Omaha daily bee., 1888-12-14
THE Dirty OF LEGISLATORS.


II some OF the members elect TO the
coming legislature should find little
time to bcstow upon legislative prob
lens, TO the exclusion of Office hunting,
they would fill long-felt want. The
senatorial election Is too far of for de-
cisive bargaining, and ii will be nearly
four months before General Harrison
declares his policy regarding appoint
ments. in the meantime the state Of
Nebraska will have some claims upon
her home representatives which ought
TO be respected. The first and
all-important claim is for intel
igcnt legislation. The great mass
of members-elect are not too familiar
with the problems of state government
which they will be called on to solve.
They owe it to themselves to study the
questions upon which they must record
their votes. There is no surcr way to
prominence in the legislature than
through the ability to discuss clearly
and intelligcntly the subject before the
house. Unfortunately in Nebraska too
many of our law makers have been
willing TO take their views second hand
from visiting committees, corporation
counsel, and steering statesmen cm-
ployed by enemies of the people
to befog important issues and
direct the current of legislation into the
wrong channels. Ignorance, next to
venality, is the easiest prey OF the
lobbyist.
1t would be interesting to know how
many of the members-elect to the next
legislature have looked up the question
of the state expenditures in connection
with the annual appropriations, and are
prepared to suggest definite remedy
for the extravaganza in the conduct Of
government. How many have studied
the workings Of the bogus railroad com
mission, which takes from the people
the power to regulate the charges OF
common carriers aud usurps
the functions of the legislature
in the making of rates and
remedying of corporate wrongs? What
number of the mcmbers-elect from the
thriving cities of various classes in the
state have been engaging the mselves in
looking up the subject of mum icipal
charters, and in making themselves
familiar with the reforms which other
states have of late years been applying
to legislation relating to municipalities?
Our educational interests are great
and growing. Their successful main
tenancc is largely dependent upon the
proper outstanding of the funds derived
from the disposal of state lands. In spite
of the fact that scores of Nebraskans
are said to have become rich through
heavy purchases of school lands at alb
surdly low prices, and in face of the
rapidly dwindling area of educational
lands, it is safe to say that there are not
a half dozen prospective Legislators pre-
pared to discuss intelligently at present
this most important question.
If the members-elect of the coming
legislature will put in their time for the
next three weeks IN seeking for informa-
ton rather than for Offices, both the
public and themselves will be greatly
benefited. In the first place, there are
no Offices loose in Nebraska just at
present, while there are several cogs
loose in the machinery of government.
And. in the second place, the surest
road to political prominence which
paves the way to political preferment,
backed by popular endorsement, will be
found in an intelligent, bold and manly
participation in the WORK of public leg
islation in the people S interests.