State Capitol News . . .
Income-Sales Tax Gets Axe
LINCOLN — One of the cli
matic occasions of the session
came when the legislature by a
decisive 28-12 margin voted down
a proposed sales and income tax,
LB 510.
This was the first time the in
come tax idea had ever been in
troduced. It had to be coupled
with a sales tax to provide
enough revenue to replace the
•
property taxes now required for
state government.
Many had thought that the
property tax troubles of the
past two years would make this
the best year ever for a sales
tax attempt. But the principal
of “broadening the tax base”
got an even worse whopping
than two years ago when the
margin was 22-16.
Sen. Dwight Burney of Har
tington, perenniel sales tax advo
cate, said sadly that apparently
the people of Nebraska hadn’t felt
the pinch of property taxes
enough yet. Burney also indicated
he was going to quit the legisla
ture at the end of this term—his
sixth.
Interestingly enough, most of
the votes for the sales-income
tax bill came from senators from
western Nebraska, which felt
hardest the increased taxes on
real estate that came from the
1953 statewide equalization ef
fort.
It took the legislature about
three hours to debate the issue.
Senator Burney said that the
property owner is a “sitting duck”
for all the taxes in Nebraska. He
said that taxes are going to be
come greater instead of smaller
and that the tax burden should be
shared by all the taxpayers in
stead of just those who own pro
perty.
But speaker after speaker rose
to lambast the idea of “broaden
ing the tax base,” arguing the
sales tax would hit the poor man
and that the income tax would
frighten away industry.
• • *
Tax Reform—
A seven-part program of tax
reform rolled along smoother
than its exponents had dared
hope. At week’s end five of seven
bills had been passed and signed
into law by the governor. The
other two were on their way to
final passage.
The “keystone” bill of the pro
gram, the socalled “basic value”
measure, passed by a wide mar
gin of 36-3. It would allow asses
. sors to use a number of factors in
valuing property instead of the
present rigid single factor of
“current sales price.”
Also given approval were LB
149, setting up an annual inven
tory system of assessment for
merchants, farmers, and manu
facturers; LB 154, calling for a
popular vote on a constitutional
amendment to change the method
of taxing grain; and LB 152, al
lowing the state tax commission
er to set up standards for county
assessors to follow.
Senator Bixler, 40-year-old le
gislator from the northwestern
corner of the state, proved to be
just about the busiest—and luck
iest—man last week.
The educational committee
killed the last of four bills he
had proposed to change the sys
tem of leasing school lands, most
of them located in western Ne
braska.
Yet Bixler was able to get the
bill on the floor by getting a 22
vote majority. Major argument in
his favor was that amendments
have been offered to set up a
“unit valuation” system of rent.
It would take into account the
current prices of cattle, corn, or
wheat grown on the school leases.
The Bixler amendments would
try out this system for leases be
ing renewed during the next two
years.
me Harrison legislator was al
so able to get the legislature to
! give initial approval to appropri
ating $130,000 to turn old Ft. Ro
binson in his comer of the state
into a first-class tourist attraction.
Bixler explained that Ft. Robin
son is “rich in history” from the
days it was the center of army
activity against the Indians in the
perilous 1870 to 1890 period.
Giving him backing were mem
bers of the banking committee
who had taken a special trip to
the old fort to see for themselves.
They said they came away con
vinced that it could be made into
a park that would attract tourists
from all over the nation.
The legislature by a 25-13 vote
abolished the two-year-old turn
pike authority. Major argument
was that the law establishing the
authority gave too many broad
powers. Filling station and motel
owners had worked particularly
hard to scuttle the authority,
which had been able to do little
until states to the east started toll
road construction.
« • •
'Whole Cloth’?—
The Nebraska unicameral le
gislature last week was digesting
the contents of a comprehensive
program of providing enough re
venue for the highways, suggest
ed by the revenue committee.
This came as most of the com
mittees finished their work and
the legislature settled down for
the last lap of its grind, expected
to last about another month more.
In one of the neatest pieces of
committee work seen in a long
time, the revenue committee took
a swatch of this bill, tacked it on
to a section of that bill, stitched
a new idea or two and came up
with a complete “garment”.
The truckers, who would be hit
hardest by the proposed legisla
lion, immediately complained
that the “garment was fabricated
out of whole cloth”.
But the fact that Sen. Lester
Anderson of Aurora, a foe of
the truckers, didn’t much like it
either gave some indication
that the program was a good
compromise between the two
extremes.
Here is what the committee
proposed:
1. To increase fees on all com
mercial trucks, ranging from
$2.50 more on half-ton trucks to
$10 a ton more on trucks carry
ing over seven tons.
2. To hike fees on all farm
trucks, from $2.50 on the half and
three-quarter ton vehicles to $5
for those carrying a ton or more.
3. A ton-mile tax on all non
Nebraska trucks carrying 16 tons
or more. This tax would amount
to 5 cents a mile. This was a far
cry from Anderson’s original ton
mile tax proposal to apply to all
trucks and that’s why the Aurora
senator complained his bill, LB
362, had been “sabatoged”.
* * *
For State, Cities—
Earlier a proposal to charge $8
on all automobiles had been
made. This amounts to raising
the lighter weight vehicles from
their present $6 fee.
All these proposals are expect
ed to bring in about $2 to $2.5
million. Exclusive of the ton-mile
tax (and no one knows exactly
what revenues would be) the
take would be about $1.9 million.
Matched with federal funds, this
“new money”, from $1.3 to $1.6
million, should go to the state
highway department. The only
exception was that about $650,
000 of it would be earmarked for
the cities and villiages.
The highway department’s
share would be used for match
ing federal funds on the pro
posed interstate defense route
to be built from Omaha across
the state to the Wyoming bor
der west of Kimball. Just
where the funds for this super
highway were to come from has
been unclear.
Left out in the cold would be
the county roads. Revenue com
mittee members told reporters
that the counties too often have
not done a good job with their
funds, they haven’t matched them
with federal funds to give the
taxpayer the most for his money,
and too many county boards have
used the money for expensive
equipmment instead of for the
roads themselves.
The committee determined that
the license fee split would be al
tered so that all the new money
would go to state or cities. The
state highway department gets
only 30 percent.
To the counties, which may
complain of this, revenue com
mittee members this week were
reminding that LB 15, passed
earlier in the session, took county
road money away from the most
populous counties and scattered it
around the rest of the state. Also,
it was being pointed out that in
no other state of the union do the
counties get such a large share of
the highway revenues.
* * ft
County Requirement—
One of the most significant
proposals in the revenue commit
tee’s “package” was a require
ment that the counties must
match with federal money at
least 20 percent of their share of
the gasoline tax money. Other
wise, this money would revert to
the state highway department.
Oddly enough, although the
counties can get $1 in federal
money for every $1 they furnish,
only about half the counties have
taken advantage of this at all.
About 35 have never even sched
uled one project on this basis.
The proposal sounded a little
like sticking a gun in a man’s
back to make him take a pay
check coming to him. But of
ficials estimated it would do as
much for the roads of the state as
would enacting another half-cent
of tax on gasoline.
Leaders in working out this
“package” were four members of
the revenue committee who have
been dubbed “the young Turks”.
Royal Theater
— O'NEILL, NEBR. —
Thursday May 12
Family Night
REAP THE WILD WIND
Color by technicolor. Starrring
John Wayne, Susan Hayward,
Paulette Goddard.
Family admitted for 2 adult
tickets—Adults 50c; Children 12c
Fri.-Sat. May 13-14
WHITE FEATHER
Starring Robert Wagner, John
Lund, Debra Paget. Jeffrey Hun
ter. The lodges of the Sioux, the
Arauaho, the Cheyenne, the Paw
nee and the Blackfeet spanned
the Great Wyoming plain ... It
was the final climatic meeting
of the two worlds! ... a time
for decision and dying.
Adults 50c; Children 12c; Matinee
Saturday 2:30. AU children under
12 free when accompanied by
parent.
Sun.-Mon.-Tues. May 15-16-17
Grace Kelly, Academy Award
Winner, with Bing Crosby and
William Holden in
THE COUNTRY GIRL
AU through the year it wiU be
talked about ... all through the
years it will be remembered.
Adults 50c; Children 12c; Matinee
Sun. 2:30. All children must have
tickets
Wed.-Thurs. May 18-19
Family Nights
SIGN OF THE PAGAN
The story of Attila the Hun,
in Cinemascope, color by tech
nicolor, Starring Jeff Chandler,
Jack Parlance. LudmiUa Tchrer
ina, Rita Gam with Jeff Morrow,
George Dolenz, Edward Franz,
Alexander Scourby.
Family admitted for 2 adult tic
. kets—Adults 50c; Children 12c
These men— Sens. Monroe Bixler ,
of Harrison, William Metzger of
Cedar Creek, Joseph Martin of
Grand Island, and Donald Mc
Ginley of Ogallala — were joined
by Sen. Earl Lee of Fremont a
veteran legislator, in working out
the actual details. A day later the
entire committee followed suit.
A key to the whole package
was that it put out on the floor of
the legislature the ton-mile tax
bill, LB 362, the license fee in
crease bill, LB 519, and a seventh
cent of gas tax, LB 436. These in
their original form could act as a
*club over the heads of groups op
posing the amended bills.
In other words, the truckers
and petroleum people may be in
the position of having to choose
the lesser of two evils.
* * •
Conservation Crackdown—
The state board of education
lands and funds gave indications
that it means business on proper
upkeep of the state’s school lands.
This is the new board appointed
by Gov. Victor Anderson after
the voters amended the constitu
tion last November to bring a
change from the previous board
of elective officials.
The board called three land
leaseholders on the carpet for al
leged poor conservation practices
which would have allowed their
land to blow away.
L. Verne Halcomb, Kimball at
torney, was “severly reprimand
ed” by the board for “entirely in
sufficient soil conservation prac
tices.” His lease was not cancel
led, however. Halcomb has coun
tered this “bad publicity” with a
request for cancellation of his
lease.
Action was also deferred on a
Dundy county lease held by Mrs.
Eunice Knepper. Hearing on pos
sible cancellation of the Pierce
county lease of Adolph Polinske
will be held later this month.
• * •
Recreation Areas—
The legislature gave signs of
changing policy on financial sup
port of the state’s recreation
areas. At present these are finan
ced with the income from fishing
and hunting license fees.
These fees also go to the sup
port and propogation of fish and
wildlife. So often not too much is
left for the 53 recreation areas.
Residents of Ayr became dis
gusted at the upkeep of Crystal
lake recreation ground south of
Hastings. They had their senator,
Mrs. Kathleen Foote of Axtel,
introduce a bill to sell the area,
a method to arouse interest in its
rundown condition.
The legislator took notice to the
tune of voting $16,000 from the
property tax-supported state gen
eral fund. Game commission of
ficials and senators said this was
a major departure from past
practice and indicated that the
state may change the policy en
tirely.
* • *
Control Board—
On the other hand, the legisla
ture refused to tamper with the
state board of control system.
Killed by a 21-19 vote was a con
stitutional amendment proposed
for a popular vote in the 1956
general election on changing the
system. The board of control op
erates 17 state mental, penal, and
educational institutions, and su
pervises the entire state welfare
program.
Sen. George Syas of Omaha
said the work was too much for
the three-member board. But Sen.
Ernest Hubka of Beatrice said
there was no evidence of “inef
ficiency or incopentency.”
• * *
Flagman Bill Out—
The judiriary committee, after
verting three to kill and three
to keep alive Sen. Frank Nelson’s
bill to eliminate the flagman on
abbreviated passenger trains, in
early morning special session fin
ally sent tht- bill to the floor with
a thumping 7-1 margin.
On the first ballot, which fol
lowed a hearing in which the
Save-the-Trains association of
ficials and the railroad brother
hood representatives locked, three
of the committee failed to vote.
The brotherhood finally agreed
to an amendment and the bill
was pushed onto the floor. Sena
tor Nelson had introduced LB
554 as emergency legislation at
the behest of train-savers.
—
Departs for Gretna—
Mrs. Helen Brown of Gretna
visited over the weekend at the
home of her son-in-law and
daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Louis
Reimer, jr., and Jimmy. Mrs.
Morris returned to Gretna with
her daughter. She had spent the
winter at the Reimer home.
_
O’Neill News
Mr. and Mrs. Fred Appleby
and family and Mr. and Mrs. Rob
ert Asher and family were din
ner guests at the home of Mr.
and Mrs. Donald Nissen.
Mr. and Mrs. Francis Belzer
entertained at a family dinner
Sunday. Guests were Mr. and
Mrs. Wayne Fox and family of
Emmet, Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert
Fox and Barbara of Emmet, Mr.
and Mrs. Charles Fox, jr., Mr.
and Mrs. George Bosn and family,
Mr. and Mrs. William Kelly, Mr.
and Mrs. Charles Fox, sr., and
family and Miss Kathy Rubeck.
The dinner honored Mrs. Charles
Fox, sr.
Mr. and Mrs. Charles Chace
and family were Sunday after
noon guests at the home of her
parents, Mr. and Mrs. H. J. Ham
mond.
Mr. and Mrs. John Pray of Ft.
Dodge, la., arrived Saturday
to spend several days at the
home of their son-in-law and
daughter, Mr. and Mrs. J. B.
Grady.
Mrs. Ira Moss returned Satur
day from Sioux City where she '
had visited for several days with
her husband who is a patient at
St. Joseph’s hospital.
o
I I Outlaw Impl.
WEST O’NEILL
0 *■ *
ONE OF AMERICA’S FINEST MILE TRACKS!
—
* :
’
TAKES THE LEAD...
WITH THE LATEST IMPROVEMENTS
©
, G
Among all the states, AK-SAR-BEN ranks
as one of the finest of all mile tracks to
add to the thrill of the thoroughbreds
-the King of Sports, with consideration
for the public always foremost ip its
efforts.
AK-SAR-BEN ranks among the first with
the latest improvements. For its 1955
meeting AK-SAR-BEN has installed the
famous Film Patrol system.
For your greater comfort, individual
armchair seats have been installed
throughout the entire grandstand. An
enlarged new paddock and paddock
buffet at* a few of the many other im
provements to add to your racing pleas
jur in 1955.
In addition to the fun of attending the
races, in Nebraska you also share in the
benefits. All profits are distributed so
agricultural, charitable and educational
projects throughout the state.
38 BAYS—MY 19 THRU JULY 4
.** m ass. .. m j* «« sn, an nr man. «* H.an.- vw — . HHHH gj
it
©
Optional equipment at extra cost
The shortest IO minutes of your life!
Ten minutes pass like lightning when
you’re behind the wheel of a new ’55
Ford. This car, with styling inspired by
the Ford Thunderbird, embodies the Thun
derbird's adventurous spirit, zest for action,
and responsive performance.
That’s because you get new Trigger
Torque power-whether your Ford has the
162-h.p. or 182-h.p. Y-block V-8 or the
3 now-more-powerful 1-block Six. This means
passing is quicker, hills seem lower, you
get going quicker, you feel safer!
New Speed-Trigger Fordomatic Drive
(the only “automatic” in Ford’s field with
three automatic gears) makes the perfect
partner for Trigger-Torque power. And
Ford’s new Angle-Poised Ride makes all
roads seem velvet smooth.
Spend ten minutes Test Driving a new
’55 Ford and you’ll want to drive it home.
FORD the new BEST SELLER ..»
\ sells more because it’s worth more
'
ThrU lo Trigger-Torque take-off in a 55 Ford __
LOHAUS MOTOR CO.
Phone 33 O’Neill
JDF YOU’RE INTERESTED IN AN ^ | USED CAR BE SURE TO SEE YOUR FORD DEALEI
o
io
1
ARTIFICIAL BREEDING
FROM
CURTISS COMPANY FARMS
HERD SIRES
1 0
Prompt — Efficient — 11
Quality Service • • • f
CALL 358
I DUANE GRAY - O’Neill, Nebr.
o
o °
o
c
TWIN JUICE FOUNTAIN
Westinghouse REFRIGERATOR I
Amazing but true! Twia Juice Fountain mixes two
of cold drinks automatically. Press a button and a patented
valve instantly mixes air and cold water with juice concen
trate to give you flavor-fresh, vitamin-rich drinks. Two
kinds of juice concentrates always on tap. TVi« Food FDe
model equipped with famous Westinghouse Frost-Free
automatic defrosting system that keeps both refrigerator
and freezer free of frost.
LOW DOWN-PAYMENTSI
EASY MONTHLY TERMS1
BIGGEST OVEN...HANDIEST OVEN
in New Westinghouse Range
Extra handy for everyday cooking ... extra big for
company-size meals. This new Westinghouse
Imperial 40 Speed-Electric Range is the first full
size 40" range with full-width oven. Family dinners
fit up front—no reaching over hot foods or changing
rack position. Uses amazingly little electricity . . .
extra thick Fiberglas insulation plus an oven door
seal keeps heat inside, locks out disturbing air
currents for perfect results every time. Also features
new Twin Broiler, Look-in Door.
up to 24 MONTHS »"
SPACE-SAVER!
New Westinghouse Laundromat 25
Now! A fully automatic Laundromat that’s only 25"
wide yet washes a full family-size load. Fits even the
tiniest of kitchens. Use it as a portable or build it in.
The new Laundromat* 25 features Westinghouse
patented NEW WAY TO WASH ... a brand-new
principle that eliminates old-fashioned, center-post
agitator and washes clothes cleaner, brighter.
EASY BUDGET TERMS AVAILABLE
you CAN SURE ...if IT'S Westinghouse —ft
mn m i jj|. i
• • °
• n