Omaha daily bee., 1883-01-06

utCesSal1 lOE buhN nuIpOtt, VI IOllcllNl0 vi
their property and franchises"
These citations are made for the
reason that | with TO bring your minds
directly, aud in the most fotcible man.
ner, the fact that by virtue Of these
provisions Ia our fundamental law the
people have reserved to themselves
absolute power in all matters pertain.
ing to the corrections of sbuses, ex-
tortions or unjust discrimination upon
the part of railroads or other corpo-
rations.
railroads. may he justly regarded as
among the most important factors in
the rapid development Of u etate,
and 1t 10 of vital Importance to oil iu-
terests that they be sustained and en-
Outraged, for it must be remembered
that such corporations are indilpensa.
bic to the material prosperity of the
state. They have in the past been
dealt with generously by both the ma.
ton and the state; and there is to-day
no sentiment among our people such
as demands that the railroads should
be either destroyed or crippled to the
extent Of impsiring their usefulness,
or so restricted as to deprive them oil
q legitimate return upon capital In.
vested. Ii the railroads have been UNI
Just, the people will not In turn be
upj asst. Tho people cannot afford to
be unjust to any interest; but will be
careful that the rights of the public as
against corporations are protected by
efficient laws. 1t is only asked that
such control and legislation bs had IS
will be just and fair, considering the
respective rights of both the people
ard the corporations. This is ne I'M
reasonable demand. 1t Ia such q de.
mand as keeps steadily in view the
important fact that with nj resources
as yet all but ~undeveloped, we must
not repel capital by legislation such
as would hazard our best interests,
In legislating it should be kept con
stantiy In mind that corporations
have the same protection from the
laws that any citizen has, and that
capital invested in railroads mus be
protected equally with capital invested
IN any other branch of industry. TO
just that protection it is entitled, and
no more.
ii the railroads have been oppressive
it is TOR the Legislature to apply the
ne"t,e6 correction.
Whether the railroads are G.. The
present time mlnoged III a lair and
just manner il c question fox you +,
decide, and it ia to be hoped that you
may DO so guided in your dsliberstloni
that you may be enabled 70 find the
golden mean in Legislation and enao.
such q law as viii BE- not only just tt
capital, but at tbs same tIme fully
protect the rights Of the people. As
guide in connldering a question OF sucl
grave Importance, 30 d fault and per
picking, it would seem the part o
wisdom TO avail ourselves Of the expe
riencs of other states.
You will fud me at oil times read,
to cooperate with you in such actio'
, as may bo necessary for the protectiol
os the public intsrests.
HAsPY LEGISLATION.
, BY the terms of our constitution j
is provided that members of the legia
lature shall not receive pay for NOR
than forty days at any n session.
The compensation is small at best
and but few can afford to remain a
their own expense. It ia therefore i'm
portant that your work be done within
the constitutional limit, as TO time
for which you will receive pay, AT
for the further reason that an undu
~prolouging of the session is adding un
necessarily to the expenses inclden
thereto and placing additional burden
upon the treasury.
:, The interest and excitement attend
ing the election of n United Ssate
senator has resulted in times past il
the neglect of other important bus
/, ness and to undue haste and dispatcI
: of business In the closing days Of tn
, session.
=, To remedy this evil of hasty an
poorly considered legislation, 20
should, it bsems to me, apply your
selves promptly and vigorously to tn
work before you, and In this way ma
ture and perfect the more importar
subjects Of legislation at the esrlie'
practicable day. You will by 30 doin
, :, make it possible for all whose duty
is to do 30, to examine ana understan
measures they are called upon to suI
port before acting upon them, an
you will thus be enabled to bsat NEE
o the wishes OF those You represent. L
: you, coming directly from the people
l their immediate representatives., tn
is a consideration of grave moment.
PROGRESS.
In the progress We have thus fl
made as a state and IN the preser
gratifying condition of affairs, as we
AZ in the promising outlook for Ii
=, future, w as n people have abundar
=. cause for congratulatiOn and reioicin,
81 Under the guidance Of the source {
all wisdom, may we, Into whose hsnC
the honor OF our state has bsen con
~ mitted, 50 scquit ourselves OF tt
trust, so perform the work assigne
us, that the good name Nebraska hi
% thus far borne may receive no stall
y and that we may in some degree q
in strengthening, in making yet mo;
% broad and firm, the foundation Of h
future greatness.
p. CONCLUSION.
10 In conclusion i wish to assure 20
Jf that in all measures calculated to pr
D. mote the honor, prosperity and &c
ir cral welfare of the state, you will ha
a. my earnest cooperation, and that
a. entering upon tho ~ditcharge of t
executive apartment it ia 10 tho fiji
belief that you will extend to L
N your generous aid and COUNSEL.
A. JAMES w. DAWES.
70 Lincoln, Jan. 4, 1883.
IT