State Capitol News . . -
Sales Tax Scheming Mounts
By MELVIN PAUL
The Frontier's Statebouse Correspondent
LINCOLN—More and more
a full-blown battle over the
sales tax issue appeared certain
this week in the wake of Gov.
Robert Crosby’s constitutional
tax reform prosposals.
While most other states in
the past 15 or 20 years have
adopted a sales or income tax,
• Nebraska has proudly stood by
the proposition that it can sup
port its functions of govern
ment by the property tax alone.
But the Crosby proposal relat
ing to a sales or income tax
convinced political observers
that the demand for one or
both of these is so strong in
Nebraska now that it can’t be
denied.
Actually, Crosby's proposal
-was to place in the constitu
tion a provision that if the leg
islature passed a sales or in
come tax, revenues must first
be used to replace the property
tax for state government pur
poses. It so happened that
State Sen. Herbert Duis of
Gothenburg made a similar
proposal during the 1953 session.
It got nowhere. In fact, Duis
was accused of trying to bring
a sales tax in by the back door.
But since then public reaction
to the current property tax sit
11 uation has brought increased
demands for a broadening of
the tax base. (That’s govern
ment lingo for a sales or income
tax).
The thought that a sales or
income tax might be enacted by
the next legislature is said to be
behind Crosby’s move.
Gov. Crosby told reporters
that he wants to make sure that
if a sales or income tax is adop
ted that it will be used to re
place some present tax. He said
he doesn’t think it should be
just another tax to bring in
more revenues for governmental
bodies.
Significantly, Crosby said he
was making this proposal “with
recommendation.”
* * *
Petition Campaign—
This was part of a double
barreled approach to the tax
problem.
Crosby announced his plans
to start circulating petitions to
get this “replacement tax” pro
posal as a “package” tax reform
prosposition on the ballot be
fore the voters next November.
That will take about 60,000 sign
atures on each petition.
Explaining this “package”
proposal, Crosby said that
every time anyone comes up
with plans to improve the Ne
braska property tax system he
runs into constitutional barriers.
The legislature must be freed
from this constitutional “strait
jacket” said the governor.
He said he wanted the people
of Nebraska to adopt constitu
tional amendments which would
permit enactment of laws for:
1. Exemption of household
furnishings and personal effects.
2. Partial exemption of the
family home.
3. Different methods of tax
ation among different classes of
pioperty. (This would mean
knocking out the “uniform as
sessments” clause of the consti
{ lution.)
4. Appointment rather than
' election of county assessors.
5. Changing the membership
of the state board of equalizat
ion.
Crosby said he didn’t mean
that the legislature must pass
some kind of law on every one
of these. But if his proposal
were passed, it would free the
hands of the legislature, he said.
* * •
i Reaction—
The twin proposal stirred up
considerable reaction.
Some critics pointed out that
Crosby could get these matters
on the election ballot by calling
a special legislative session. They
said he appeared to be doing it
the hard way.
Crosby’s answer was that the
1953 legislature met for almost
six months and didn’t come up
with any such proposals. He in
dicated he feared they might
not this time either.
Lancaster County Attorney
Frederick Wagener, who has fil
ed for governor on the republi
can ticket, said that Crosby was
just copying what he had ad
vocated. The next day, however,
Wagener began attacking the
proposals item by item.
Victor Anderson of Lincoln,
another gubernatorial hopeful,
criticized Crosby for not calling
the legislature into session to get
legslators’ combined ideas on the
tax situation.
State Sen. Terry Carpenter
of Scottsbulf called the approach
“boyish and juvenile.”
Crosby shrugged off these
comments by saying he didn’t
expect his “political opponents”
to congratulate him on his pro
gram.
* * *
School Commenis—
Somewhat more unexpected
was an assertion by the presi
dent of the State Congress of
Parents and Teachers that Cros
by’s program would “wreck the
schools.”
Dr. Galen Saylor of Lincoln,
the state president, said Crosby’s
homestead exemption would take
away property tax money from
the schools. Yet on the other
hand the limitation that sales
tax revenue must first go for
state government would keep
the schools from replacing the
lost property tax, Saylor con
tended.
The Nebraska State Education
association endorsed the “pack
age” tax proposal but said it
couldn’t go along with the ‘“re
placement provision.” With the
present desperate need of Nebr
aska schools for money, a sales
or income tax should be used to
lighten the local school tax load
first, contended NSEA officials.
* * *
The Replacement—
A sales tax is estimated to
bring in about $27 million a
year. This biennium property
owners are paying $20 million a
year to support state govern
ment. So conceivably there
could be some left over money
to help other governmental bod
ies.
Actually it would only replace
$5.75 per $1,000 worth of prop
erty in any one’s tax bill. The
state government portion of
most people’s tax bills isn’t
much over 10 or 15 per cent.
* * *
Highway Safety—
In another move Gov. Crosby
took Safety Patrolmen off “ex
tra” duties and fixed it so they
can spend full time patrolling
the highways. He said this was
a major step in “waging full
scale war” on the mounting
accident toll of highway accid
ents. This means hiring 62 new
men to man the state’s truck
weighing stations and to give
drivers license exams. The Saf
ety Patrol has been handling
these duties in the past.
ROCK FALLS NEWS
Bob Gallagher, Norm Oberle
and Floyd Johnson have been
doing some coon hunting, but
seems as though the coon gives
them the slip.
Sunday, March 21, visitors at
the Don Breiner home were Mr.
and Mrs. John Cleary and fam
ily and Mr. and Mrs. John
Schultz and family.
A surprise anniversary party
vas held for Mr. and Mrs. John
Grutsch. Cards were played.
High prize went to Mrs. Freddie
Ernst and Harry Lansworth; low
to Lawrence Murray and Mrs.
James Curran; traveling to Levi
Yantzie. The couple was pre
sented a gift. -
The Eagle Creek 4-H club met
at Lyle Vequist’s Sunday. Those
who remained for supper were
Mr. and Mrs. Francis Curran
end family and ° Roy Mar grit/,
and girls. * o j
Mrs. Floyd Johnson and T.yn
da stayed Monday evenmg,0
March 22, with Gwenda, Trudy
and Debbie Schultz “while their
parents attended the square
dance in O’NeilF.
A birthday anniversary dinner
was held Sunday, March 21, for
Blake Benson at his home. Tlaose
present were Mr.' and Mrs. Hugh
Benson and family and Clem
Benson of Norfolk, Mr. and Mrs. |
Eiwin Benson of Omaha. Lyn- I
da Johnson and Sharon Murray j
ailed in the afternoon. t.
DR. DONALD E. DAVID
OPTOMETRIST
Eyes Exaruned
Glasses Fitted
| Phone 2101, Spencer, Nebr.
—" j
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9
a *
II'
DR. H. D. GILDER SLEEVE
OPTOMETRIST
Northeast Corner
of 4th & Douglas
O’NEILL, NEBR.
Phone 167
Eyes Examined . Glasses Kitted
Office Hours: *.6 Mon. thru Sat.
- o
_ _
• °
Evangelistic Campaign
O’Neill Church of Christ
April 5 through 18
'
e>
Clyde M. Spaulding, Evangelist
★ ★ ★
Services Nightly at 8:00 (Except Monday)
Presenting the Divine Truth in a Time
of Confusion
°o o
Come and bring friends!!
.
JOHN THOMAS, Minister
A CORRECTION
We Are Still Selling New Cars
0 O _ 9 O O 0
There are sale bills out on a used car
auction in O’Neill by “the 5 New Car
Dealers in O’Neill’’
Guess we are the 6th New Car Dealer.
WE ARE NOT IN ON THIS AUCTION
but
We have plenty of New Cars — Jeeps —
Willys Pickups for sale
j ••'•/ ALSO
We Always Have Around 20 Good Uspd Cars and Pickups
for Sale of All Makes
We Can Sell Our Cars Wiihoui an AUCTION
. As We Sell Our Good Used Cars
SC CHEAP! •
Lock Over Our Line — Get Our Prices
Save Money
O o
Remember. Every Day Is Sale Bay Here!
OUTLAW IWPLEHEHT SO.
Tony Asimus — West O’Neill
O’Neill News
Mr. and Mrs. Vern Grenier
entertained seven girls Sunday
afternoon in honor of the birth
day anniversary of their daugh
ter, Sharolyn, 14.
Mrs. Everett Gorgen and Dot
tie spent the weekend at the
Frank Urban home.
Mrs. Glenn Gettert, Elva and
Gary spent last week in Atkin
son visiting at the home of her
parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Lai
ble.
Last Thursday Mrs. Joseph
Bicek of Verdigre visited at the
home of her son-in-law and
daughter, Mr. and Mrs. E. E.
Gaskill, and family.
Monumenis of lasting beauty
made by skilled craftsmen oi
the J. F. Bloom Co. . . monu
ments from the factory to the
vOnsumer. — Emmet Crabb. O'
Neill, phone 139-J. 37tf
Sunday. Mrs. Julia Gallagher,
Mr. and Mrs. William Timmer
man of Royal and Mrs. Lewis
Nekolite were guests at the
home of Mr. and Mrs. Robert
Gallagher. The occasion honored
the birthday anniversary of
Joyce Marie Gallagher, 1.
Saturday guests of Mr. and
Mr. and Mrs. Howard Newton
and family of O’Neill were Sun
day, March 21, guest of Mr. and
Mrs. William Newton.
Monday, March 22, guests of
Mr. and Mr. Herbert Kaiser were
Mr. and Mrs. Leon Kaiser of At
kinson.
Mrs. Frank Froelich were their
son-in-law and daughter, Mr. and
Mrs. B. E. Wanser, and family of
Holly Springs, la.
Mr. and Mrs. William Kelly
arrived home Saturday from a
three weeks’ vacation in the
Southwestern states and south
ern California.
Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Eby
entertained at dinner Sunday
honoring the birthday anniver
sary of Mrs. Eby’s mother, Mrs.
Anton Nissen. Guests were Mr.
and Mrs. Anton Nissen of Page,
Mr. and Mrs. Lorenz Nissen and
family of Page and Miss Sharon
Hancock.
Mr. and Mrs. Dickie Fernau of
Emmet were Sunday dinner
guests at the home of Mr. and
Mrs. F. S. Brittell.
Bobby and Bonnie Bowker,
children of Mr. and Mrs. W. H.
Bowker. visited over the week
end at the home of their pater
nal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs.
R. L. Bowker, in Neligh.
Mrs. J. A. Arbuthnot, C. Ann
and Jackie visited Mrs. Arbuth
not’s mother, Mrs. A. D. Duffy,
over the weekend in Petersburg.
Mrs. Edna Coyne returned on
Saturday from a week in Den
ver, Colo , where she had been
visiting her son-in-law and
daughter, Mr. and Mrs. J. K.
Bautsch.
ELKHORK FLOWER SHOP
405 E. DOUGLAS ST.
O’NEILL, NEBR.
Night Phone 530W Day Phone 579
We Telegraph Flowers
Flowers For All Occasions
NOTICE
We are ow accepting consignments of
HOUSEHOLD GOODS and
MISCELLANEOUS ARTICLES
— for a —
PUBLIC AUCTION
to be held on
Saturday, April 10 — 2 P.M.
2 Vi blocks south of O'Neill traffic signal
WATCH NEXT WEEK’S ISSUE FOR LISTING
John McClellan
Sale to be conducted by —
THORIN-BOWKER AUCTION
SERVICE
COL. ED THORIN, Auctioneer
BILL BOWKER, Clerk
_ _
I
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Ipf5^
WOODER Home 2x60 HOG Hnnv
_^'nes areeXceWenf c WxW BARR wjt, mh ^ment Hoor
—t foundJCHm SHED
-'on8’ 80°* •hingkt
- —Sle* and
I The LAND
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33—Acres of Alfalfa
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67—Acres of Corn and Small Grain
| Balance in Pasture and Wild Hay
H Eighty acres are fenced, hog tight. Balance fenced
and cross-fenced. Pasture has spring-fed running
water the year around.
Legal Description
South Yi of the SEJ/4 of Section 3; the NEJ4 and
the N!/2 the SEJ/4 of Section 10, Township 34,
Range 16, West of the Sixth P.M., Boyd County,
Nebraska, 320 acres, more or less.
I TERMS: f ;'- M: ■
J3 1 wenty percent on day of sale. Balance to be paid upon delivery of warranty deed and merchantable ab- jR
stract will be furnished. See brokers or auctioneer for inspection of premises on or before sale day.
HK p-gracc .-T ■——H—M————W————Bl^—lilT—MTTHTW"'HCT'nMiaiTUilM Tir-MffM3giML r-■ am U" I—11 __ . __
l . [ wner I
| THORIN-BOWKER AUCTION SERVICE, 9 Neill |
I GABELMAN & CHAMBERS, Brokers COL. ED THORIN, O’Neill, Auct. 1
| Neligh, Nebr. BILL BOWKER, O’Neill, Broker-Clerk
