Omaha daily bee., 1912-03-14
Nebraska
WATTS ON OMAHA TRACTION
Railway Commission Anxious to
Know if it Can Value Lines.
LOCAL COMPANY HOLDS KEY
Fifty Towns of state Have Decided
TO Vote Directly ON Liquor Qses-
tion-Last Legislature over
looks Bet rrver sites.

looks Bet - swer sites.
N.,:ll
From a STAT correspondent
LINCOLN. March Especial. Mem
oers of the State Railway commission
are becoming anxious for the test as
TO their right to make physical valua-
Ton OF street railway properties. but for
the present are held up by the non
action Of the Omaha street railway COM
pany. The city council of Lincoln has
asked the commissio nto make such a
valuation of the Lincoln traction COM
pany, but in view OF the qeustion OF its
right hesistates to expend the money
necessary TO do the work. While the
Lincoln company has not committed itself
on this particular question II has made
reports to the commission which In
voive the same principle Of law and
which the Omaha company has refused
10 do. 1t is erasonably certai nthst no
attempt will be made to make a valua-
ton on any street railway property until
the courts have passed on the rights OF
the commission. When blanks were sent
10 the Omaha company they were ac-
companied by a notice that sixty days
would be allowed for return. as provided
by Law. 1t was the understanding. how
ever. that the company would reply with
a refusal and mandamus proceedings
could then be commenced. n..
The company has shown a disposition
to take the full sixty days and all the
commission can do is to SIT down and
wait 70 rthe expiration OF the time
limit. II the demand is ignored or a
negative answer returned the matter will
be taken into court at once. The street
railway company insists that under the
wording Of the Law street railway COM
pany is not subject 10 its provisions, as
the law says railway" which they in
sist does not mean street railway.
Governor Aldrich. who is a member Of
the Irrigation board. favors holding up
applications until after the legislature
has time TO act IL II can be done legally.
Gosper Resppraisement
The Board Of Public Lands and Build
ings has received the reappraisement of
school lands in Gosper county and they
run about IS per cent higher than the
old figures. These values are the basis
OF rentals paid to the state In Dawson
county the board has a complaint from
one party who has school land under
lease. Under the old appraisement he
paid SIS per year for the use Of $50 acres,
while under the new It will cost him $50
per acre. or total of $40 per year. He
says he Is willing TO stand a raise from
the former figures, but thinks this is a
little too stiff.
The supreme court has granted a new
trial in the Hall case from Cherry county.
This involves title to q quarters section
OF land claimed by both Ball and the
state as a portion fthe school property.
The differences arise from variations IN
surveys The state won In the original
hearing.
where legislature Failed.
At the public ownership meeting in the
capitol last night several speakers adyo-
Gated that the state Board Of Irrigation
reject all applications for water for
power sites and give the legislature an
opportunity TO change the law so that
power projects might be developed by
the state instead Of becoming the prop
srty Of private individuals or corpora
tons. Members OF the board are In
clined TO believe that under the law they
have no right to reject a fling made In
due form by q person who complies with
the present law. In this connection II
is recalled that Engineer Price OF the
board tried to persuade the last legls-
lature TO adopt a law which would re-
tain title to such power sites in the state
and that the state might either develop
"A NJ thaur
under proper restrictions as to recon-
psnse and control. The legislature, how
ever, ignored his suggestions
Dawson Court House Worn Out.
II is understood at the capitol that the
county court house which Fire Marshall
Randall proposes to condemn is located
at Lexington, Dawson county. A propoE-
lion is now pending In that county to
vote 4-mill tax for two years to raise
funds TO erect a new court house and
there is a prospect OF Its carrying, In
spite of the fact the county has three
times voted against issuing bonds for the
erection Of court house.
The hearing on the protest Of William
coad to the power right filing Of Charles
Ross has been postponed from tomorrow
TO Monday March IS. The postponernent
is due to the fact one member Of the
Roard Of Irrigation earnot be in the
city tomorrow on account OF official
business elsewhere.
Nels p Hansen, deputy food commits
kioner, Will address, the Omaha Manufae-
turers' club tomorrow noon at the Com
nerciaI club rooms.
The orchestra of Wesleyan university
has gone on tour of some OF the tcrns
ir the EllIhorn valley. The orchestra
contains twenty-five pieces.
Barton Ont with Big stick.
Auditor Barton has lssued a statement
THAT 1t has come TO his attention that
many large companies and business in
stitutlons in the state have been placing
their insurance In such companies al
London as Lloyd's and similar institu-
tons which are not licensed to transact
business in Nebraska. He asks anyone
laying knowledge OF such Insurance and
OF parties In the state who are writing
IL 10 report the same TO him and the
PARTIES writing the insurance will be
prosecuted II they are within the juris-
diction of Nebraska courts, for they are
in plain violation of Nebraska law He
points out that in case Of loss the in
sured has no redress IL the company
writing the insurance should sec fit 10
contest the payment as there would be I
10 one In the state on whom The loser 4
could obtain service Of summons. He I
also points out It is not fair to give in /
surauce to companies which refuse or
are unable to comply with Nebraska Law
as against those which do comply and
pay their share OF taxes to support the
state and are subject to examination and