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About The frontier. (O'Neill City, Holt County, Neb.) 1880-1965 | View Entire Issue (May 20, 1954)
o State Capitol News ... Military Needs Spur Highways LINCOLN — A showdown loomed closer this week on Ne braska’s major road question— a toll road or a free interstate route. Millions of tax dollars as well private dollars ride on the an swer which must come within the next few months. Although the question is sim plet the ingredients involved in arriving at a solution are com plicated, as was illustrated at a recent meeting of the state turnpike authority. The authority was appointed by Gov. Crosby, acting under a iaw passed by the ’53 legislature, to study the feasibility of build ing a toll road across Nebraska. These roads, where customers pay for the privilege of driving on a fast, protected route, have been highly successful in the populous eastern part of the United States. As if it wasn’t problem enough to determine whether .<uch a road can be made to pay in Nebraska the turnpike au thority learned it had an even bigger obstacle facing it. That is the Nebraska link in the interstate system of high ways which the U.S. defense de partment is anxious to have built. TTie conflicts are two: 1 Both a toll road and the interstate route would probably follow much the same route. The interstate route is definitely staked out to run from Omaha past Lincoln to Grand Island and on past North Platte, Sidney, and Kimball to the Wyoming border. 2. T pay for itself a turnpike woulc .iave to follow much this same route, especially the Oma ha to Lincoln link. But if the federal government builds a four lane superhighway across Nebraska it is doubtful that a toll road anywhere in the vici nity could pick up enough bus iness to pay. State Engineer L. N. Ress told the authority flatly that both wouldn’t be feasible in the same area. * * * Interstate Route Difficulties— On the face of it there might appear to be no arguments for the toll road as against a free superhighway. But there are certain difficult ies connected with the interstate route. Uuder a highway aid bill pas sed by Congress and signed re cently by President Eisenhower there will be made available to Nebraska each year, starting July, 1955, a sum of $2.4 million a year. The catch is that this will have to be matched with $1.6 million in state highway department funds every year. At present the department gets about $9 million in revenues annually from the gasoline tax and from its share of motor vehicle license fees. To match the federal funds for this interstate route it would lake almost 20 per cent of the revenues the state highway de partment now gets for all roads in Nebraska. As John Cook of Scottsbluff, member of the turnpike author ity, put it, the question is whe ther citizens in most parts of the state will be content to put 20 per cent of their highway rev enue into building a “super highway” across the state. • * * Need for Speed— State Engineer Ress told the lurnpike board that great pres sure is being brought from the highest levels o f the federal government to get the states started on their share of the in terstate system. He said the de lense department is concerned that in case of war the present highway network would be en tirely inadequate for shuttling men and munitions across the | country. Congress, which had approp riated only $25 million a year for this program, has now laid ■ out a whopping $175 million a year. “I think Congress must feel the same way, judging by that appropriation,” Ress said. The state engineer has already announced that preliminary plans for the Omaha to Lincoln stretch are being drawn. All of this led Cook to ob serve, “It looks like to me that we had better get going on this toll road business. The problem there is that Ne braska’s plans largely depend on what Illinois and Iowa do. Un less a turnpike comes west from Chicago through this part of the midwest, it is extremely doubt ful that a turnpike will be built in Nebraska. A report from Illinois is ex pected within a few weeks on whether it will build a toll road west toward Iowa or southwest toward St. Louis. A few weeks later Iowa is expected to make its report. Raymond McGrath of Omaha, chairman of the Nebraska turn pike authority, said, “I don’t think this business of who gets there first should be in the pic ture. Let’s make hay slowly on the interstate defense route un til we know whether we can build a toll road in Nebraska. But Ress pointed out that planning must be done now if the state is to be ready when the first big swatch of funds is available a year from now. The engineer did say that if a toll road is built anywhere in Nebraska he is sure there would be no need to “duplicate” it with a free superhighway. * * * 'Bonus' Roads— Governor Crosby announced $4 million in “bonus” road im provenments. This will be gravel roads which will be either black topped or surfaced with con crete. They are called “bonus” be cause they were not scheduled under thie current two year highway inprovement program. But the costs of the two year program have been less than anticipated, so there will be $2 million in state funds “left over” which matched with federal funds will make possible the "upgrading” of 125 miles of load. Construction bids below esti mates and the favorable winter which has cut maintenance costs | were two big items in allowing the “bonus” package. More in come from gas taxes than was anticipated is another factor. The roads were chosen from 380 miles of road previously graded and prepared for black topping. All had to have a traf fic count on more than 300 ve hicles a day and were chosen on a scientific basis, Crosby said. The 16 projects chosen: State highway 87 from Rushville north; US 183 from Bassett north 6 miles; US 281 from Spencer south 7.8 miles; state 3i> from Norfolk to Hoskins; state 9 from Allen north and south; state 91 from Leigh east; state 15 from Schuyler south; state 50 from Syracuse south; state 15 Fair bury to Kansas line; Ruskin west on state 3; El wood to Smith beld on state 23; Oxford to Or leans on state 3; Sargent to Tay lor on US 183; and spurs from Clarkson, Howells, and Dodge to state 91. Oil-hungry U.S. highway Ml, which passes through Holt coun ty north-and-south via O’Neill, is getting a big share of mat work—a good many moons over due. Already under construction is a stretch south of O’Neill and a five-mile piece north of O’Neill. Already processed and ready for submission to contractors is a six-mile stretch north of O’Neill (to be added to the five now be ing built). The “bonus” dump will mean 7.8 miles more hard surfacing, extending south from the junction of U.S. highway 281 and state highway 12 (in Boyd county). This leaves a stretch of nine miles not yet in the mill, but Governor Crosby told Holt county leaders last week: “High way 281 will be hardsurfaced all the way, giving Boyd county an oil mat outlet.” Ress indicates this nine-mile gap might not be gotten to until next year, but it will be done as quickly as possible. * * * Five Bills to Voters— As members of the Nebraska legislature arrived home after a three week special session on taxation, the upcoming problem seemed to be to explain their tax reform program to the vot ers. In what was termed by many “the toughest session ever” the legislature hammered out five proposals for amending the con stitution to bring about a better tax system. None of these will have any effect, however, unless they are approved by Nebraska’s citizens in the November general elec tion. Even if the constitutional amendments are adopted by the voters, this will only mean that the 1955 session of the legisla ture can sit down and write new tax laws. In other words, the constitutional amendments — with one exception—are permis sive. The one exception is not slrictly speaking, a part of the tax reform program. It is a proposal to place in the constitution a clause that if the state ever gets a sales or income tax the revenues must first be used to replace that part of the property tax which supports state government. Property tax es for schools, cities and coun ties would still be in effect, of course. This proposal, known as leg islative bill 7, was approved by a 29-11 vote. Its advocates say it will pro vide a safeguard for citizens so that if a state sales or income tax is ever voted it wouldn’t be an “extra tax.” It would be used first to replace a present tax, they say. Oppoinents of the bill in floor debate attacked because they said it would confuse the voters, who wouldn’t know whether a vote for it was a vote for the sales tax or against it. Most of the core of this opposition came from Omaha, long a foe of any sales tax. * * * Tax Reform Proposals— But the heart of the tax pro gram was contained in four other proposals which the leg islature placed on the November ballot. Advocates of the meas ures said they are necessary to knock out certain restrictive clauses in the constitution which 1 stand in the way of efforts to j improve the Nebraska tax sys- ■ tern. They are: LB 1: This wouid allow the voters to approve an amend ment to allow the establishment or a state tax commission. At present the tax tax board is the state board of equalization, com posed of the governor, state treasurer, state auditor, secre tary of state, and state tax com missioner. All but the tax com missioner cure elected and critics : of the present system charge, that politics often makes them timid in enforcing taxes. Also, the elective officers can’t give j full time to taxes and aren’t well j acquainted with the problems. Tms bill had relatively little op position and passed 37-5. LB 2: This places on the ballot a proposal that county assessors either be elected or appointed. At present the constitution re quires that they be elected. Stu dents of the Nebraska tax sys tem say that it is doubtful that it can be improved as long as assessments are made by a county assessor who must run for re-election every four years. If the voters approve this amendment, it would not mean a change necessarily. That would be up to the legislature. The state association of county assessors has advocated this move. The bill got steady op position from senators who claimed it would take away more local rule. It was finally pcL5>i>tru uy a ou-u vvjuc:. LB 3: Under this bill Nebras ka voters will have a chance to decide whether they want a par tial or complete exemption of household goods from taxation. At present there is only a $200 exemption on this item. Advo cates of the bill said that Ne braska assessors have to spend 90 percent of their effort to get listings of this category which produces only about two percent of the tax. Surprisingly, this bill picked up plenty of opposition. Some said it was a “rich man’s bill” because it would exempt more furnishings from taxation in a wealthy home. It takes 26 votes to put a constitutional pro posal on the ballot and this treasure passed by a bare 26 15 vote. LB 4: This proposal is called the “heart” of any tax reform program. It also occasioned the most vigorous scrapping in the past special session. Under this proposition voters would decide whether they want to relax the rigid “uniformity of assess ments” clause in the constitution to allow new standards for as sessing real estate and other tangible property. Advocates say it is necessary to take real es tate out of its current “assess ment straitjacket.” Under the present constitutional provision, j real estate must be assessed at current market value, a difficult figure to find many times. Tax experts say it would be better to be able to use long term av erage sales prices, income from the land or building, and other factors. Opposition was most vigorous fiom the railroads and other groups which apparently figured it might harm special formulas for taxation granted them through the years. The bill was killed in committee, revived 32 to 2 after days of debate, and finally passed by a 39 to 1 mar ' gin which belied the bitter t struggles over it. * » * Promotional Cost— Still to be answered was the qustion of who v/ill foot the bill for carrying an educational cam parign to the voters on these measures. The state’s grain and seed dealers were expected to help. They had sought an amendment under LB 4 to allow a different method of taxing grain. But this was junked at the last minute as the opposing groups in the legislature sought a compromise on some bill they could get passed. It was still considered possible that some real estate groups, or the Ne braska Education association, or the Chambers of Commerce might pick up the tab. * * * Slap and Backslap— i In the closing days of the ses sion Governor Crosby made two [ appearances before the legisla- i lure, both completely different. One afternoon he appeared to tell the legislature it had ex ceeded its authority in asking the state board of equalization to appear before it to explain 1955 motor vehicle assessments. Crosby said that under the Am erican form of government the theory of separation of powers of the legislative, executive and judicial branches of government must be upheld. Most senators reacted well, 3greeing that they had “stuck their nose in others’ business.” some said that all they had ask ed was information, however, ind didn’t deserve this slap. The next day as the session adjourned Crosby appeared and complimented the legislature cn i good job. He said he knew it lad been a “most difficult” ses iion but said it was important uecause it got tax issues out into he open where they could be debated before the citizens of :he state. He said if it hadn’t ccted nothing could have been ione abont taxes until 1957. * * • Nfew Political Leader— The state republican high com nand got together and in an un usual display of unanimity chose William Spear, 43-year-oid Fre mont attorney, as state chair man. This was made necessary when David Martin of Kearney resigned from the U.S. senate. Laveta Lehn on Busy Schedule Miss Leveta Lehn of O’Neill, Seventh district trustee of the National Dental association, last week told members of the Ne braska Dental Assistants’ asso ciation: “The girl at the recep tion desk can help to make a dental patient’s visit pleasant.” Miss Lehn, who assists Dr. L. A. Burgess here, advised the as sistants there are various ways of putting the patient at ease. The O’Neill woman earlier this month attended the Iowa State Dental Assistants’ conven tion in Des Moines, appeared last week on the Nebraska pro gram, and went to Sioux Falls, S.D., today (Thursday) to attend a three-day convention there. From Sioux Falls she will go to Bismark, N.D., for a three-day session of the North Dakota group. Gloor to Resign from Force— ATKINSON— Mayor Willard S. Linville of Atkinson has ap pointed Manuel Kreiger to be come Atkinson’s new chief of police, June 1. Mr. Kreiger will succeed Otto Gloor, who inform- j ed city officials some time ago j that he desired to retire from the position. Mr. Gloor’s resigna tion is effective June 1. Other police officers appoint ed by Mayor Linville are Lav, rence Schneider, who was also named street commissioner, and Frank Enbody, who was named as temporary day police officer. Corporal Johnson Is with Seventh— Cpl. Donald L. Johnson, son of Mr. and Mrs. Rudolph Johnson of O’Neill, is now serving with the Seventh infantry division in Korea. Men of the bayonet division are undergoing intensive train ing to maintain the peak combat efficiency displayed by the unit from Pusan to the Yalu river. Corporal Johnson entered the army in 1947. Entertain Guests— Mrs. Emma Martin and Mrs. Ola Ermer visited on Monday, May 10, with Mr. and Mrs. Walt er Martin and Mrs. Dora La posky. The William Ermers called in the evening. DRS. BROWN & FRENCH Eyes Tested—Glasses Fitted Broken Lens Replaced in 24 Hours Other Repairs While You Wait Complete X-Ray ' I 1 1 DR. H. D. GILDERSLEEVE OPTOMETRIST Northeast Corner of 4th & Douglas O’NEILL, NEBR. Phone 167 Eyes Examine*! . Glasses Fitted Office Hours: <J> Mon. thru Sat. 0 Word Is Getting Around About The . .. ... Superior Performance OF THE ROPER GAS RANGE Here’s a range that’s fashioned to the homemaker’s need for consistent cooking superiority and ease. You’ll find it’s a pleasure to cook on and in this automatic Roper gas range. And you’ll be cooking with natural gas—the fast, clean, modem fuel that costs you only pennies a day. Roper Range $AAQSO Model No. 36-31 TRADE 'N' SAVE NOW...FOR YOUR NEW GAS RANGE Your present range may be worth more than you think if you trade during this extra allow ance Trade rN’ Save Sale. It may be all you need to get started cooking on a new auto matic gas range. SEE YOUR FAVORITE APPLIANCE DEALER OR YOUR KANSAS-NEBRASKA MANAGER ABOUT A GOOD TRADE ON YOUR PRESENT STOVE NOW wmwppMVfMTITTVTN ^*11 k r M lx* U) 1 mhlimu ilri For Dependable GAS Service .IHWllM Bill li HII—J | EXCEPTIONAL INCOME I I SPARE OR FULL TIME I I COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL I I VENDING MACHINES I M FURNISHED WITHOUT CHARGE TO OUR DEALERS ■ By reliable wholesale concern, in order io establish new outlets for General 8 Vending Merchandise and Sundry Products, PLUS a Brand New Line that S || is NON-COMPETITIVE in this area. We will furnish all machines and 8 establish route without charge for responsible person who has the money S 8 to handle his merchandise for cash. You do not buy the machines, but you f§| * d° keep the profits. Must have good car, good character, good credit and 8 ti carry not less than $500.00 worth of merchandise. 8 VI • NO SELLING OR SOLICITING • For Personal Interview Write: B s • NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY • MOUND CITY PRODUCTS M ^ • WILL TRAIN PERSON SELECTED • 3615 OLIVE ST.. Suite 501 8 Sr • WE PLACE MACHINES FOR YOU • ST. LOUIS 8, MISSOURI St p?! • NO CHARGE FOR DEALERSHIP • Include Your Phone Number 8 t Announcing . . . our oncoming Registered HEREFORD BULL SALE at Chamberlain, S.D. SAT., MAY 29, ’54 Offering will include 45 HEAD Supreme and Aster Breeding • C. M. Christensen & Son Dundee, Minnesota, and Reliance, S.D. Betrothal Told Mrs. Clara Johnson an nounces the engagement and approaching marriage of her daughter. Miss Betty (above), to Cec Bishop, son of Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Bishop of Newton, la. Miss Johnson has been bookkeeper for the Consumers Public Power district of O’ Neill for the past three years. Mr. Bishop has been employ ed by the U.S. government at Guam the past 1 Vz years. A June wedding is planned to take place in Los Angeles, Calif. McCarls Honored on Recent Anniversary— John and Bill Cook entertain ed a group of friends at their home recently honoring Mr. and Mrs. Fred McCart on their sixth wedding anniversary. The eve and dancing. ring was spent playing cards Those present were Mr. and Mrs. Fred McCart and family, Mr. and Mrs. Joe Soukup and Joann, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Sou kup and Gene, Mr. and Mrs. Donald Marcellus and girls, Mr. and Mrs. Anton Jirak, Mr. and Mrs. James Fleming and sons, Frank and Joe, Mr. and Mrs. Joe Peter, Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Peter and family, Mr. and Mrs. Joe Wagman and son, Raymond, and Henry Cook. Lunch was served. COURSES ANNOUNCED The adult education depart ment of Norfolk Junior college has announced a current history course will run May 21-June 4, 8 a.m., to 12 noon daily. A mod ern science course will be offer ed June 11-25; speech for teach ers, July 2-16; practical arts, August 6-20. Tune in “Voice or Tne Fron tier’’, thrice weekly! »♦♦♦«♦«»«»♦««»«»♦»»♦«♦♦♦♦♦»♦»»♦♦ Scout Camporee Set for Atkinson Park ATKINSON—Boy Scouts from the area of the north-central dis trict will camp at Atkinson state park, two miles west of town, Friday, May 21, to Friday, i May 28. A camporee will be held Fri day through Sunday. To climax the campocee, demonstrations by Scouts and a cub kite contest will be staged Sunday afternoon. In charge of arrangements is George B. Burkland, jr., of At kinson, district scout executive. Burkland recently located at At kinson, coming here from Oma ha. O’Neill Girl with Touring College Unit Miss Barbara' Bennett of Min nesota Bible college of Minneap olis, Minn., returned Monday, May 10, from a 10-day spring tour sponsored by the college. She traveled with a girls’ a cap pella quartet, “God’s Grace Notes,” Richard Hayes of Min neapolis, a violinist, and also a member of the University of Minnesota symphony orchestra, and Prof. Don L. Riggin, faculty advisor and speaker. They traveled through eight states, going as far east as Penn sylvania, presenting programs in the Churches of Christ. Miss Bennett also presented pictures in chalk art, accompanied by Miss Betty King, soloist. This group was one of nine groups which altogether travel ed as far south as Louisiana, north to Canada, east to Penn sylvania and west to the Dako tas, promoting the college. This i > Miss Bennett’s second year to travel on the tour. The group of girls known as “God’s Grace Notes,” has done much traveling presenting pro grams of sacred music. They I I I | - ~ have journeyed weekends to Wisconsin, Illinois and many ci ties in Minnesota. WD—Bernard S Mullen to M Genevieve Harty 4-8-54 $1 NWV4 28-29-11 MILLER THEATER — Atkinson — Frl-Sal. May21-22 o © ' o o o o c Sun.-Mon.-Tues. May 23-24-25 O o o c WecL-Thurs. May 26-27 LAUGHTfR... ROMANCI... mtUC ANO A NU*0« O H « H I :: n H « •* •• tt IE j? ♦'' H ♦t * - g I I i ^ I H HAVING SOLD my place and given possession of same, I will : offer the following described personal property at public I :: auction on the premises, located 6 miles south and Yl mile west \ p of Chamber, OR 2 miles north and ^>Yl rniles west of Hoerle’s \ :: Station, on — | Friday, May 28th I — Sale Will Start at 1 P.M. — | II 46 - Head of CATTLE - 46 I! ♦♦ ** ♦♦ *« ♦ ♦ »» | Hereford Bull, 2-yrs.-o!d 4—Cows, 3-yrs,-old, to calve | 115—Cows with Calves at Side in fall f „ :: :: | 3—Springers 7—Heifers, 2-yrs.-old, to calve § I Heifer, 2-yrs.-o!d, to freshen in fall ♦♦ M 1 Machinery & Equipment, Etc. | | IHC F-12 Tractor 12-Ft. Hay Rake Stock Chute :: H IHC Power Mower, Deering Mower, Registered Brand I 7"ft- 6-ft. * H u c. * c* 1 d 1939 Chevrolet Si I Hay Stacker Smgle-Kow 17 r»* i Hay Sweep for Cultivator >/2-Ton P.ckup | Tractor Wagon & Hayrack S01™ Fence Posts _ * ♦ ] Household Goods 1 | China Closet — Power Washing Machine with Briggs & Stratton :: Motor | NUMEROUS OTHER ARTICLES — TERMS: CASH 1 I Lawrence Wolken °wner i h if I COL. ED THORIN, O’Neill CHAMBERS STATE BANK 1 H Auctioneer Chambers, Clerk ■ ♦♦ o