Omaha daily bee., 1889-07-15
GOOD, BAD AND INDIFFERENT
Some Peculiarities of the Laws OF
Nebraska, 1890"
A GENTLE HINT TO CONGRESS,
The Work Of the Last Legislature
characterized 10y strange
Commingling of Assinin-
ity and Wisdom.
How the Law. Have Rcen Amended

HOW the LNW5 nave ftccu amended.
OMAHA, July 12-To the Editor OF The
BEE; The great Napoleon in his march
through Egypt formed his army into hollow
squares. Many "wise men" accompanied
| him to study the ancient cities. When his
army was attacked by tho enemy the non
cOmbatants sought protection within the
square; so the soldiers were in the habit of
crying out: "Jack-asses and savants~ TO the
Ccntero
The FIRST days OF January OF this year are
| memorable in the history OF Nebraska for
| then our savants gathered themselves to-
gother Mt Lincoln the center of legis atiou
| OF this sovereign state. Their labors are
now before me in n book entitled Laws of
Nebraska, 1889" Between its covers il the
undoubted evidence of the work of the long
cared animal, one instance of which L will
cite.
Chapter 80 authorizes transcripts of iuds-
ments and DEGREES of the United States
courts to be filed in the office
Of the clerks of the district
court. Whether 1T is intended to
| repeal the United States laws upon this
subject or not Is a question which is hard to
answer judging from the act itself, but con-
gress wants TO ''look little out"
One of the most important enactments Is
that relating to the descent of property.
Heretofore wife had only a dover right in
the lands of her husband-that is, IA life es-
tate in theincome of one.third of his real
estate But chapter 81 amends the law so
that now the wife takes one ethrd of her
husbands s real estate in fee SIMPLE which
virtually makes her joint tenant with him.
The husband also has n fee in one.third of
the lands of his wife thus doing away with
the estate by courtesy. So radical change
is apt to complicato estates, especially large
ones
Chapter 10 amends the charter of metro-
politau cities (Omaha) The principal
changes are in reference to the powers OF
the police and park commissioners,
for n xya,-,r
system of registration of voters in cities.
Chapter 20 gives the board of fire and
police commissioners the exclusive right to
grant liquor licenses.
An amendatory and supplemental act to
the liquor law is found in chapter 33, giving
the authorities the right to enter any building
to search for liquor and destroy the same.
This law was euacted so as to reach saloons
within the "tWo-mile limit and houses of
prostitution.
Chapter II creates reserve fund for met
ropoitan police, by assessing all policemen
not to exceed one per cent of their paw. APP
propriatlng the fines of policemen for mis-
conduct, one fourth of all rewards received,
and one-third Of all moneys received by sale
of unclaimed property, which is to be used TO
support policemen while sick or disabled,
funeral expenses, relief of their families in
case of death, and to pension those honorably
discharged.
Chapter %, entitled "Oficers," gives cities
of the metropolitan class six Justices of the
DeHCB VI clSuJeeU, us au present.
Chapter % is q hint to our large-hearted
philanthropists to donate parks and public
grounds to cities and villages. Don't all
speak at once, gentlemen
The governor can pardon two good, we'll
behaved convicts on the glorious Fourth of
July of each year, so says chapter 36.
State banks, as per chapter 81, must have
more cash and less wlnd-Otherwisc bankers,
unless they go to Canada, will pay fine not
to exceed $4,000, or spend five years in the
penitentiary.
The occupation of the professional juror is
gone if the law as provided in chapter 43 be
strictly complied with.
Insurance companies did not get In their
work very well with the Legislature of 1889,
for chapter AZ requires them TO
pay certain rate to fire COM
panies in cities and villages, while
chapter 4S compels the insurance company to
pay the face value of the policy
The registers of deeds worked the boys in
good shape, for from this time on they hold
office for term of four years, instead Of
two, as heretofore.
There are great many other acts of minor
Importance mostly amendatory of existing
laws. Taken as whole, the last legislature,
as evidenced by this book, has done very
creditable work. l presume The courts will
"knock out'' the usual proportion as uncon-
stitutional; many will require judicial in
depreciation, some will remain as 'dead let
ters," and the next time our savants meet
they will repeal some. So the work will go
on forever. Y. X.