Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-05-28
LOWER VALUESF FOR TAXATION
One Result Of New Law Made Clear in
Lancaster County.
PRECINCT ASSESSORS CUT TOTALS
Big Decreases Noted in Returns So
Far Made to the County Assessor
by the Men Elected Last
Fell.
CFrom a staff Correspondent

county is finding out that elective precinct
assessors are not conducive to uniform as
sessments or to an increase in the assessed
value Of property. While less than half
OF the assessors have turned in their re-
ports, these indicate that the assessment
this year on personal property will be
greatly reduced compared with valuations
last year. According to County Assessor
Miller there was a decrease of $4,000 in
one precinct, and of this 10000 was in
money. In order to prevent an increase
in the total assessment of parties in his
precinct one elected assessor is said to
have cut down the number of head OF
stock when ordered to increase the valua-
ton. The county assessor does not know
just how far this practice has gone, but
he will call the attention of the County
Board of Equalization to it and perhaps
find some way to get an honest assess
ment of property, though at this time he
admits he is having a hard time.
Cement Walks Instead of Canals.
The State Board of Public Lands and
Buildings is figuring on putting in cement
walks around the state house in place of
the flagstone that is now there. The pres
ent walks for years have been nothing less
than canals and every shower the water
stands on the walks until it has dried
everywhere else so the board will try to
improve things some. Once in discussing
the state house walk, which are several
inches below the ground, Colonel Jim
Ager, then very prominent around the cap
itol, said: Il can think of but one bigger
fool than the man who designed these
walks. That is the man who would sink
them deeper into the ground"
Hearing on Spur Track.
! The State Railway commission took evil
dence today in the case where in the Rock
| Island railroad seeks to remove its spur
track from Lincoln to University place.
The commission recently ordered this road
to construct depot at University place on
the main line The witnesses summoned
| by Judge Holmes, attorney for the road,
all testified that the spur track Is of more
| importance than the depot located on the
man line. This because the site picked
out for the depot is about one mile from
| the bushes part of the city while the spur
track runs right into the heart of the bust
ness portion of the town. Judge Holmes
indicated through his witnesses that the
depot should be located on the spur track.
Custer Strong on Candidates.
| 1t is very evident there is considerable
of difference between the democrats of
Custer county and there is bare posi-
bility that two entire state tickets will be
put up for nomination by the two factions.
Robert w. Fleming, Jr., of Berwyn, filed
his papers this morning to be placed on the
ballot as a democratic candidate for land
commissioner, and w. ]. Taylor candidate
J for congress on the same ticket, heads his
petition. Some time ago Judge eDan filed
as a candidate for congress and w. H.
| n IN, LATE
didate for land commissioner. Both Dean
and Eastman are residents of Broken Bow,
while Taylor lives at Merna, which shows
that the Taylor Fleming combination have
| two towns and the Dean Eastman combina-
ton has only one.
FOIImer Gets s1,1OO Verdict.
George d. Follmer, former state land
commissioner, was given a verdict for
$1,1OO in district court today in his suit
aginst the state for $780, The suit was
the outgrowth of the Boyd county land
cases. Mr.. Folmer, as land commissioner,
objected to the plan proposed by the then
attorney general, Frank N. Prout, for set
thing the controversy, so he employed Cap
tain Murfln of Lincoln to handle the case.
The legislature of 1905 appropriated 81, 500
for the attorneys fees and this was vetoed
by Governor Mickey. The late legislature
gave Mr. Follmer the right to sue the
state. The judgment also gives Mr.. Foil
mer interest from February 2S, 1905, at 6
per cent.
The Boyd county settlers located on
school lands and the question was whether
title to this land was in the state or in
the government. The settlers insisted that
the state should select other government
lands In lieu OF the lands upon which the
settlement had been made and Mr. Foil
mer insisted this could not be done. The
matter was later compromised after the
Folmer contention had been upheld.
In the Nebraska State Teachers Instl-
tute which convenes in Lincoln next week
provision is made for an interstate con-
ference on certifcation. This is a meet
ing of state superintendent who met to
! discuss systems of certficaton in force
the various states. 1t will be their aim
at this meeting to establish harmonious
regulations for the certiflcation of teach
ers, SO that proper recognition can be
given In one state on certificates from
other states, and to formulate such plans
for recommendation to the state legisla-
lures as will assist in carrying out re-
clprocal relations across state lines,
The interest this subject is receiving
III
states, said Mr.. Bishop, shows the wis,
dom of giving the certificaton of teach
ers an important part on the institution
program.
Letters accepting places on the program
have been received from the following
John F. Riggs, Iowa; C. G. Schulz. Mime
sofa; Edward 7. Fairchild. Kansas; Mis-.
i Katherine NJ. Cook, Colorado; John W
Zeller, Ohio; ]. e. Clark, New Mexico; w
e. Harmon, Montana; Harlan Updegraff
National Bureau of Education.
Fined for Refusing Information.
Miss Sarah f. Peck Of College View, whC
i three times refused to tell the census enum
4 orator how old she was and to give hin
Z other information he desired, pleaded guilt!
in federal court to the charge of refusing
the information and was fined $40 Mis-
Peck said she expected the enumerator I,
call again and in the meantime she haC
s written her mother for some of the informa
ton desired. She voluntarily appeared II
!. court without an officer having to go 70
n her
Il OrthOpedic Glass Graduates.
The graduating exercises of the class o
the Orthopedio hospital were held In tn
senate chamber tonight Secretary OF Stat