THE COURIER.
9
Some action might very properly be
taken to discourage discrimination be-
tween political parties by railroad cor-
poratlons operating within the state,
The Isuance of passes to an army of
political workers and the giving of spe-
clal rates for the political meetings
make the railroad companies a power In
shaplng the political destiny of the
state. Where this power Is all wielded
in wic interest ot one party and to the
I'ltrjuun-c ui uiiuuier party us wcigni
cannot well be overestimated. Rail
road companies do the business of the
public and should be restrained by
wholesome legislation from active par
ticipation in party politics. The offi
cers and employes of such rallioad com
panies should be free to vot2 as may
seem to them for their own best Intcr
sts. Charges of fraudulent reclstra-
tion In the larger cities of the state and by excessive appropriations cover- nues for that purrose anil thereby en- eighth. It Is more than probable that
have frequently been made and I sug- ing a series of years, it Is yet quite hanclng the value of its own obllga- the taxpayer with small means and
gst the advisability of having the last apparent that the Indebtedness of the tlons. Likewise. t the suggestion that whose property Is easily ascertained,
day of registration at least ten days state of Nebraska Is comparatively It has teen a critical period for the Pa'3 much nearer one-third of Its value
prior to election day In order that the light. It Is no greater than that of banks of the state, as well ns for busl- while other large property Interests es-
complete list of voters may be scrutin- many other states whose opportunities ness Interests of all kinds. It can be cane w,tn an assessed valuation at
ized by all inquiring citizens and ample for creating a large bonded Indebted- replied that the state is under no obll- nearer one-tenth or one-twelfth of Us
time be afforded for the apprehension of ness are not restricted by the funda- gallons, and that In fact. It Is a perni- actual value.
those who fraudulently register. mental law as ours. It Is Interesting In clous doctrine to hold that the public 0ur ,IUV Provides that personal prop
It is obvious that one of the chief this connection to study the grand as- rewnues may be used for the purpose erty shall be assessed at Its fair cash
sources of corruption In elections is the sessment roll of the property of the of strengthening any private interests value, and real estate other than lease
use of money In providing means or state returned for taxation, showlnc tho or entemrisM nr nr pimr.iiir n,i o. hold estates, "at Its fair value, estlma-
hlring the voter to go to the polls and
vote, by this means placing him under
ODiigation and thus unduly Influencing
his vote, or to hire him to neglect hisl
duty as a citizen.
In order to encourage, and stimulate
the free and hon"est"exercIse of the elec
tive franchise It has occurred to me that
it might serve a good purpose were a
non-voting poll tax of reasonable
amount levied against each elector who
may relieve himself by voting at the
general election, or by producing a cer-
tlflcate of sickness or disability or by
absence from the county or state. Such
a provision might Incidentally be made
a source of revenue to the state and
the burden fall upon a class of citizens
who fall to discharge a very important
duty devolving upon every qualified cit-
izen. I suggest this Idea to you for
IT .tlra"n' .I.h.re that :?U
- , " "'" l""1 ""
Mn th,e "ff7 teP 'or the
emedying of the defects in our election
aws with a view to giving every possl-
ble opportunity for a free and fair ex
pression of the will of the people at
the polls.
Th State'a-FlaiPcm.
I desire to earnestly call your serious
attention to the condition of the state's
nnances. inis is a suDject ot more than accumulated, as is provided by law, ol lne Flalc ani prompt measures tak- 'iUCT"u" w"ti " m prupeny
ordinary concern to every taxpayer in and demand in the exercise of prudent en to ,,ace the state's finances upon a has been assessed at a fair value. It Is
Nebraska. Several factors contribute business management in the discharge sonI footing; as much so at least as doubtless that a constant and contln
to the unfavorable condition of the fi- of a public duty. In defining the du- surrounding conditions will permit. The ue(1 decrease in assessment values has
nanclal Interests of the state as we at ties of the state treasurer the law pro- accumulated general fund should be been caused In order that one commun
piesent find them. The very general vides that he Is "to disburse the public Promptly app:isd to the extinguishment 'tJ" or county might not be compelled
depression lnbusinessand thelow prices moneys upon warrants drawn upon the the Indebtedness against it. Whether to contribute more than its Just pro
received for the products produced by state treasury according to law and not tnere are IeSaI obstacles which would Portion to the state's revenues. Thus
the people of the state, are of them- otherwise" It is also provided in ec- Prevent your refunding the Indebted- a canstant struggle Is continually go
selves sufficient to render the state's tion 1, of chapter 93 that "all warrants ness above mentioned contracted prior ing on among assessing olllcers to value
finances much more unsat sractory than upon the state . 'shall be paid in the to the adoption of the present constitu- thelr Property as Iow or lower than the
might be expected under normal condi- order of their presentation therefor" tIon' J am unable to speak advisedly, valuations placed by any others. It is
tlons. This has prevented the prompt Section 4 provides that "it shall be the If il coulil be done. I would suggest the a,so ':uUe apparent that the low as
collectlon of taxes due the state, and duty of every treasurer to put aside in abvlsabllity of refunding all the bond- sessment of property is some protection
required in order to meet its necessary a separate and ealed package the mon- e1 Indebtedness of the state at a rate to the people In order to prevent ex
expendituies. so that at the present ey for the payment of each registered of Merest not exceeding four percent travagance In the conduct of the busl-
ume u appears there is a very large
araouni or delinquent state taxes.
In addition to this the method of han
dling the finances of the state and nieet-
iiik us uuijkuuuus. couiu. in mv 11117.
ment. be very much Imnroved mon.
"ui oiny is u commenuaoie to secure
the prompt collection of taxes levied for
the purpose of meeting current expendi
tures, but also the prompt payment of
the taxes thus collected in satisfaction
of the state's obligations. Good busi-
-T . .
ness Judcment would dietatf.thonrnm,,f
discharge of the state's outstanding
obligations as rapidly Cs money may be
accumulated by the ordinary method
of collecting taxes to mppt thn samr.
From the report of the state treasurer
" - ...... -w.
a tilef sumn ary discloses the following
as to the state's obligations:
Bonds outstanding, issued In
funding the state's indebt
edness at the time of the
adoptim of the present can-
stitution
..$ 449,257.3.';
.Bonds issued under the pres
ent canstitut'en in 1891 and
3-et outstanding 19,000.00
General fund warrants out
standing 1,931.069.03
Total
2.402.336.68
To meet these obligations we have
the following credits:
Sinking fund to meet bonds
first above mentioned $ 317.840.01
Sinkinc fund to nwt hnnd
last above mentioned
Uncollected taxes due to the
general fund
' 71ft CO) TC
Cash in the treasuiy. general
fund
-. ...
. 5S90.39
-
.$3,238.22,.5S
Total
In addition to the liabilities already
incurred, and of which mention has
heretofore been made, there is also the
additional liability for current expendl-
tures yet to be made for the remainder
of the biennial period for which the
last legislature made appropriations,
and which can be approximated by ns-
certalning the total unexpended bal-
anccs as shown by the report of the
Mate auditor. These will have to lis met
irom the uncollected taxes above men-
tioned.
In considering the uncollected taxes with the statement that such Interest Hon. The man of moderate means Is
it Is to be borne In mind that a very Is only at the rate of three per cent per doubtless nssescd for much nearer the
considerable part will probably never annum, while the state's warrants are true value of his property than the lu
be paid Into the state treasury. Whllo drawing live per cent. It may further dividual having large property inter
these conditions are not what we would be said that It Is the duty of the state, ests, and, while the approximate pcr
Ilke to have them, an J icalizing that through Its representatives, to liquidate eentage of the assessed valuation, as
they hae been brought about by ex- Its Indebtedness as rapidly as funds compared with the actual valuation of
traaganee and needless expenditures,
total assessed value thereof, for several
years, as follows:
ISM $1S,',770.304.54
1891 183.138.236.28
1892 1S6.432.376.72
1893 194.733,124.73
1894 183,717.498.78
1895 171.46S.C07.4S
189G 167,078,270.37
The census of 1S90 discloses that the
value of the property of tne citizens of
this state is estimated to be Jl.273.683.514.
aml tne actua, va,ue of the agsessIbIe
property ln the state at this tIme must
be considerably more, and yet, as shown
ny the assessed valuation is placed at
but ,ittIe over one-eighth of the actual
value based 0 the census returns of
1590
Tne large amount accumulated In the
. "t,, ,.:? .,..., "I':" .-cA
370.39. ,s one of the features seemingly
370.39, Is one of the features seemingly
calling for some comment. It is difficult
to understand why this large sum
,,,,, h .,, . ,.. , ,
should be allowed to accumulate In the
state treasury with o great amount of
outstanding warrants unsatisfied. It
would naturally be expected that such
a considerable sum as this should have
hPn nnniiPd to the ,i,iPtinn nf the
state's indebtedness as rapidly as it
warrant, in the order of Its registration.
,-,t. fV,nco.rn i. .!... ....i. ., t
i.n i.A n,inr'c..i ..-i.i, .t" k ,
u.fuat t, i.iiiit'it.11 nun llic I'UIIIUUl UIIll
description of such warrant, and the
name and address of the person in
whose name the same is registered, and
interest upon such warrant shall there
upon cease, and such treasurer shall by
mail immediately notify the person in
,..,. .u ... -,.: , .,
shall endorse the date of "the mailing
of such notice u?on such Yeated pack
age."
ti,,,o it ...m i .. 1 .t. ..
the intention of the legislature that
i iiu.'. il win iff sii.ifft.-i H'U. II1UL il was
fund should be allowed to accumulate
;;r" - ' , ": "ul, . , "t.. """"
wiien there were outstanding warrants
u..w. ocai. " 1UJIU. UlHl lllill as
soon as sufficient money should be paid
into the state treasurv to sat'sfv rnoh
warrant In the order of its registration
that interest thereon should cease and
the state be thus relieved from further
liability on account of accruing Interest
While it may be said that a literal com
pliar.ee with the provisions above men
tioned would be very difficult because
of the grest volume of business carried
on In connection with thp wnrlr nf tht
state treasurv. vet It lrl, 7m VI
fully complied with by making prompt
payments on ceneral fund warrant
r..n i. "i" ',.u v '',., J ""1:
as ranldlv as fund, nc,,m!,t. h,
. ....". .u".;" i.l " ".
n..,l .- A.. a i ...
..u ,c hTi.ua. iunu. iipainst wnicn a
Iarge amount of outstanding warrants
has alwas existed, allowed to accumu-
'tJ0!1"5 m.trarnnary.m0Unt.0f
oxer half a million dollars. This methoi
As soon as money sufficient for the "ou,u maKe a ver" desirable Invest- " - ... ......... u.a ...
payment of such warrant is received to ment tor the Idle pern-annt school fund. the rates f e levy the people have
the credit of the particular fund upon would Permit the transfer of the f rleCt " aga ln"1 want?n cx7
., ""7 '"" i,,;s anu me sun greater :axlty in enforcing on the afferent counties la case the
4.39 the legislature, both in letter and splr- these Imperfect provisions of law. have said board of equalization are satis-
It. seems to have been entirely ignored broucht us face to fae with a pnnHitinn t ., ,? , t....- .
of disposing of the state's business put
an additional burden upon the taxpay-
ers by the accumulation of a large
amount of interest on the unredeemed
warrants thus neglected. It also en-
dangers the state's Interests through
the possibility of losses of money which
could properly have been disbursed In
cancelling this Indebtedness as rapidly
as possible. The suggestion that the
state Is receiving Interest on the money
thus allowed to accumulate In this tin-
u mi nl manner may properly be met
accumulate In the collection of reve-
pecially so where there are superior
claims against such funds upon the voluntary sale ....... ....one-third
part of the creditors of the state. The casn aml a ba,anee secured by mort
state Is not sunnnsed to n ii.'wv.. Rage upon the property." This, as
nues for the purpose of entering Into the every one knows. Is not done, but on the
banking business or to deposit its funds contrary tne less .value placed on th-'
upon any other theory than that they Property for assessment purposes by the
are to be used by the depository only on,ccr having In charge of this branch
when not required by the state in the ot business seems to render him much
ordinary course of its business. It Is to
be further observed that this fund at
one time was within reasonable limits.
not exceeding, according to the report
of the state treasurer on the first of
January last the sum of J32.735.91. Un-
der no process of reasoning can I under-
stand why this further and larger sum
should be deposited and allowed to ac-
cumulate to the enormous amount men-
"oned with obligations of the state
Pressing for mvmpm ami ih, vMn.Vf
" obligations constantly depreciating.
'" ""k-""s lunsianuy depreciating.
and then, after such large accumula-
"ons are permitted, to have the matter
explained by the suggestion that these
explained Dy the suggestion that these
-. .
funds could not. with safety to the
bU!:'ness Interests of the state, be with-
drawn from the depositories.
am of the opinion that there should
be a very radical change inaugurated
in tne conduct of the financial interests
per annum, me issue of such bonds
for the extinguishment of this hnni.i
-' --. -.-
indebtedness to the general fund. In
addition to this you will have the pow
er, as I view it. to authorize the issu
ance of bonds in the sum of $100,000 to
meet a oart of this Inilplitoinoas Pro
visions of this character would 'reduce
the amount of nut,.t.-in.iin ,..
ver-v materially and place the state in
a much etter condition.
There are a number of other funds of
smaller amounts which iwrhin. r.-n u
.-w-....,- .... .,.
utilized In hrinsrinT fb .ot ,,.
a cash basu in fh tmnMn r w
business. I trust that after a full con-
slderation of ,hf, -r; Z ,7" V; .
. ..- -.-r... ..v JU
may De able, by the adoption of some
plan, to make satisfactory arrange-
mets for promptly meeting all of the
state's indebtedness, both bonded and
Seating.
Rrvrone Ltwi.
It seems imperative that some action
should be taken by the legislature pro-
viding for a better method of levying
and pollpftlnr tha rai'oniiAa Yiortouai..
fnr- tv.a. nrnn .i... .
"' V., JZ i .?. L-.-.- l.r.
fections and laxity of the provisions of
tho nrumi Ion. fnr. t...,.i i n..
"l""' """"f .l"crl"lr- i'er-
'Z' , '"' LV 'IJ I""
"". . .J." "'"' w" :'" !"".
. .. .... ...
oi anairs mat renders It Impossible to
conduct the business of th tnto wih
out much embarassment. needless sac-
filcesand ever-increasing floating in-
debtedness. Any wise financial policy
Aiiitviuir luriu accumumil nnrl prpntPi! r-- ..v,.JV, ..,, ,.. v..t,.b-.v.
requires. In my opinion, the collection of
revenues sufficient to promptly meet cx-
pendltures necessary to be made In the
conduct of the state's business. Any
other plan ultmately works Increased
hardship and renders excts.-lve the ex-
penscs of state government, because of
the uncertainty respecting the satlsfae-
tlon of the obligations created. The very
fact that property Is assessed at so
much lets than Its true value, renders it
very probable that great inequality ex-
ists In distributing the burdens of tuxa-
property. Is but little less than oiie-
tetl at tne pr,ce ,l would bring at a
more K?U!ar t,,B" ,f he a'i nerfor,ncJ
hls '"" duty nml f"l the property
as the law provide. Just how this
stat of afra,rs can be remedied and
,wnat Provisions. If any. shall be made
ooMn V'T , mrC 9trlnBen1t ,f ""
'orcement of the law as now existing
or a revision thereof. Is for you to de-
ermln- If Property be assessed at too
Iow a valuation, the rate of the tax
y is correspondingly Increased The
system of low valuation and high
Jf " a" llJZT
. ;C7",Z
'" ,"l
" ,n.i?n
heay urden
... . ....... U1U..J tvutuiu mv.
ues and the- seemingly
nonvv iinrMnna rr rnYtinnn in tna urru
"-'
An assessment upon property at Its
fa,r valuation would render tax levies
exceedingly small, as well as give less
opportunity for undervaluation, be-
cause of the more fixed and certain
standard obtaining, the one and only
ll", , . ' "": i'"j- "--
wlth the duties of managing the pco-
pie's business in different capacities.
where the disbursement of revenues
forms an important part of their du
ties. In Investigating this subject. I
have secured a great deal of valuable
,nforniation from other states, which I
"in iaKe pleasure in placing at tne dis-
l f th'S bdy, ?"' com1m,"":e
which you may select to consider this
,mPrtant subject,
I also. In this connection, desire t
can your attention to tne provisions or
'aw respecting the method of levying-
an1 e1uali2,nS the value of property
assessed for the purpose of raising rev-
- ,, .,.ll, T. 1
"""""-''"""- -
provides that the governor, state audi
tor of public accounts and treasurer
"shall constitute the state board of
equalization .. .. .. ..and It sha!l b
the duty of said board to examine th
various county assessments, and tr
decide upon the rate of the state tax.
the state school tax. the state sinking
fund tax. to be levied for the current
.a.. ......ft... ...i.i- .t
.. . . .
"r. .f prc,al .laxes re,1.u,rea D' Iaw tn b"
levy of such taxes throuchou the
.... .. , .. .. " . "..
ie je.i an.i to equalize and make the
"? 'a ua.izauon shall be
'ue oy varjing tne rate or taxatlo i
.. fc
been adjusted with reasonable unl-
rri... ... .i ji ..
It further provides that "the rate of
the general state tax shall be sufficient
to realize the amount necessary to meet
.mi fc.t a.&ic ui aiuaiiuji lias not
Fz&jjmj&mmt!
: iriiittitsr:
