Omaha daily bee., 1889-06-17
PROTEST. ON EXTRAVACANCE
The Last Legislatures Liberality
Coming to Light
RATHER FoRClBLE REMARKS
The board OF Public Lands and Build
ings Takes Exceptions to the FL
nancier'ng of Our General
Assembly.
LINCOLN BUREAU OF THE OMAHA BE, !
l0no l. Sm(pEr

LINCOLN. June 16 !
During very recent sitting of the board
of public lands and buildings, THE BEE rep
resentatvc had the pleasure of listening to
an unusually interesting discussion between
some of ITS members. The subject under
consideration was that of the expenses of tho
state government. At the time, the board
was auditing and allowing monthly claims
OF the state institutions, and as itcm after
item was passed upon, some of the intcrjec-
tons used in signifving assent or couuemna-
tion were somewhat amusing, though lack
ing in dignity. One would hardly think that
the staid state dignitaries, who compose the
very important board of public lands and
buildings, would change "pshaw' and darn
it" into "h-ll" and "d-n it," that's high :
way robbery" but tell you they put away
their Sunday school bios long ago. But THE
BEE representative intends to cast no reflec-
tions in making this statomen. for he believes
that there is u time that emphasis is highly
necessary. and that study for words TO make
statement emphatic is more nice than wise.
But TO tho controversy.
"Pll give the state So 900 per year for the
privilege of purchasing tho supplies for the
state institutions" said momber of the
board, land. moreover, I'll bond myself to
save the state money on the basis of the
sbdje eNpSnSeo past year.
"But YOU can't do it, dryly remarked
another; "thero is no law that provides for
such a deal"
"l know that woll enough, but my object
in making the statement was to bring the at
tention of the board 10 the alarming expense
that comes upon the state from month to
month, and it is steadily growing. IL seems
to me that dealers vie with each other IN
puttngt on the state just because the state
is their paymastor"
"This suggests the folly," quietly re-
marked another member 'of locating state
institutions here and there anu everywhere.
IL simply gives ''rom, Dick and Harry"
chance at the public teat. The lawmakers
of Nebraska must come to it sooner or later.
a purchase and supply agent" belongs to
the pressing needs of the state, and every
state officer ought to urge this upon the next
general assembly. A law creating one ought
certainly TO be enacted, and, my word for IL,
the general squeeze on the public teat by
dealers would cease'
Let me say" chipped in still another,
that board of public charities also be-
longs to our needs. While it has It's abuses
in other states, where it exists, am very
sure the good results would exceed the bad.
1t might have been Il good idea to call upon
DR.. Billings to nave inocuiated little sense
into the last august assemblagc. | want to
say that it wasn't great deal ahead OF the
the body of two years ago. Tho boys got
reckless during the closing days of the
session and the results will become manifest
by and by "
"If Billings had been called upon to do the
lnoculating act" observed No. |, ''he would
had to have improve on his work on hogs"
This closed the discussion and the board
settled down to business