The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1891-02-10
Nebraska's Executive Finally
Given 0pprtunity to
Speak.
He Suggests Line of Reforms, In
cluding Strict Usury Laws,
Secret Ballot,
And Choice Of Presidential Electors
by Congressional Districts
---Thayers Farewell.

Gentlemen of the Senate and House Of Rep
| re~eptatives;
/ Assembled here by the direction OF the
people of this great and growing common
wealth of Nebraska To promote their inter
ests aud render obedience to their expressed
wis hope that In all things concerning the
/ dignity OF citizenship and the public veal
/ we may 20 hand in hand toward the faith
| ful fultilimcnt of our accepted trust, guided
| by our best wisdom. ambitious In the per
| foraance of our labors and at all times
| true To the honor and the escutcheon OF the
| state. We meet here. instructed by the
public voice, YOU Ia your sphere and ! la
| mine. differ ent In action. yet the same In
end. As public servants with express COM
| mands, we shall be- held 90 strict account
by those who sent Us here. subterfuges
and strategies aud weak expedlents will
all be- swept away when are called
upon 10 explain the record made within
these walls. Our principles abandoned aud
our pledges unperformcd, the people dis
regarded and the state betrayed. means to-
morrow, a. ID meant yesterday, swift and
complete political death. In ali that per
tains 10 blooming fields and prosperous
bones: in all that brings the people of
the prairies In close alliance with the peo-
pie OF the towns; In the promotion OF their
welfare; in the protection OF their rights;
the redress OF their wrongs In lifting their
burdens, aud the speedy granting OF their
handed Justice TO all ! herewith extend
you my hearty approval In advance.
have the honor. therefore, gentlemen,
10 present briefly for your consideration a
few suggestions of what has appeared To me
to Toe essential 10 the welfare and content
ment OF the people of this state.
strict Ecosomy In Public Anairs.
The public business should bo conducted
on the same business principles that char
acterlze the prudent man in the manage
ment of his own private affairs. Inneces-
sary expense should not he INDUCED. The
public service should not be % nest for use-
less appointees. As dlsbursers OF public
fnnas. your duty aud your Official trust
should be considered too sacred to be thus
prastituted and abused. No official. high or
low. should be generous ut the expense OF
th" people. The administration Ia every
state institution should be- conducted with
strict Hdelity 10 it, object and purpose and
on a basis of exact economy; and In every
/ insaanee. ~ such should he found, all super
numcraries should be- promptly dismissed.
| In the management OF that branch OF the
public affairs conhded To my charge all
those clothed with power by me shall be
held to the line of impartial duty, their fit-
ness made paramount and full and complete
service exacted and required.
As trustees of an express trust let us get
together on all matters of state, TO the end
that our people may be made prosperous
and the commonwealth exalted to proud po-
siiion In the history OF the land. From the
length and breadth of the state comes the
cry OF oppressive taxation. Living L. high.
the markets are low: while back In the
stricken section We hear the plain of suf-
| fering aud distress. IL Is our duty to lessen
| these hardsnipS aud soften these pains.
| Every dollar paid 20 a useless employe is
| theft from the pockets Of the poor. Ia nay
| judgment II would be well that you desig-
nate committee to examine and
inquire into the executive offices Of
the government and all institutions of the
state. with view of learning their condi-
tion. their number of attaches, the charac-
ter of their respective labors and the cost OF
| their maintenance and support. | believe
that a. "A result thereof mnny slnecures
would be abolished and idle officers dis
charged This would be one step toward
the peoples relief.
Coneeraing Usury.
Nebraska is comparatively new state.
| Its grand resources are yet in process OF de-
| yelopment. immigrants are Rocking u its
public lands, and strength, energy and en-
| terprise are making It's fields blossom and
| tts factories hum with toll. borrowed cap
| ltal. therefore, must enter largely into the
| work of such development Interest rates
| ars higher and rank usury more often de-
manded and enforced In new communities
| than In the old. Two and per cent. per
| month are too often exacted In this state
| from the lowiy and the poor. Our present
| interest law Axes per cent. per annum ~
| the legal rate, but permits 10 per cent per
4 annunl by special contract. IL more than the
latter amount is reserved or contracted for,
/ the penalty Is N forfeiture OF all interest,
/ and the lender can only recover the amount
| actually loaned. Whether legislation re-
| dncing interest below It's present rate
1 would be wise Il "A serious question at this
/ time, IL Is an argument OF much force and
4 ates rfui raHtl inR
| from the present legal rates would tend 10
| divert capital from our state and
1 thus produce siringency In
our money circulation. The re-
suit would be 10 cripple our commerce
4 and work injury % every line OF Industrial
/ aid. That the many wrongs Inflicted by the
usurer should he checked Is CRYING de-
| mand. It rests with you 90 do so. sug-
| gest and recommend the enactment OF "A
law With severe penalties. ample to reach
1 and destroy that class of extDrtion and pun
| ish those who practice IL.
Tho Public schools.
Our state Is 20 be congratulated on the
| efficiency OF It's public teachers aud the high
| educational standard % which Our youth
| has attained. In public education, a. In
| every line OF progress, the state has MADE
| proud record In the past twenty years
our school districts have increased from 7s4
10 q, .43. and our school children from 32,5s9
To 33a. .a43. State interfs fsrence, or state SUI
perVissoa over private. paTochiai or denom-
| national schools ought not 20 be encour-
| aged Ample constitutional guards exist
| against the diversion OF school funds 60 any
such Institution. Though the state fur
nIshes education free IL should at the same
time accord 10 all, the right to receive the
1 benefits OF education from any source they
may select. Amy action taken By you fof
the advancement OF public education.
| and the dissemination OF knowledge
will receive my most cordial en-
dorsement Much complaint ~ heard regard
ing the excessive prices demanded for most
| az the standard books uscd Ina our public
schools. We need such legislation as VIII
| furnish books 20 our schools, II not free. at
least at the publishers wholesale price.
large sum Of money can be saved 10 the
people annually by inaugurating effective
reforms In the methods ~ school book
supply.
Baiiot Refarm Needed.
The state Of Nebraska should be fully