Image provided by: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Lincoln, NE
About Valentine Democrat. (Valentine, Neb.) 1900-1930 | View Entire Issue (June 5, 1902)
IRENE'S VOW . . By CHARLOTTE M. BRAEME. CHAPTER VII. ( Continued. ) Early the next morning they started for Italy. "Florence is the most brilliant and gay of all the Italian cities just at present , " said Sir Hulbert ; "we will go there. " This time he went to a hotel ; there was no time for taking a house , and it seem ed to him that , for a change , hotel life would be pleasant. They went to the Hotel San Marco , where several English people of rank and fortune were staying. Sir Hulberl looked down the list of vis- itorc' names , then entered his Mr. and Mrs. Leigh. Irene smiled as she read it. "Suppose , " she said , "there are people hfere who know you ; they will wonder why you call yourself Mr. Leigh. " r "I 'shall ' not tell lh--'m , " he answered. "There are no personal friends of mine on the list. It seems to be a very nice hotel ; we shall be most comfortable here , I think. " A magnificent suite of apartments was allotted to Mr. and Mrs. Leigh with their servants. "Shall we join the table d'hot.j ? " asked Sir Hulbert , of his fair young wife. "It will be more cheerful , but not so digni fied. " "I shall like it best , " she replied. One week passed happily enough ; they drove round the beautiful environs of fair Florence ; they visited the picture galleries , the palaces , the gardens and one evening , when dinner was over , and they wera sitting on the broad terrace that overlooked the Arno , a party of English people arrived Lord and Lady Glendayer , with their three tall , gaunt daughters. The whole party came upon the terrace , and before Sir Hulbert had time even to look around , Lord Glendayer came up to him. Everyone was looking at them , or he would not , perhaps , have acted just as he did. "How do you do. Sir Hulbert ? " said my lord , in his loud , cheery voice. "I did not anticipate the pleasure of seeing you here. " j The handsome face grew dark with annoyance and pale with passion. * "I beg your pardon , " lie said , quickly , "I have not had the honor of knowing you. " Lord Glendayer smiled. "It is not a very pleasant matter to be BO completely forgotten. Let me remind jou , Sir Hulbert , I met you at an an nual dinner at the Freemasons' Hall. " He was interrupted. "You are altogether mistaken , " said the baronet. "I am Mr. Leigh. " "Nay , I cannot surely be mistaken , " said Lord Glendayer. "We sat talking for half an hour about the iucome tax. I cannot be mistaken. " "Then if you are not mistaken , I do not know my own name , " said Sir Hulbert , haughtily. "I hope to he believed when I insist that 1 am Mr. Leigh. " Lord Glendayer bowed and retired ; the conversation had been quite public , but did not excite much comment. "Mistak en identity , " people said , as they smiled at each other , "and really some of these good English do resemble each other so much. " "Did he really know you , Hulbert ? " said Irene , "just as he said he did1 "Yes , 1 am afraid so , my darling , " he replied. [ "Why did you not tell him the truth ? " she asked. "I could not. I must have introduced you. " "And why not , rather than offend an old friend ? " slie asked. "He is not an old friend ; and no one knows , sweet , better than you , that I cannot introduce you as mv wife at pres ent. " That seemed plausible enough , but Irene was going up the grand .staircase alone that evening when Miss Glendayer , a lady of strong character and rather passee appearanceassed her by. Irene stopped to make room for her , and some ' little courtesies passed between them. Suddenly , from the broad corridor , Lady Glendayer , tall , awful and solemn , ap- , ' peared. I "Matilda. " she said , "to whom are von . talking ? " "Dear mamma , to Mrs. Leigh , " she re ( plied. "I do not know such a person. " said my Jady , "and in a hotnl of this kind you J cannot be too careful. I want you at once. " Miss Glendayer looked-into the blushing face of the beautiful girl. "There is some mistake , " she cried ; "mamma cannot possibly know that it is you. " "There is no mistake , " cried my lady. ' "Your papa may have madeone > hey are not in my way ; I have not made an other. " "I am very sorry , " said Miss Glen dayer , as she hastened away , leaving Irene indignant and amazed. At once she wont to Sir Hulbert and told him what had happened. He would not let ' her see how greatly he was angered. "Take no notice of it , darling. " he said ; "it'is some foolish mistake. In my hum ble opinion the half of the people in the world arc mad that old lady could not ! have been sane. " And shortly thereafter they returned to their native land. CHAPTER VIII. "I must be near London , " said Sir Hul bert , when the question of wh re they * should live came tobe settled. "You will be happier if we are where we will see each other often. " He never forgot the eyes of distress that she raised to his fa'ce. "Shall we not always be together as we are here ? " she asked. "No ; that would be quite impossible. Irene. I have a great house palace. I might call it of my own in May fair , hut do not live there. It is called Estmere HOBSC. An old lady , distantly related to me , takes care of it for me. I seldom go near it. When I am in town I prefer hotel or club life. " She laid her folded hands o * his shoul der. "But why , " she asked , "why must we , not be together , Hulbert ? " "My dear child , you cannot be with me in London until ' ' He paused , and she added : "Until our marriage is made kno'yn ? " "Exactly so , " he replied , with a care less nod. "If I had known that , " she said , in a passion of tears , "I would never have come to England. " "You will be very happy , sweet. There is a grand old house at.Kew to let. The Countess of Horland used to live there. The lawn slopes down to the very bank of the river , and the nightingales sing in the trees. It is beautifully furnished. I thought of taking it so that I can often run down there. I could spend quite half of every week with you and take you out occasionally. " "But , Hulbert , " she pleaded , ' 'why could we not go to your house in London and Jive there ? " "If we did that , I must introduce you to the world as my wife ; and at present , you know , that cannot be. " She looked at him wistfully. "When will it he , Hulbert ? I I can not go home to Branslea until that is done. I cannot tell how it is , but I se m to have lost half the pleasure I used to have in calling myself Lady Irene Est- Snere. " She tried to smile as she spoke ; but her lips quivered and her hands trembled. He turned away with a careless smile , a light laugh that jarred upon her. "You are impatient , Irene. 1 have al ways told you how uncertain the time was. Can you not make yourself happy with me ? " He bent down to kiss her ; and all the passion and love in her heart surged over her now. She had no more objections , no more hesitation ; she would live just whore he wished her , and do all that he desired. 1J ( echgrove was taken , with all its lux urious appointments furniture , decora tion and hangings a home flt for a duch ess. For the first time Irene felt at home. One evening Sir Hulbert suddenly be came dissatisfied with the quality of his cigar. "There is but one thing in the world that I am fastidious over , " he cried , "and that is my cigars , Irene. There is a case in my pocket , the pocket of the coat hanging up in the hall will you look for it ? I have not patience for these things. There are no rosebuds this time , I can certify. " She went at once to do his bidding. True , there was no vestige of a rosebud , hut there was something worse. Out of the pocket of the overcoat fell a pair of lemon-tinted gloves , and a delicate ivory tablet that had been used by some lady at a ball. Without thinking , she hastily read it over , and the name of Sir Hulbert was repeated ove'r and over again. This , then , \vas the reason why he could not take her to the theater the evening previous ; he had been at a ball with someone else. She did not stop poor child , to consider or Lo think ; she forgot all about tho cigars , lier beautiful face Hushed hotly. She went back to him at once , and laid the pretty tablet before him. "Now I understand why you would not take me out , ' " she said. "Your en gagement was a ball. You would not tell me where. Doubtless it was with the ady to whom this belonged is it so ? " A shadow of pride , auger , and defiance mssed over his face ; then a careless , jalf-scornful smile crossed his lips. "It was so. You are right in both sur- nisos. What then ? " "What then ? " she repeated. "How rruel , how heartless , how unkind. " "I do not see it. Irene , my position 11 the world obliges me to fulfill obliga- ions. What folly to quarrel over it. " "Does your social position oblige you to ro to balls , while you leave me here ilone , and treasure even such a trifle as his ? ' ' she asked , angrily. "I see a name > n it. What is it ? 'Lady Lira Geraut. ' lulbert , who is Lady Lira Gerant ? " The dark face flushed , and an angry ight flamed in his eyes. "If Lady Gerant be nothing to you , " ilie said , "why have you kept this ? Yon mist have kept it for her sake. " "I can safely aver I did no such thing , > rone. I did not even know it was in ny pocket. I danced with the lady last veiling , it is true ; as you can see for ourself , I wrote my name on her tablet , can only imagine that she left it in my lauds , and I put it away with what is nuch more precious to me my own cigar a.se. . If you were less jealous , Irene , I ould trust you more. If I had told you ust night that I was going to a ball there vould have been a scene , as you know ; on would have been jealous , and I hould not have liked that. If you were 'easonable , and I could speak to you vithout fear , I should tell voti. every- hing. " "I am not jealous , " she said , "but it eems to me I have a right to know rhere you go and what you do. Hulbert , vho is Lady what is the name ? " she ook up the tablet again and re-read it "Lady Lira Gerant. ' Who is she , Hul- iert ? " lie laughed carelessly. "Some people consider her the most eautiful woman in England , Irene. I o not. I think you hold that place of lonor. " "But who is she ? " asked Irene. "I do ot want to know what , but whojs she ? " "She is the daughter of one of the most loworful earls Earl Gerant , a man sec- mi to none , " he replied , earnestly. "He 3 the greatest power in the State. " "I have read about him , " she said , houghtfully. "You have asked me who Lady Lira is ; can tell you in very few words. The Countess of Gerant died a few years ince , and Lady Lira , who was then but eventeen years old , took the entire com- land of her father's household. She is : ust twenty. She is accounted by many tie loveliest woman in England ; she holds neof the highest positions in the land ; he is a wealthy hfiross , and she is , be- ides , the very queen of fashion. " Tender arms stole round his neck , and weet lips were laid lightly on his own. : "Still , " said a low , sweet voice , "still or all that , I would not change places -ith her. Hulbert. " . "Why not , my dearest ? " he aske-d. "Because you do not love her. and you o love me , " she answered , and those sim- d le words touched him far more than ho ) rould have liked to own ; his face grew pale under them , he winced like a man who had received a sudden shot in the face. "So , for all her beauty , her wealth , her brilliant position , and her honored name , I 'jo not envy the Lady Lira Ge raut , " continued the girl. "The only woman on earth I should ever envy would be the woman you loved that is , if ever you did or could love anyone but me. " July , with its warmth and fragrance , passed ; August came. It had been un derstood between them that Irene should not leave Beechgrove. "Walk or drive as much as you will im this neighborhood , " Sir Hulbert had said , "but never go to town. " She had faithfully complied with his wish ; but during the first week in Au gust came his birthday , and she wanted to purchase a handsome ring for him. She planned in her own mind how she would always makp him wear it. It was not fair , she tljoiight , that married man should not wear some token of his bond age. She had often debated the subject with Sir Hulbert , and her own opinion was that a married man was quite as strictly bound to wear a wedding ring as a married lady. So , on his birthday , she would present him with one. and she would ask him to wear it always , just as she wore the plain circlet of gold he had placed upon her finger. Once in town , she thought it no harm to drive around. She had no intention of watching her husband , she preferred not meeting him. She wished to keep her present as a surprise , and if she met him sho would have to give some evasive an swer when he asked what she was doing there. As ill luck , or fortune , or fate , would have it , as she was driving through Hyde Park , she saw him ; he was seated by the side of a lady , and he was so deeply engrossed in conversation with her that he never even raised his eyes as Irene passed by. She knew that expression on his dark , handsome face. It was one of deep and rapt attention she knew the look in the dark , eloquent eyes it was one of profound admiration , she had seen them with that same look linger on her face. It was but a fleeting look on hia face , her glance lingered long on the lovely lady at his side a dark-browed woman with a mouth like a rosebud dark , proud eyes a high-bred patrician face a proud , graceful , elegant lady , su perbly dressed , young , beautiful , and evi dently not indifferent to Sir Hulbert. It was not so much jealousy that gave her so keen a sense of pain , that her face blanched and her hands trembled , uot so much jealousy as a sudden , subtle sense of the fact that her world and his ' lay far apart ; that his interests , his friendships , his likings , and everything connected with him , were entirely sep arated from hers , that had always been one of unity , of harmony , two lives in one , not of divided interests and separate worlds. "I might as well not be married , " she said to herself , "for I live outside my husband's life. " Another time , when she was in town on business which she did not wish him to know , she saw him riding by the side of the same lady. They were going to- j ward the park , and a sharp twinge of jealousy added to her pain ; there wab no concealing the fact that the expression on Sir Ilulbert's face was one of pro found admiration. Then a fatal idea entered her head ; it was that the next time Sir Hulbert went to town she would follow him , and watch j for herself what kind of a life he led there , and how he passed his time. When he left Beechgrove at three the next afternoon , she followed him by tho four o'clock train ; as he rode into town and she went by train , she was there first. Instinct rather than knowledge made her go to the club , where he told her ho spent the greater part of his time. She had wrapped herself up so securely that she wa.s sure , even if he passed her , that lit would not know her. Everyone knows Estmere House , the lovely and magnificent mansion facing Hyde Park , one of the finest houses in London. It is more like a palace than the dwelling place of a subject. On this August even ing while the silver moon hid her face behind the clouds , and the sweet night wind told its secret to the trees , one might have seen a tall , slender figure , draped in black , near the gates of the mansion ; the figure of a woman evidently watching , but she was fortunate , so far is this , that no onenoticed her. Every time the grand iron gates opened she Kissed near enough to see and hoar. Her ] patient waiting seemed to be rewarded when .she saw the tall figure of a gentle man in evening dress. A closed carnage tlrovc up to the porch with its long , broad flight of marble .steps , and she overheard the order given to the coachman : "Court place. " Now , who lived at Court place and what was it ? The only plan that suggested itself to ler was to hasten to the nearest cab stand , and tell one of the drivers to take ler to Court place. She did so , and the Qvstman to whom she spoke , said : "I do tiot know Court place , miss. " Up came another , quite eagerly. "I enow it , miss , " he said ; "it is St. James' Park. Lord Geraut's mansion. I know it. miss. " "Lord Gerant's ! " The words were like i revelation to her. She remembered now that a few days since , while reading the fashionable intelligence to Sir Hulbert , she came across the following item : "The Sari Geraut still remains at his mansion n St. James' Park , where his official luties detain him. " She had asked at the time what these official duties were , and Sir Hulbert had told her. She ( thought of this as she drove to the house Sir Hulbert had gone. There the : abman asked a fare that might have istonished one more versed in the ways ) f the world. She paid it , and would mve paid it if it had been gold instead ) f silver. She saw before her a man sion little less magnificent than that of Sir Hulbert's. There were lights in the ivindows , carriages driving to and from he door. Unexpectedly the grand hall loor was opened , and she saw brilliant ights , servants in livery , every sign of vealth , luxury and magnificence. What vas Sir Hulbert doing there ? She stood watching , patiently , and igain her patience was rewarded. A losed carriage , with a pair of fine horses irove up to the door , and in a few min- : ites Sir Hulbert appeared , leading by .he hand the same beautiful lady she c md seen him with before a lady bril- j [ t iant as the sarnmer sun at noonday liamonds flashing in her hair , her eyei ! right as stars. ( To be continued. ) k Independent Items Excerpts From The Nebraska Independent , Lincoln , Nebraska , Made by Direc tion of the Populist State Central Committee. Editor Rosewater of the Omaha Bee Is determined that the state board of equalization shall understand that he was not bluffing when he asked that the board should assess railroad fran chises. Tuesday E. W. Slmeral , re presenting the relator in the case of State ex rel. Bee Publishing Co. v. Savage , et al , filed his motion in the supreme court asking a writ of man damus. The court issued an alternat ive writ , returnable June 3 , directing the state board to reassess the railroad and telegraph property within the state or show cause why it should not. The Bee remarks that "the members of the state board of equalization now have an opportunity to tell the su preme court why. " Attorney General Prput will represent the board , Sim eral will appear for the relator , and every "chief guy" railroad attorney in the state will probably want to ap pear as "friend of the court. " The suit is a timely one and will result in a judicial interpretation of the vexed question wfiether the board has suf ficient law , or any law. requiring it to assess railroad franchises. The out come will be watched with interest. If the writ is made mandatory , then Rosewater will strengthen his claims for turning down Stuefer and Weston ( Savage being already shelved ) ; but the republican platform on railroad assessments is written , no matter which way the case goes. The Omaha board of equalization finished its work Monday night with the result that $1,523,190 is added to the value of the five public service corporations This is a great victory for the real estate exchange , and a leather in the cap of Attorney J. H. Mclntosh. who conducted the case to the supreme court and back. The companies affected are : Omaha Street railway , raised $750,000 ; Omaha water company. $275,000 ; omaha gas com pany , $57,500 ; and Nebraska tele phone company , $65,690. Combined figures are as follows : Assessment by tax commis sioner $2,797,000 Reduced by board to 1,751,810 Present figures 3,275,000 Increase 1,523,190 School Apportionment It is wonderful to note the gyrations now being made by certain republican organs because the May school ap portionment is over the $400,000 mark. Formerly , when the populist adminis tration apportioned large sums , it was "McKinley prosperity" that did it ; now it is the excellent work of Treas urer Stuefer , Land Commissioner Follmer , et al. The state officers aie the ones who deserve the credit , whether they are populists or repub licans , and no fair-minded man would refuse to give credit for every good act , performed by any of the republican j state officials. Part of every appor tionment is not due to the efficiency of the officers in charge when it is made. The United States bonds pur chased many years ago still continue to bear $300 revenue every six months , regardless of whether a populist or a republican treasurer is in charge , and no syccial credit is due the treasurer c becaue of its receipt. The increase , in tho fusion apportionment was due T in great measure to the energy of "Uncle Jake" Wolfe , the populist land commissioner ; but while Uncle Jake s was collecting for the then present up- a portionments , he was also leasing r many thousands of acres , the rentals of which are now being collected by Mr. Follmer ; and Mr. Meserve was . making investments , the interest on which is now being collected by Treas \ urer Stuefer. The present apportion ment is made up of the following items : State School Taxes $122,514.99 Interest on School and Sa line Lands Sold 122,281.78 Interest on School and Sa line Lands Leased 78,332.88 riJI Interest on United States JIo Bonds 300.00 JIli li Interest on County Bonds 64,424.94 lit t Interest on Warrants 27,058.94 interest on school district 487.0 r Game and Fish License Fees 2,058.00 Peddlers" License . 89.1 Embalmers' Bal . 1.05 Total $417,548.72 The item of "interest on warrants , a $27,058.94" is directly to be credited o to the wisdom of the populist board of educational lands and funds. Every warrant on which that $27,000 inter est accrued was purchased by Treas nrer Meserve. Had the former repuh- * : lican policy been carried out , there * ' would have been no investment in warrants , and this approtionment vould have been that much smaller. A large portion of the interest on schools lands leased is directly due to uncle Jake's good work. But give the devil his due. Credit the repub lican officials with all they arc entitled to. Benevolent assimiliatlon didn't make the school apportionment , and the fact that the present oiiicials are n trying to keep up the pace set for them by their fusion predecessors is good evidence that fusion has done good 1J for Nebraska , . Former republican ad ministrations never reached the mark yet they could have done much bet ter , with every security bearing high- 2r interest rates than now and just fl is much land to get income from. o 0tl RAILROAD ASSESSMENT tlb ! Predictedb7 The Independent , the Re tiv \v publican Board Insults the People 6 ! by MakingRnise of fteven- a : Tentka ofbua Per Cent c ; Tha unexpected doesn't always hap pen. Frequently results can be fore na casted with almost mathematical cer a tainty. It required no gift of prophecy n : Lo foretell that the state board of 0al squallzation would make no appreci- al ible raise in the railroad assessment his year , because the republican party 0 ] n Nebraska has for many years been m mbi : ontrolled by the railroad interests , biPi t is not simply because the taxing Pi > oard is composed of Governor Sav- tlh ige , Treasurer Steufer , and Auditor h ; Weston , that the railroads are asses- P < sed at such a ridiculously Jow valua tion but rather because the republi can party , that is , tne leadership of zhat party , is dominated by the rail roads. There are individual republi- c , ns , of course , who are free from such a charge ; but the party as a political organization is essentially a railroad party , a monopoly party. On the other hand there are undoubtedly some populists who wear the corpor ation yoke , although not many ; but the party as a political organization is essentially an anti-monopoly party. For these reasons it is folly to expect relief from railroad extortions and tax-shirking through republican ad ministration ; it cannot come except through an anti-monopoly party , and when the republican party ceases to be a monopoly party , it will cease to be the republican party. Last week the board completed its work of assessing the railroads , decid ing that the 5,704.34 miles in Ne braska should be valued at $26,589- 592.70 , or an average of $4,662.12 to each mile. This is about $180,000 in crease over last year's assessment , or the insignificant amount of seven- tenths of one per cent ( .7 per cent , or an increase of 7 points out of a thous and. ) The following table shows the as sessed railway valuation for the thir teen years , 1890 to 1902 , Inclusive , ai.d the grand assessment roll for these years , except for 1902 , that being not yet completed. Grand Assessed Rail- Assm't Roll. way Val'n. 1890 . . . . $184,770,304.54 $29,83i,221.05 1891 . . . . 183,138,236.28 29,205,917.50 1892 . . . . 186,432,376.71 29,3J9,631.00 1893 . . . . 194,733,124.73 28,374,138.00 1894 . . . .183,717,498.78 27,939,178.50 1895 . . . .171,468,207.48 25,425,308.00 1896 . . . .167,078,270.37 25,424,708.00 1897 . . . .165,193,736.42 25,561,720.70 1898 . . . . 167,810,764.79 26,108,936.80 1899 . . . . 169,105,905.10 26,106,450.10 1900 . . . . 171,747,593.41 26,346,735.90 1901 . . . . 174,439,095.45 26,422,732.39 1902 . . . . 26,589,582.70 Last year the board assessed the Omaha Bridge & Terminal company , and did not do so this year. Compar ing the property assessed both years the increase on railroad property alone is $184,752.40 , although the ac tual increase , as shown by the figures above , is only $166,860.31. This is acounted for by the omission of the bridge property this year , which will be assessed by the county authorities in Douglas. This insignificant raise in the rail road assessment is an insult to the in telligence of Nebraska taxpayers. It will help out the already overburdened < state general fund to the tune of some thing over $900 on the 5 mill levy al < lowed by law. It will result in about 1,300 additional state taxes all told general , university , and state school 'unds. And right in the face of the tact that two of the roads , the Burl ington and the Union Pacific , have in : he past nine months ( ending March > 1 , 1902) ) increased their net earnings. Dver the corresponding period in 1901 , : is follows : Burlington $1,541,241 Union Pacific 2,796,084 Remember that these figures repre sent INCREASED net earnings ; the ictual net earnings for the 1902 nine- nonths period being : Burlington $15,690,140 Jnion Pacific 17,281,769 Yet the state board of equalization , et all the railroads in the state off vith a paltry raise of $1,300 for state axes ; and the total increase for all mrposes , state , county , municipal , ind school district even at the high ate of 50 mills would not amount to .10,000 . for the entire year for all the oads. The "Burlington alone will . [ raw from the people of Nebraska for let earnings ( chat is , the total charges or freight and passenger service , less iperating expenses ) in the neighbor- sood of $8,000,000 or $9,000.000 during he year 1902 ; but the people of Ne- raska will receive from all the rail- oads in the state not to exceed $1,300- 00 in taxes of every description and : t is doubtful if the amount will each $1,250,000. Whatever criticisms may be urged .gainst the members of other boards if equalization , whether populist or epubllcan officials , the fact remains hat the present board deserves the everest censure for its action. The itiestion of just and equitable taxa- ion is a growing one , and it is idle o deny that the present board is better quipped for doing its full duty than he boards which preceded it. Only ecently have the people came to a learer realization of the fact that a ailroad corporation possesses and en- oys a valuable something which the of property generally do not iossess or enjoy that is to say , its IT ranchise , its right to exercise the ITsi siti overnmental function of eminent do- ti lain , condemning and taking private tin < iroperty for its use ; its right to the n xclusive use of a continuous strip ai ind as a highway ; its right to charge aiS ; or services "all that the traffic will tl ear. " Only recently have the people tlC ome to a clearer realization of the C ( act that a railroad should be valued n noj s ! au entirety not as a scrap heap oj f ties , rails , box cars , and engines. 01 Inly recently have they learned that 01ai he railroad valued as an entirety is aire astly more valuable than the com- re ined values of all its visible ct-nsti- rePI utent parts ascertained in the u.ual it : itSI ray. And the present board cannot SI scape criticism on the plea of ignor- te nce. Other boards may , but this one IE annot , because the whole matter has ei een very thoroughly discussed in the eiP : ewspapers ; it was presented in an se ble manner by M. F. Harrington in tt ttbe letter to the board , and in the argu- be lenta of Edward Rosewater of the imaha Bcc and E. W. Simeral , his in ttorney , before the board. The In- epaud nt has been hammering away n this franchise question for many C lonths but , of course the republican oard would not listen to a populist m aper but is IP gratifying to note 'c tiat Mr. Simeral and Mr. Rosewater oc ochi ave been close readers of The Inde- hi tndent There Is no copyright on The Independent was the the Idea , but pioneer in the movement in this part of the west to tax railroad franchises and to show how the value of such could be ascertained. What is a railroad worth ? Let- Judge Brewer answer. He cannot be charged with being a wild-eyed popu " cardinal rule , " says tne list. "It is a judge , "which should never be for whatever property Is gotten , that worth for the purposes of income and sale it is also worth for the purpose of taxation. " ( Adams Express Co. v. Ohio , 166 U. S. , 185 and 220) . It is not often that a railroad is sold outright , but ownership of a portion thereof is usually in the market in the way or stocks or bonds. Let us apply this to a Nebraska road or two. Before the Northern Pacific bought the Burlington stock , the capitaliza tion for every mile of line was : Capital stock $14,503 Funded debt 22,767 Total $37,270 The Hill crowd offered $2 in 4 per cent bonds for every dollars worth of stock , and thisras accepted. These * new 4 per cent bonds are quoted at 96. The old bondsare not quoted , but it is not likely they are below par. Accordingly the actual value of the Bu..iagton today is at a conservative estimate $50,000 per mile , or $120- 831,500 for the 2,416.63 miles assessed by the board at $10,357,236.70 , or less than one-eleventh of its actual value. 2,416.63 MILES B. & M. Actual value per mile $ 50C\0 Actual value 120 > 31,500 Assessed value per mile 4,285 Assessed value 10,357,236 At one tenth 12,083,150 At one-ninth 13,425,722 At one-eighth 15,103,938 At one-seventh 17,261,643 At one-sixth 20,138,583 At one-fifth 24,166,300 Suppose we take the Union Pacific , not counting the branch lines-slmply the 467.38 miles from Omaha west. which the board assessed at $4,480,324 , or $9,800 per mile. Under the reor ganization this road is capitalized per mile at : Stocks $73,263 Funded debt 51,182 Union Pacific 4s are selling at 105 1-2 to 106 3-4 ; preferred stock at 87 and common stock at 103 1-2. This would bring the actual value of the road to about : Stocks $66,000 Bonds 54,000 Or $120,000 per mile. That is what the Union Pacifis is worth on the market today. Yet this republican board assessed it at only $9,800 per mile , or less than one-twelfth of its value. 467.38 MILES UNION PACIFIC. Actual value per mile $ -120,000 A-ctual value 56,085,600 Assessed value per mile 9,800 Assessed value 4,480,324 i\.t one-eleventh 5,098,691 A.t one-tenth 5,608,560 U one-ninth 6,231,73.1 < U one-eighth 7,010,700 U one-seventh 8.012.22S t one-sixth 9,347,600 i.t one-fifth 11,217,120 In order that the farmer may know vhether the board did its duty , let nm make a comparison with his own issessment. The different fractions of ictual value are worked out down to ne-fifth. The Burlington's assess- nent is little if any higher than its let earnings in Nebraska will be this rear. If the farmer or business man vere assessed no higher than his net jarnings , the grand assessment rolls vould shrink worse than they have. Mr. Simeral's statement to the board hat the Nebraska railroads are today vorth about $300,000,000 on the mar- : et , is about the correct figure. Thesa oads are earning interest and divi- lends on that amount. They did not ost any such sum , but that makes no lifference. When the farm rises in alue its assessed valuation goes up -the cost is never figured in arriving- .t the taxable value of a farm. The iuestion always is , What will it sell or ? The Nebraska roads , or most if them are being sold every day on he stock exchange. They are worth hree hundred million dollars ; yet hey were assessed a miserable'sum , ess than one-eleventh , less than 9 per ent , of their selling value in the mar- et and this , too , after fellow repub- icans to the members of the beard , len higher in the councils of the arty , had implored them to make a ubstantial raise. Even at one-sev- nth actual value , the railroad assess- lent would have been over $42,000,000 r over $16,000,000 greater than it Is ! 'his would have produced $80,000 ad- itional state general fund taxes ' omething that is greatly needed these , ays to help to wipe out that two mil- ions of floating debt. The assess ment ought not have been a cent less nan forty millions at the most con- ervative figures. Anything less than fiat amount is simply gigantic tax- hirking. No other board ever had the 'tax latter so clearly presented for con- ideration , and no other board ever urned so deaf an ear to the voice of eason. Railroad assessments will everbe raised by a republican board ny appreciable amount. Messers. avage , Stuefer , and Weston wrote ae republican platform for 1902 , so ir as corporation taxation is con- erned , when they decided to tax the lilroads on the basis of one-eleventh f actual value. Governor Savage is ut of the race , but Treasurer Stuefer nd Auditor Weston are seeking re- omination. Knowing that this rail- Dad assessment means defeat at the oils this fall , unless the responsibit- y can be saddled upon Weston ami tuefer. Editor Rosewater will at- Jmpt to have them "turned down" i the convention in June. But wh.th - r he succeeds or not , the republican arty is responsible for the low as- jssment. Every republican leader in le state gave aid and comfort to tbo oard in doing just as it did , if we ccept Mr. Rosewater and he is held i bad odor by the machine. ! , A.dramatic critic writing of the suo jss of Ben Hur in London , says that Sen. Lew Wallace is a very devout lan. " He should have heard the levout" language that Lew Wallaca : casionally uses when something rilea im , before he attempted that write * P.