
the state Governor shallenberger will b'
invited to preside at the Towne meeting
Because Senator Towne is a natlona
character" said L. L. Lindsey, who has
charge of the forces fighting prohibition
I'VE would like 20 have Mr. Bryan preside
at the meeting, but in his absence We
shall invite the governor OF the state"
Mayor Don L. Love viii be invited 4
,reside over the meeting at which Mr. ROa,