Omaha daily bee., 1912-02-23
SHRIVER PUZZLED OYER LAW
Douglas County Assessor Up Against
Perplexing Problem.
SELECTING DISTRICT ASSESSORS
lie Ia Obliged to Cancel Speaking
Date at Wahoo-EIectionf in
National Guard.

tFrom a Staff Correspondentl
LINCOLN, Feb. 22.-(SpeciaLl-w. c.
Shriver, county assessor OF Douglas
county, is up against q problem which he
desires Henry Seymour. secretary OF the
Board Of Equalization. to solve for him.
Mr., Seymour admits he is stuck and has
asked the attorney generals office TO
solve IL for him. That department Is
delving into the statutes and supreme
court opinions and expects TO be able to
answer Mr. Seymour, who will answer
Mr.. Shriver. who will tell the voters of
Douglas county about 1t in due time.
The Law provides that in counties con-
tanning cities of more than 4.0o0 inhabi-
tants in addition TO the county assessors
there shall be elected as many district
assessors as necessary TO peIsorm the
work and that these district assessors
shall be elected en- masse. The law alo
says that precinct and township officers
need not be nominated at the primary
election, but are to be named by the old
caucus system. In another place the law
says that wherever the word township or
district officer is used it shall be defined
to mean the same as precinct and vice
versa. What Mr.. Shriver wants to know
is whether the district assessors shall go
on the primary ballot, whether they must
divide the county into districts and the
nominee in each district must reside in
the district-in fact, the whole machinery
by which these district assessors are NOM
mated and elected.
Officers Held Over.
In reply to the letter Of the county at
torney of Blaine county taking issue with
the attorney generals office on the ques-
tion whether the county assessors in Boyd
and other counties hold over when no
election was held last year the attorney
generals office as of the opinion the
Blaine county man has overlooked the
general provision that unless otherwise
specified in a law creating an office all
officers hold over until their successors
are elected and qualified, and that II was
under this provision of law the office held
the old assessor was entitled to sle office.
Auditor Barton is just starting an in
quiry to ascertain whether all the firms
or corporations which have been using
the words trust company" in their titles
have either complied with the new trust
company law or ceased to use the words.
Governors Throat sore.
Governor Aldrich, who has been on
tour investigating the irrigated section of
the state and also making a number of
public addresses in the western and
northern portion OF the state, has been
compelled to cancel his final date for
Saturday at Wahoo and will return home
Friday instead of Saturday night as pre-
viously planned. He had cold when he
left Sunday and constant speaking has
brought on throat trouble.
Elections In Guard.
Election have been held In two COM
psnies in the National guard TO fill va
cancies caused by promtions Sergeant
F. B. Butt has been chosen captain OF
Company c. Nebraska City. Of the Second
regiment. vice Captain Mccormick, pro-
NOTED to be major. In Company *, Sec
ond regiment. Schuyler. Lieutenant Nell
II. Mapes has been elected captain and
Sergeant Ira W. Funk elected first lieu
tenant. the elections being due to the pro-
motion of Captain johnson to be major.
Hoibrook Finishes Testimony.
Before the State Railway commission
today Engineer Holbrook for the Union
company in the physical valuation Of the
road. His testimony related to the value
Of rolling stock and other equipment. He
testified to additions TO the cost being
made by changes and Improvements made
in such equipment after 1t was purchased
by the company and TO numerous things
which brought his estimate up to more
than 81 10000 in excess Of the valuation OF
the representatives of the state. He was
followed by Engineer Hates for the state,
who was put on In advance Of the conclu-
sion of the company's testimony bece.1se
Mr. Holbrook desired TO return home and
II was desired that he hear Mr.. Kates'
testimony concerning the class Of property
he himself has valued.
Most of the offices in the state house
were closed this afternoon on account of
1t being Washington's birthday ami
versary. All were open during the fore
noon.
New style seed Tester.
The pure food department has received
a new pattern OF seed tester and Chemist
Redfern put IL to work at once. This
makes three kinds, he is using. the rag
baby, one in which the grain is kept moist
simply by use OF water in the trays
and the latest one in which the grain
is simply laid In moist sand and the whole
machine put in q warm room.
The governors office today granted a
requIsition for the return to St. Joseph,
Mo-. Of William Hazard. now in custody
In Omaha He is charged with grand
larceny.
Making Orchard Money Maker.
The bureau Of labor and Industrial
statistics has just issued a comprehensive
bulletin on fruit raising in Nebraska. In
addition to giving some examples Of what
financial returns some fruit rsisers have
received the bulletin sets out what kinds
of lands are suitable for raising Of diff
fersnt fruits and also what sections have
made a success Of It. One notable article
is what a Cass county man did to make
profitable an orchard which had been
Improbable because It did not bear good
crops and that little Of an inferior quality.
He called in experts from the university
and they made his orchard a big money
maker. by processes within the reach and
comprehension Of anyone.
In the Filing Ring.