Nebraska Newspapers

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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
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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
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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
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Sun.-Mon.-Tues. May 23-24-25
O o
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WecL-Thurs. May 26-27
LAUGHTfR... ROMANCI... mtUC ANO A NU*0«
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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
■ ♦♦
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