Image provided by: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Lincoln, NE
About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (May 18, 1902)
THfl OMAHA DAILY KEEi SUNDAY, MAY 18, 1002 Clt-CM. WB CLOSE 8ATCRDAT8 AT P. M. Handsome All Wool French Challis. A 50c . About thirty-five pieces to choose from,, in small polka dot and figured effects, new blue, pink, gray, Yale blue, turquoise, old blue. Nothing wears better or looks handsomer, in all the new goods, than a dress of this dainty, soft, clinging fabric. Special price Monday morning, 19c per yard: Summer Wash Goods i. Buy your wash goods now. before the real rush sets in. .You'll hare more time now to find what you want, besides, the j assortment is better now. . Lots of styles are being1 old every day, that we cannot duplicate. ' Zephyr ginghams, UHe a yard. Madras,' 15o. 18c, 20c, 25c, 10c, JSC, 40c, 45c, tOo per yard. Oxford, 25c and 40c per yard. ' Tissue. 18c, 25c, 30c, S6c, 40c, a yard. Dimities, 10c, 12Hc, 15c, 18c per yard. 1 Batlite. 10c, 15c and 18c per yard. 1 ' Lac Lenoa, 15c, 18c, 20c, 25c, 10c, 85c, 60o per yard. Cbambraya, 124c, 15c. lie, 20c, 25c, 50c per yard. Mercerized Zephyr, 20c and 25c per yard : Duck Suitings., 10c and 15c per yard. ' ' New Hop Backing 12Hc per yard. Galatea Cloth at 16c per yard. Long Gloves ' We have received a new line of 16-inch uede kid (love. In black and white, at $2.00 per pair. Thompson, Beldeh &.Co. T. U. C. A. BVILDIHO, COB. leTM AMD DOCOLAJ ITS goes in and he mutt make a abowlng of the i tangible property, while the stock is not assessed. Or, take, for Instance, a depart ment store, one which Is owned by a stock company; the stock of the department tore may be very valuable. It may be worth 200 cent on the dollar, but the de partment store 1 only taxable for the mer chandise it haa on hand. It cannot be taxed for the good will, when It ha been built up by reason of yeara of advertising. It may spend $5,000, $10,000 or $15,000 a year In advertising. It haa built up a big trade and that trade may yield them an enor mous profit and they divide that profit .among themselves, but that profit Is not the bail of taxation. That would be an income tax. It la altogether an Intangible thing, .but the goods on hand, the merchandise, money, credlta or bills receivable are all to be returned and that la all there Is to It. ' Now, It Is so with banks. You take a bank ing corporation; It has a franchise because It has the right from the state or from the nation, but the stocks are not appraised at their selling market value. It la only the capital actually -Invested that Is taxed. Its stock might be worth 500 cents on the dollar. It Is only the monev actually In vested In the bank that la taxable, but with a franchlsed corporation there are other things. Take the privilege that is exclu sively enjoyed by transportation agencies for the public) It is such privilege that gives It an extraordinary value and gives It aa earning capacity way beyond the ordi nary Investment. If we should take, for example, the tangible property of a rail road. Its ties and rails, Us rolling stock and Its material they would cut a mighty amall figure In the value of the property In that shape, but the moment they take a right-of-way from the publlo for the pur pea of transporting merchandise or become a publlo carrier the pubUo must pay the toll subject to the restrictions of the state." Tax n Itallroa Franchises. ' . Mr. Ager: ".Would you consider It proper .to. tax the franchise of a railroad that Is losing money?" ' Mr. ROsewater; "It franchise would be worth nothing under thoee clrcumstaacee. The moment you show that Its stock la not telling take for Instance the Union Pacific, whea tt was la the banda of receivers. Us lock was selling then for I cents on the dollar you couldn't havs taxed It then for any mora than ita tangible property, but noH la of Value, but In two yeara from bow or ten It may go back to whore tt was. A stason of depression might strike the country."- Mr. Ager: "Then the franchise Itself flue tastes with the price of the stock." Mr. Rosewater: "It does." . ' ' Mr. Ager i "It might have a value or might have no value." .. , Mr. Rosewater: "Yes sir. It Is on of those unoertaln fluctuating commodities or proper tie that la dependent entirely upon publlo good will or upon special prtvllegea or tps- ielal conditions that give the opportunity ' for earning profits." Mr. Ar: "It ought not then to be taken ' Into account by the assessors unless the -property la earning something." . Mr. Rosewater: "When property la not earning anything it stocks are not sale- able. By reason of these recent mergers that are taking place el over the country All Run Down In the Spring. That is the condition of thousands whose systems , have not thrown off the impurities accumulated during the winter blood humors that are now causing eruptions, feelings of weakness, loss of appetite and other troubles. HOOD'S SARSAPAR1LLA 'tmovet M . . . , these humors, cures all eruptions, clears the complexion, re stores appetite, renovates, strengthens and tones the whole system. V This is the testimony of thousands, annually. "W bav found spring. It cleanse . . languid feellag which 't Carolina A. Ingram. Hood's Sarsapartlla Promises B. May II. 1WJ. Quality, Monday Morning at 19c a yard. Embroideries for Graduation Neither pains nor expense have been spared to make this stock the first' of its kind in the city, and the pleased expressions of our patrons give us the assur ance that the goods and prices are right. Many handsome outfit bar been planned and sold. The stock Is large and there la many more to aelct from. Handsome Swiss flouncing, range from 75c to 22.75 a yard, with narrower widths, lnsertlngs and all-Overs to match. We have galoons gown. a large line of embroidered and Inserting for summer Parasols Our parasols are made by one of the best manufacturers, ac knowledged to be leaders of fashion in their Jine. We are showing some of their pret tiest novelties In the most popular colorings. Prices, $2.50 to $18.00 each. unproductive property has been dumped In and merged with productive property and you have a very great difficulty now In as certaining which la which, the productive and unproductive have all been put Into one pool. Now the Union Pacific has returned an earning capacity for all tta mileage In this state of $4,700 per mile. That repre sent! 4 7-10 per cent on $100,000 rer mile. It the road waa worth $100,000 per mil and you paid $4,700 for the uae of that road clear of all expenses that would be the value of that road whether you called it the franchise or. any other thing. I don't care, but here the Union Paclflo hat dumped Into Its system th roads run ning throughout the states of Kansas and Nebraska and upon that every foot of that line la earning $4,700, whereas certain line are not earning one-half or one-fourth of that, while other parta are earning twice that much. Now, how are you to tell which la which? You have only their report before you; tbey have made a tang ible showing of earnings for the entire mileage. You will have to do one of two things; separate thoae linen and pile up the big earnlnga upon the mala line, which haa earned the bnlk of It or tax all alike. There Is no doubt but what any road that falls to earn enough to meet expenses that Ita franchise la worth nothing and auch franchise cannot be assessed, but if Us earning capacity haa gotten to the point where It paya a large dividend or reason able dividend on Us stock and pays In terest on Its bonds It then becomes a clear case, and there ahould be no question about It. It I Just tor that purpose that the constitution haa expressly provided that the franchise should be included with the prop erty because these special privileges are graated only a few corporations and they tbould pay back to the stats something for what It baa don for them. The stats of Minnesota now Is going to take S per cent of the gross earnings. When the Il linois Central waa chartered, Stephen A. Douglas put In th land grant that th Il linois Csntral should pay Into th ststs of Illinois 6 per cent of It gross earn , Ings and th result now la that the road pay a eolloesal amount Into th atat of Illinois. I do not know how many millions It pays, but It come to a yery large amount. Th Auditor: "Soma over $800,000. I have the resort here." What Proportion la J mat. Th Oovsrnor: "Here 1 on thing that la bothering me, but you In your figuring and Investigation have probably given It a great deal of attention. Th constitution requires that all property be taxed so aa to pay Ita equitable proportion of taxes, Now, from your Investigation of what la being done, what do you think the property should be taxed at, that la, what percent age? Would you aay one-fourth, one fifth, ont-alxth or on tenth of Ha actual cash value? What have you found out from your Investigation ahould b th percentage that property ahould be asseeaed at?" Mr. Rosewater: "Well, of course, th law contemplates that It should be assessed at it actual cash value or -fair value or what It would cell for In th market. No on can tell that sxaotly; that la on of those uncertain things- It all property In Nebraska was throws Into tha market at Hood's Sarsapartlla an excellent tonic la th and tone up th system and ovsreome th la apt te com with warmer weather." Mrs Algena. Iowa. to Cure an. Keeps the Promise. our It would sell for a very small price, but It la bersuse it Is not all being sold at once that It has a price; Here comet the question. The valuation Is supposed to be on a cash basis. Now the assessors, while It Is not legal, bsve screed to under value property and tbey have undervalued It In tomo Instance, aa I am told I do not know that so as to only bring In 10 per cent. In some Instances 15 per cent, tome 20, and in our town proper It comet to 40 per cent and in the county only 20 per cent." The Auditor: "The assessors agreed on one-sixth." Mr. Rosewater: "Well, If they did. then that la It. In 1891 It waa assessed at 20 per cent. Now assuming that one county It In one shape and one another. It seems like this, thst tt you could figure out the valuation of each county and Its pro rata so as to say to Illustrate supposing a re turn haa been made of $1,000,000 and there are $10,000,000 worth In the county, being assessed at one-tenth. Now, In another county they might return $1,000,000 and It would represent Instead of $10,000,000 only $8,000,000, and In some other counties $,. 000,000. Now the aggregate of the whole would give you the average. Suppose there waa 1 100,000,000 returned to you and one county had returned It to you at one-tenth, another at one-fifteenth, another at one twentieth and you come to aggregate It together, you would strike about the aver age of what the whole Mate Is being as sessed for. Now, It the law would per mit It, I ahould say that the roads should be assessed according to a standard In each county, that Is, If a county returns ten mile of road it should be taxed pro portionately with the other property In the county. That- would be reasonable and right, and then the railroad property of that county would be assessed proportion ately with all other property of that county." i The Governor: "Now you stated the other day that In your opinion the railroads ought to pay one-tlxth of the total tax of the state." Share of the Railroads. Mr. Rosewater: "That Is k mistake. I think you misunderstood me. What I said was this, that they did pay that now; that Is, th . railroads assessed heretofore paid about one-sixth, that la, when there waa one hundred and eighty millions of property returned In this state they bad about thirty million of assersment, of $29,854,000. That represented about one sixth of the total value at that time; five sixths of the property is not railroad and one-sixth railroad. Now the question is, It that the correct average between the prop erties; that Is the only question. If that twenty-nine million, or whatever It may be. Is the correct ratio to all the other property, then the railroads are not pay ing too much or too little. It Is about right. But If the railroads are not paying In proportion to the other properties that Is, If they have a larger amount, taking the whole property Just aa tt comes In that It, supposing Douglas county brings In her, ' outside of all railroad property, $25,000,000, assessed at 164 per cent, and another county brings In $10,000,000 and another $5,000,000, etc When you have got tt all sized up you will know how much property there Is In the state at large and Ita pro rata to each other. Then would be easy enough to find out. If you knew the cash value of the road that Is what you have to ascertain first then you can divide the cash value by th aggre gate pro - rata to the other and you will know whether or not the roads are doing the fair thing. If, for Instance, we only had Mnes that were Incorporated In ' Ne braska, and their capital stock was all In .Nebraska, and it bonda were all known, would hot take very Jong to find out Juat what that road waa worth, or all th road together. Assuming that one hun- red and fifty millions Is now the returns Of th state, that is, outside of the rail roads, and If It Is assessed at one-seventh, that would m,an that the actual value of property in thla state ta $1,050,000,000. That would be $1,000 for every man, woman and child In the state. Now, then, we would want to know how much theae railroads represent. Thla entire road, the Union Pacific. Is bonded at just about $100,000, 000. The Burlington Is nothing like that; they have a very much lower valuation In their atocks and bonds. They do not get up to much more than sixty-odd thousand to the mile. Now. th Burlington has twice the mileage and It is worth about $180,000,000, and the Burlington. with all the other roada would ag gregate about $500,000,000. Now, that would nly be one-fifth of th total." Taxea and Earnings. i Mr. 'Ager: "Suppose a new road, or, take the Union Paclflo today, auppose It waa earning Just exactly 6 per cent on It actual stock. Would you then take a fran chise In at 4 per cent, or whatever may be considered aa a low rate or reasonable rate of Interest, would you then tax Its franchise In the same ratio as other prop erty. Whero would you begin to tax them?" Mr. Rosewater: "I will show you. At the present time railroads are bonded usually for pretty nearly what It coat to build them, that It, very nearly ao, and If they pay Interest on their bonds, that la, what tbey call the fixed charges, and pay the operating expenses and then have residue or surplus after that paying Inter est say of 6 per rent on a given amount of atock, whatever that representa would be In excess of the cost of the road. That I the franchise. In other words, If the bonds represent the cost of the road, the stock would represent the franchise." Mr. Ager: "You do not understand me. Suppose a new road waa built and it cost Juat exactly $26,000 a mile to build and equip it, and plac It in a position rsady to start. Now, after tbey have paid their taxes their tangible property la taxed at the aame ratio aa other property. Now after they have paid their taxea and their operating expense they. bav left an Interest say of 5 per cent. Now, with a road that did that would you then tax their franchise or would you wait until they had earned 6 per cent? You say if It waa losing money you would not tax its franchise. Now at what rate of Interest would you begin to tax their franchlae? No Call for Halr-apllttlna-. Mr. Rosewater: "Well, of course, that Is not so material. I don t suppose there would be any halr-pllttlng whether It would be 6 or ( per cent, because you are not going to the very last psnny In this taxation. I suppose there will be a broad margin allowed the railroads, and I am willing to aee that. Now If the road Is sued It stock and the people who bought th atock paid th money and the road waa built with that money, tha atocks would only represent the coet of the road and there would be no franchise tax, simply because th tanglbl property of the road would be worth the . atock. But It $26, 000 of bonds were laeued and on top of that they were earning 6 per cent then I would say to assess that. Inasmuch as the bonds would represent the franchise, but suppose the roads were built differently, as they ahould be, and th money waa put u tor th atock before they built th road or issued stock for It, then the road would be asseased and the atock would not be." Th Auditor: "You believe that railroad property ahould be aaaessed on th same baaia aa all other property throughout the state?" Mr. Rosewater: "It haa to be." Tha Auditor: "That ta. It other property , la aateaaed at oa-lxtk or u -seventh of It actual value, railroad property ahould be assessed the ssme?" Mr. Rosewater: "Yes, no more; no less. That Is the law" The Oovernor! "I would Ilk to ask my question again. Prom all the Information you can get I would like your opinion as to what percentage of the actual cash valu of railroads, provided we bav th actual cash value of th railroad! now, that Is. Including stocks and bonda, what percentage tbould we appraise these roads at tor the purposea of taxation to be equi table with the other properly over which we hav no control, sty during th year 1902?" Mr. Rosewater: "I should say not lee than 15 per cent, 15 or 18 per cent, and that would probably be giving them the benefit." The Oovernor: "At 15 or 1 per cent of the actual value?" Mr. Rosewater: "Tes, sir." Aboat "Actaal Valae." The Oovernor: "Providing we could find the actual value. Now, then, speaking of th acutal value, providing we take the stock and bonds outstanding on the market at re turned. If we aeaess thoae at 15 or 18 per cent 15 or 18 per cent bf th turn of the stock plut the bondt. Would that be right?" Mr. Rosewater:- "That would be about right. But I would not take th stocks at their market price. There It a difference between price and value. The valu of a thing it what It cottt to reproduce It; th price dependt upon the law of tupply and demand. In the market the price of mock might be way up "beyond their actual value becaute they are a gambling element and they may be run up for gambling pur poses, so I would not assess the stock exactly at the price It Is running In th market. I would discount thst and what the stock eold for at the lowest rate, say within a year or so, and take the low est rate as being the probable value of that atock. The other Is -imply the gambling value, and that you cannot take. The Union Paclflo now Is selling at a premium, but that does not show It 1 worth It." The Governor: "Take, for Instance, the Union Pacific. You say that represent now $100,000 per mile?" Mr. Rosewater: "Yea, sir." The Governor: "Now, on your bsels that should be assessed at $8,000 or $7,000 per mile?" Mr. Rosewater: "No, sir; that would be assessed then at about $15,000 a mile." The Oovernor: "When, aa a matter of fact. It Is assessed at $9,800?" Mr. Rosewater: "Yea, lr; that part of It Is assessed at that." The Oovernor: "Now, the B. A M., you say, la of less value. It is assettea at about $80,000 valuation per mile?" Mr. Roeewater: "There la Just this dif ference between the B. ft M. and the Union Pacific." The Oovernor: "We have It aaseased at nearly twice what it would be at your figures." Mileage and Valaatloa. Mr. Roeewater: "I know, but you must remember that the Union Pacific assessment only represents the 447 mile of the road that they have returned between Omaha and the western boundary of the state; the other part of their road, which has more mileage than that. Is assessed way below that, about $6,000." Th Oovernor: "You contend that all of theae branch lines are worth $100,000 per mile, the same as the main line?" Mr. Rosewater: "Well, it has been stocked that way and bonded that way. Their stock and bonds represent the aggre gate." K ., ... The Governor: "From the beet informa tion w have It is about $46,000 per mil Instead of $100,000." ' Mr. Rosewater: "! have taken my esti mate here of 15 per cent from what t have been told here. . I haven't seen the return from any counties." The Governor: "We have them from every one." Mr. Rosewater: "I haven't seen them. I can only aay, If that la the average, then that would be all right; It may be 16 or may be less." The Auditor: "The assessors In Saunders county agreed to assess the real estate at one-tenth." Mr. Rosewater: "Then the lines in Baun dera county ahould be assessed that way, or else you have got to strike a balance. Here you hav $300,000,000 . of property, Saunders couty may have $3,000,000, and that leaves the $297,000,000 that Is at a different rate, so you have got to strike a balance somewhere, but I don't know where that would be. Now, you spoke about th Burlington. You muat remem ber that while the Burlington hat not Issued aa much atock aa th Union Pacific their atock I worh. 200 cent on the dollar and they have traded that for 4 per cent told bond, and their atock muat be rated It that because It sold for that In Cash; tbey took cash or took the bonds." Mr. Ager: "You would not asses It at 200 per cent?" Mr. Rosewater: "I would assess It at whatever It came to within th year." Mr. Ager: "Suppose tha crop failed ?" Mr. Rosewater: "That atock will not drop any more; It haa been converted into bonda." Mr. Ager: "Take some other road." Mr. Rosewater: "If we bad a drouth here this year there would be 4 drop In the atocks of all the roads." Mr. Agert ' "Would you then drop th taxation?" Mr. Roaewater: "I would reduce It when ever they didn't have the value. You must treat them the aame aa other property. It property dropa In Omaha or Lincoln th as sessment must be reduced, and tha road should bav th tame right a an Individ ual, but I would not give them anymore or any let." Th Governor: "I will guarantee th railroad companies will be satisfied If w asses them at 16 or 18 per cent." Mr. Rosewater: "If they are sitlsQtd wa 111 have to be because the law is that they will have to pay their share of taxes, no more or no less." The Oovernor: "Your property at $100,- 000 I only asseseed at $7,000." Mr. Rosewater: "No, It waa assessed at $8,000 last year." The Oovernor: "I have It right her." (In dicating). Mr. Rosewater: "Do you mean Th Be Publishing company." Tha Oovsrnor: "Ye, sir." Caaaty ad City Valaatloa. Mr. Rosewater: "Assume that to be to; that It th tangible property. Tha county assessment was supposed te be 20 per cent I know the city aasessmsnt wss higher but that 47.000 may be right as to th county. They msde sn assessment last yesr of 20 per cent of the total value. Now that would be one-fifth. They hav been raiting our assessmsnt lately because ws have been changing the machinery, Machinery Is something you cannot fix exactly; It la Ilk furniture. W start out with the value of what It costs and then It gets poorer and poorer. W replaced some of the machinery and they raised the tax. I mad a statement bsre. or I didn't make it myself. It waa mad for m, re tarding Th Bee Building company. That la th company that paya th taxea mostly and I think I bav the receipt her. I think It waa aald we had paid about $40,000 la tea years, whereaa we have paid over $70,000 In ten years, and ths taxes are paid 10 date, with th exception of about $200 or 1300 that la due. That aurely waa assessed for all It waa worth and lor all It would sell for In tha market. 1 do not want th ran rotd to pty a penny more or a farthing more than I do or anybody else and they ought not to ask to pay anything less." Mr. Ager: "Wouldn't you be tatlsfled If ou were permitted under the law for Douglaa county to assess the Union Tarlflc nd the Burlington depott, their terminals, nd whatever tangible property they have In Douglas county or in Omaha for city purposes. Wouldn't that bring about the result that you are now contending for, nd that that la your Idea of the proper and right way to assess the property?" Mr. Rosewater: "My Idea about that is this: That It should be done under the Indiana rule; tbe main track ahould be as sessed from end to end and the local Im provements should be credited to esch lo cality because each locality furnished po lice, fire protection and pavements, and does all the work neceasary; that la, the municipal or county government contribute a as much to that property as It does to any other class,' and It should be credited to each county where It stands. Aa It Is now It I put In the dump and nobody get any thing. Can you tell me where the Burl ington depot haa disappeared. In the fath omless pit of the Southwestern railway. It it only assessed $8,500 a mile?" Mr. Ager: "There at hundred of mile out In th western part of the state that got th benefit," Barllaa-toa Dissipates Depots. Mr. Rosewater: "No, tir; not one penny. tt It credited to the road on which It Is located. The Union Pacific depot Is cred ited to that road and tho people err that line. Now, whatever you have In Lancaster county on the B. ft M. not a dollar of It can go to the Union Pacific, nor can the - Union Pacific go to the B. ft M. It la like a fellow that had been eating a great deal and filling himself up, but still remains lank and lean. He as been taking It all In and yet cannot show anything. That road la not worth a Cent more today than It was without the depot. It waa assessed at $6,500 before th depot waa built and It la assessed at that now." Mr. Ager: "Do you suppote you can ever get the representatives from the counties outside of Lancaster and Douglas to tsx everything In Douglss county belonging to the railroads. Including Ita terminals and everything, for tbe benefit of Douglas and Lancaster counties?" Mr. Rosewater: "I think tbey have been buncoed ao much, but they are not likely to be fooled again.. I will give them credit for being chumps. It they have been honest and square and will Investigate It for themselves tbey will 2nd out tbey have been buncoed, because not a penny haa reached anywhere out on the line. Can you tell me how much Lincoln county or Hall county or Buffalo county have re ceived out of the Douglas county properties of the Union Pacific? - It has all gone down to the bottom of the sea." Mr. Ager: "Haven't the terminal facil ities there gone In to swell the average per mile of the Union Pacific?" Mr. Rosewater: "In the western part of tbe state they have been raising the val uations becaute out west wanted to Chow they had lott of property and they raised the valuations on their lands and personal property more -then they did In the east, but they have received no benefit from tt. Can you look Into the records of this office today and find a tingle scrap of paper that will show you how much has been distributed to tbe different counties? There le nothing In that. They have been assessed ao much, the Union Pacific ao much and the B. ft M. ao much, and that It all, but you don't know a thing about where It la gone." Mr. Ager: "They have gone out there and paid a higher rate of tax per mile, say through Perkins county, out In the western portion of thla state, than they would have had to pay hadn't they owned these east ern terminals, because those terminals are lumped In to swell tbe average rate per mile at which tbey are taxed. Now, those people out there have been receiving the benefit of that as long aa tbe roadt have been paying the tax." Immense Valaes Disappear. Mr. Rosewater: "I will show you how that figures: Tbe Union Pacific In Ita return every year have valued that great and wonderful piece of property at Omaha, that they talk so much about, at $800 an acre. That haa been spread over tbe entire line of 487 miles. Now, how much did those peo ple get out In western counties of that $10,700? What would tbe proportion be? Why, I ahould not say It would be $00 to the county. It does not amount to any thing. The fact ta that It has been undervalued and dumped In and lost. It la Just like a whole lot of their brlcabrao of other description, flatcara, box cars and band car and all of those things. All of these thlngt are reported, but tor aome reaton they do not make any great differ ence in ' th assessment. Tbe road tt worth the money; that Is the main point; the road Is worth the money; It Is a great road and It has been Improved wonderfully in the last tew years, and that ia where the value Is now. Take the aldetracks; probably they have two or three hundred miles of sidetracks, the dif ferent roada In our county. The Union Paclflo haa been extending Ita sidetracks for the last three or four yeara, so they will only have a few hundred yards to build here and there to make a double track; but what advantage haa that been up-to-date to the people In tbe western counties? Nothing. The road has built the eldetracks snd they cost a good deal of money, but the average haa been Just the same. The Union Pacific at- tbe present time Is taxed at $9,800 and It was $10,600 only five or six yeara ago. I do not pretend to aay they are taxed out of pro portion to all the other ' or less than others. I think tbe whole thing has got to b readjusted according to ths 'conditions, each road by Itself,' according to tbe atock and bonda and Improvements. If they are not earning anything I don't pretend they ahould be taxed on their franchisee because tbey have no franchlae value, aa their atock would be worth nothing." ANGRY HUSBAND IS SHOT Gets th Worst af Flarat with Hit Foaad la Company with His Wife. HUNTINGTON. Ind.. May 17. Hon. Fir man O. Smith of Toledo, thla county, la In Jail In this city for shooting Coy Laeelter of Whltly county, who probably will die. Smith was discovered in company with Lasslter's wife by Laaslter and his neigh bors and a bloody encounter followed,- In which guna and clubs took a prominent part. Smith wa a member of th lsglriature In 1898. Wood Revokes Lit Ttssr Order. HAVANA. Mar 17. The order, lasued a month aco. rlvlna th ludsee of tb island life tenure and making tbem removable for ruiii nnlv waa revoked by General Wood today. The revoked order aroused mucn adverse comment at th time it wa Issusd. PraaMcnt.aleet Palma himself favored w.tin fcacausa among the ludaea were certain men who, be believed, should not be on th bench. Machlaa bti to Boaas del Tor. WASHINGTON. May IT. The Navy de partment today wa Informed of the de parture of tbe gunboat Macbla from Coloa to Bocae del Toro, v. bar th advices to th Stat department report another claeh between th liberal and government force. THE VERY LATEST Oo look around thoroughly Investigate the quality and price on the different lines of vehicles shown In the city Then COMB here, where you get more of an assortment to choose from than can be found In the entire west. Th goods are new bought expressly for this eprlng's trade and going at price as low aa you usually pay for last season' tylee The VERY LATEST only can be found here See for yourself. Trapa, Worries, Doaales. Rnaaboat. Road Wttoai, Physicians' niar. Delivery Wacona, Speed Carts. Doe; Carts, Phaetons, Snlkeya, Etc. Auto- moDiles The late ones with steam gasoline or elec tric motor power. Ask ua about our Automobile Livery. FREE PHONOGRAPH CONCERT ARTERN00NS & EVENINGS- H. E. FREDRICKSON, loth and Capitol Ave., Bennett's Old Corner. CARE FORTHE OLD MINISTERS Question of Pensioning Superannuated Preachers Before the Assembly. SOME ACTION WILL BE TAKEN THIS WEEK Instances of A Bed and Indigent Pulpit Workers Boffrrlna Are Cited and Strong- Plea for Their Help Mde. NEW YORK, May 17. The Presbyterian general assembly met today with Vice- Moderator Daniel R. Noyes. presiding. The several standing committees were requested to prepare their reports for hearings be fore the assembly next week. Rev. Dr. James F. Rlggs of East Orange, N. J., of fered a resolution calling upon tbe mod erator to appoint a committee of three to draw up and bring in a report indorsing the work of the American Bible society. The vice-moderator announced that the committee would be appointed next week. The report of the standing committee on ministerial relief was taken up. Rev. Dr. Benjamin L. Agnew of Philadelphia, In discussing the report, told of the various plans the committee' had considered In an effort to care In a proper manner, for re tired clergymen. Dr. Agaew said a plan had bow submitted to ah Insurance com pany, by which that company was to pay (600 annually to each of tbe clergymen, anil $300 to each of the widows. Tbe company asked for a premium that was unsatisfactory and tho plan was not considered favorable. Another Effort Made. Another effort was made to raise a per manent fund of $2,000,000 or $3,000,000, tbe Interest on which was to go towards tho sustenance of the retired clergymen. 'When the large manufacturing concerns can see their way clear to provide for their superannuated employes," asked Dr. Aguew, "why should not the church do so?" Dr. Perry made a plea for the old Presby terian clergymen, and mentioned many In stances where superannuated clergymen bad suffered cruel treatment. "Is this worthy of tbe wealthy Presbyterian church?" he ssked. "I know of one Instance not long ago where a minister 70 years old, died and had to be given a pauper'a funeral In a church where there wer over seventy millionaires. Shame on such a church." The report of the committee on min isterial, relief was accepted, and It waa agreed that there ahould be a-further dis cussion of it next week. . Merrlam Honse Qaeatlon. A committee waa appointed to look Into the queatlon of the Westminster house of the Presbyterian church at Perth Am boy, N. J. There has been some question of closing the home, and tbe report had advised that thla be done and that the ministers who are there now should be transferred to another home- There wa some difference of opinion among tbe com missioners, so the matter wa laid aside tor further discussion, . The vice-moderator then announced the names of the committee on evangelistic work. The chairman la John H. Converse of Philadelphia. Among the other member of the committee are: Rev. W. F. Chiches ter, D. D., Chicago; S. C. Palmer, D. D., of St. Louis. Bishop Andrews of tbe Methodist Epis copal church waa introduced to the as sembly. He expressed pleasure and satis faction at meeting the members of the as sembly. Bishop Andrews will formally ad dress tbe assembly before the final ad journment.'. When today' adjournment waa taken tbe delegates visited the American Tract so ciety's .building and then went to the New York university, where they were received by Chancellor MeCracken and a committee of which Miss Helen Gould waa a member. Cumberland's Short grssloa. SPRINGFIELD, Mo., May 17 The Cum- berlaad Presbyterian general assembly wss In eetslon only two hours this morning, when adjournment jintll Monday was taken. Rev. B. F. Wbltmore of California, led the devotional exercises. S. V. Stephens, D. D., secretary of the church' historical associa tion, read hla annual report, and Rev. J. P. Henry of PlttBburg, addressed tbe assembly, bearing greetings from tbe western section of the Presbyterian alliance. Rev. U. P. McMtlllan of. Louisville, Ky.; Introduced a resolution that promises some discussion. It provides for a standing committee of seven to nominate members -of tbe bosrd and members of permanent committees, whose terms expire at thla morning. Special com mittees were appointed on pulpit endowment and to consider a proposition tor church representation at the Louisiana Purchase exposition. Dr. B. P. Fullerton f St. Louis is a member of the exposition committee. MAJORITY FOR WAR CLAIMS Popalar Report Reeoxameada Retain ing th Proceeds of tha Treas. arr of thof'harch. DALLAS. Tex., May 17. At today' ses sion of tbe general conference of tbe Methodist Episcopal Church aouth two re ports were received from th committee oa episcopacy, th majority fa Tor log th Bicycles 6 00' Wheal bought at a forced sale, will go at a tpeclal sacrifice aale. All well known and reliable makes. Tbe prices will Interest you. Phono graphs. Edison's latest Improved machines and new moulded records, making a louder and clearer tone than usual. Call and hear them. Columbia Wax Records, 80c, regu lar 60c. f7 "F' Fastest Train in theWest Omaha 8 p. m. Daily Arriving at Chicago 7 a. iti. Sleeping Care Only. tr ADDITIONAL CHICAGO TRAINS DAILY. CITY OFFICES: 1401-03 Farnam St election of two bishops, the minority none. The publishing interests reported on tbe "war claim" issue. The majority sus tained and defended tbe book agents and church In the transaction recommending the retention of the money, and a final closing of tbe issue. The minority report submitted by James Cannon, Jr., of Vir ginia, arraigned In the atrongeat term the book agenta and Attorney Stahlman. Th recommendation of the minority la to re turn the money to the United tSatea gov ernment. The war claim Issue Is to be taken from the calendar next Tuesday and considered to Iti close. The minority report from th committee on finance to creat further aid for auperannuated preachers' widows and children recommend that a fund be estab lished starting with a minimum, of $100, 000 and increased to $500,000, to be kept Intact forever. A resolution waa paaaed by tha conference condemning child labor. ROCHAMBEAU PARTY HERE French Dlenltarles Arrive to Partici pate In the Memorial Ceremo nies at Wathlnaton. NEW YORK. Msy 17. The French steam ship La Tourelne, which arrived today from Havre, brought the Count and Count ess de Rochambeau, the Vlcomte de Cham brun, great grandson of the Marqula de Lafayette; M. De Billy, who represents M. Delcasse, the French minister of foreign affairs; M. Croiset, dean of the Sorbonne and member of the Institute; Ferdinand Hamar, the sculptor of tbe Rochambeau statue, who is accompanied by bis fsther, and M. Lagrave, tbe French commissioner general to ths Louisiana Purchase exposi tion. Tbe party, which comes to take part In the Rochambeau ceremonies at Washing ton, will remain In this city until Tuesday. Sweden's strike Declared Off. STOCKHOLM, Sweden, May 17 Th ac tion of both chambers of the Rlgsdag be ing favorable to universal suffrage, tha la bor leaders have decided to end th strike at 8 o'clock this evening and th 200,000 men who went out will then reaume work. FAT VS. BRAINS. Food that Makes Brllllaat Newspapers Nervous prostration cannot contlnu If th right kind of food I ussd. but food that will build fat does not always con tain the elements necessary for rebuilding the soft gray matter In the nerve center. A lady tells how shs got well from using Orspe-Nuts Breakfast Food. "I wa treated, by aeveral physicians at the hospital. My dlseat was pronounced neurasthenia (nervous prostration.) Tha doctora gave me varloua tonlca without producing any beneficial results. I finally got so weak that I could not work either PTstcally or mentally. About two yeara ago I begs a th us of Orape-Nuta and a marked Improvement set In at once,1 Ia Uht weeka I bad re gained my strength and could do my old work evea better thsn before, that of writ ing for the press. All honor to Craps Nuts." Name given, by Fostuni Co., Battle Greek. Mich. ..Ae.a-M a4 , 4A" I Ulu, 4 t'' '.mr v Ja.,w(.p4M, i