Image provided by: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Lincoln, NE
About The independent. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 1, 1903)
THE-NEBRASKA INDEPENDENI OCTOBER 1, 19C3. COUNTY ASSESSOR Karnay Kw Era-8taadard Gives Xxel- nf Abt tr ait s4 Cf !t!s!!!S cf Naw RTno Law The Kearney New Era-Standard of September 18 contains a review and criticism of the new revenue law, doubtless prepared by Judge W. I Hand, which deserves a careful study by every taxpayer. The Independent reprints it in full: Chapter 38 of the laws of 1903, pro vides for the election of a county as sessor in 1903, and every fourth year thereafter. Chapter 73, known as the revenue law, contains many provisions regard ing the duties and compensation of the county assessor and regulations in re gard to the assessment of property. Section 22 provides that in counties having from 20,000 to 30,000 popula tion, the salary shall be $700 per an num, and the deputies shall receive $3 per day. Section 12 provides that property shall be valued at Its full cash value, and assessed for taxation at 20 per cent of its value. Section 20 requires the county as sessor to appoint deputy assessors in January of each year. He determines the number to be appointed and as signs to each one the territory he shall work in. His appointees shall, be ap proved by the county board. The county assessor does no work in as sessing property, only to supervise the .work of the deputies, who must make assessments from actual view. Sections 48 to 53 provide for a sche dule or list of property to be made by each taxpayer. This is made full and complete, so that no property can es cape, unless the taxpayer swears false ly. Sections 84 to 104 provide for the listing of all property of railroad and car companies, and sleeping car com panies, with the state board ofequali z.ation and assessment, which consists of the governor, state treasurer, audi tor, secretary of state and commission er of public lands and buildings. Then this board is required to assess all the property of the railroads and sleeping car companies in the state, except that railroad shops and offices and other property not on the right of way is re quired to be assessed locally where situated. . . Some genuine friends of the people In the legislature tried hard to fix the law so that the state board would be required to value railroad property at its full value (the assessment to be 20 per cent as in other cases), but they were defeated by the friends of the railroads. As the law now stands the state board may include the franchise value of the railroads or not as they please. As the present members of the board owe their election to the railroads they will, of course, make the assessment to please their masters. That good republican, E. Rosewater, says the roads in Nebraska are worth about $350,000,000; but this year they were assessed at less than $27,000,000, or only 1-13 of - their value. Other property in the state is understood to bo assessed at one-fifth of its value. So the railroads will pay only about $S in taxes where other property will How to be Cured of Piles "WITHOUT PAIN . Don't wait until you are a helpless invalid, for a seemingly simple case of hemorrhoids, or piles, may, if neg lected, rapidly lead to worse. The un natural formations become tumerous and permanent, and the inflammation grows until abscesses form; the dis ease burrows into th-3 tissues, forming tubular growths which discharge pus; cancerous conditions, and general gan grenous degeneration appear. What is needed at the start, or at any stage is something to soothe this inflammation, reduce the swelling and distention, and at the same time re store the diseased parts to normal con dition. These three things are ac complished permanently "by the Pyra mid Pile Cure. It checks all progress of the disease, and rapidly returns the affected parts to health, besides relieving at once the pain and fearful irritation. "I began using Pyramid Pile Cure, and in order to make sure of a cure bought five packages; for-the past six weeks I have not been troubled In the least, and I had been bothered for thirty-five years, and had spent' more than fifty dollars for different reme dies; this Is the first permanent help I have had, and no one could feel more grateful than I do." L. M, Wil liams, Conneaut, Ohio. Pyramid Pile Cure is sold by drug gists generally for fifty cents a pack age, and we urge all sufferers to write Pyramid Drug Co., Marshall, Mich., for their valuable little book describing the cause and cure of piles. be required to pay $20. That is, farms and all personal property will pay $100 in taxes where railroads will pay only $40. The fact that the appointment of deputy assessors must be approved by the county board does not improve the law at all. The party that can elect the assessor can usually elect a ma jority of the county board, so as to control the selection of the deputies. OBJECTIONS TO THE LAW. 1. It is undemocratic and takes away home rule. The right of the peo ple to select their assessors, that is the men who do the work, is taken away. A county boss is chosen and he (with the help of his political friends) run the assessment for the whole county. . He may send a man from Kearney to any country precinct to do the assessing. His party man agers may select the deputy asses sors for him. The voter cannot help himself nor have anything to say as to the man who shall assess his prop erty. It centralizes power in one man and his political managers. This is another step in the central ization of power. When the old board of supervisors was abolished a long step was taken toward one-man pow er in county government. True, we were left with seven supervisors In stead of 26, but next time they will cut off the other six and leave us only one. warmers all over the county are suf fering these wet years Tor want of a supervisor in each township to look after bridges. One man cannot look after five townships and get washed out bridges replaced, wltnout great de lay, especially when the railroads con fiscate the lumber and piling ordered by our contractors. Every time the right of the people to govern themselves and do their own business is cut down a great wrong is done. Our New England forefathers were wise when they established the town meeting where the people met once a year to do their public busi ness, to govern themselves. But here in Nebraska the right of home rule is being gradually taken away. All pow er is being concentrated into the hands of a few men at the county seat. Vot ers, will you submit to this any long er? Will you now approve a law that takes away ycrar right to elect the man who assesses your property? 2. The county assessor plan is in the interest of the railroads. . The railroads, under the new rev enue law, have practical control ot the state board of equalization and as sessment, 'so that no great raise will be made in the assessment of their property. Next year it will be as sessed at about $27,000,000, the same as this year, -when Jn fact it ough to be $70,000,000. , But. in the last legislature it was planned to raise the levy of taxes in the state so as to get $2,000,000 extra to pay off the state debt. (All made by the republicans.) This extra $2, 000,000 will be levied upon farm prop erty, real estate and personal prop ery in the state and railroad property will go tree because their assessment will not be raised as the assessment of other property will be. The farm that pays a tax this year of $20 will be taxed from $24 to $28 next year, and every year thereafter. All taxes ex cept those on railroad property will be raised next year from 15 to 25 per cent This is to be done with the . help of the county assessor, under the new revenue law. In the legislature last winter the railroads run things to suit themselves and they fixed the rev enue law just as they wanted it. They will put money into the campaign this year to help elect the man that suits them for county assessor. And you may be sure they will not help elect George L. Richards of Odessa, " the populist candidate for county assessor. But they will help elect his opponent, or try to, for they will fail to elect him. 3. The county assessor law will hlp machine politics. In this county there will be at least 25 deputy as sessors. These are likely to be politi cal strikers and workers, chosen as :. reward for their work in politics. " See what a chance it gives to a corrupt party to hire two or three men in each precinct to get to work in the cam paign, on a promise of appointment as deputy assessor. Every voter that is posted knows that there are some party managers in Buffalo county who will do just this thing. So the Jaw helps to breed corruption in county poMtics. Voters, you are all interested, vital ly interested, in this campaign. Your cwn personal interests are affected. Your rights as citizens to manage your own business are invaded by this out rageous act of the legislature. Go to the polls and vote for the man who will serve you best under this law. While we have the law we have to obey it. But we must see to it that our county assessor Is a man who will do what is right under the law; and that our county board is composed of friends of the people. Vote for" all the populist candidates for state, and county offices and for county supervis ors. They are independent and without r Now Ready for Distribution. ill y) CATALOGUE WO. it ill 'lS JF f M M Dmm fc Hk HI II H yni rMfkM M,fcciB ll ill UNCOLN. m 1(1 ft Ijl l uootM poaa ittni ro n i 1 ll l'4 A -Ac- Send for a Copy at Once if you Buy from Catalogue Farm Insurance. Fire,Lightning, Windstorms On Live Stock, D to ell in g s, Out Buildings & Contents. Farmers and Merchants Ins. Co., Lincoln, Nebr. Established in 1885. Losses Paid to Patrons Over TbrecQcarters of a Million. Security to Policy Holders $354,175.54. No assessments. Assured assumes no liability. If there is no agent in your town write direct to the company. W. G. Bishop, President, E. C. Bishop, Vice-President. E. C. Bigger, Secretary. W. N. Watson, Treasurer. Lincoln Business College. (Jt&bllahad 1881.) Offers courses in Business, Shorthand and Typewriting. These courses include all the commercial branches. Ours is an old established, up-to-date institution; well and favorably known for thorough and competent graduates Our teachers are men of successful business experience as well as recognized teaching ability. Excellent equipments and every facility for the rapid and thorough advancement oi students. Catalogue free. Write us. Address, LINCOLN BUSINESS COLLEGE, Lincoln, Nebraska any strings on them, especially rail road strings. -They will do their duty and serve your best interests. Tins law was enacted with the help o! the . republican representatives, Knox and Davis, and republican Sen ator Wall. Is their party a friend of the people when they will do these things? Can voters expect republican candidates to do the right thing under the law? Good Investment Proposition 320-acre farm, 6 miles from Or leans; 7-room house, barn 32x40; 15 acres in hog lot; 20 acres in alfalfa; 40 acres of timber; 80 acTes in pas ture, balance under plow. Running water. Good orchard. Price, $20 per acre. This is an excellent investment. No. A38. . 320-acre farm near Huntley, nice rolling land and splendid soil, fairly well improved at $15 per acre. This land is worth more money. For sale bv Weber & Farris, Lincoln, Neb. -EXCHANGE LIST. No. A15. 1,100-acre ranch 6 miles from Spencer, Boyd county, 627 acres deeded land and balance school land leased. All under fence, 240 acres fenced hog tight, living water, 200 acres under cultivation, 20 acres in al falfa, plenty of hay, good Improve ments, plenty of timber; part can be irrigated. Price for the deeded land $20 per acre and will assign the lease on school land. This place is properly equipped for a ranch. Will sell or trade for any good Income property. Poor health cause. No.. A16. A splendid hotel property in good Iowa town, rented on lease fur $100 per month. Worth $12,000. Mortgaged for $6,000. Will trade for good income property and will assume ' as much indebtedness as there ia against the hotel. . No. A17. Two houses in Syracuse, Gtoe county, to trade for land south of the Platte and east of Kearney. Best house worth $4,000 and othen worth $2,000. If interested write for full description. , No. A37. 480 acres of choice farm land in Harlan county . worth $7,000. To trade for good farri land In east ern Nebraska in German settlement. Several choice stocks of merchant dise to trade for land. Livery stable worth $7,500 In good town to trade for land. A nice list of ranch property to trade for good farm land. Weber & Farris, Lincoln, Neb. Farmers, Attention! : Do you wish to sell your farm? I so, send full description, lowest price and best terms. Or, if you wish tai buy a farm, ranch or Lincoln home, write to or call on Williams & Brattg 1105 0 St., Lincoln, Neb.