Omaha daily bee., 1897-01-27

more likely to do harm than good. 1t is
quite certain that the agitation of So
called currency reform is having a more
or less detrimental effect upon financial
confidence.
DOES 1T KNOW WHAT 1T ADVOCATESp
The World-Herald did not advocate the
original passage of the law wrestling from
Governor Holcomb his executive prerogative
and the World-Herald does not oppose the
restoration of that power to the governor
World-Herald.
Does the World-Herald know what
measures it advocates and what it OPP
poses? 1t may not make any difference
so far as the fate of the measures are
concerned, but the truth of history
should not be perverted even to cover
up its serpentine tracks. What paper
was it, if not the World-H Herald, that
gave aid and comfort by the free use
of its columns to the band of conspira-
tors who fathered the Russell Churchill
police commission bill and forced it with
whip and spur through the legislature
and over Governor Holcomb's veto?
What paper was it, if not the World
Herald, that first gave publication to the
yenomous attack on the old commission
signed by a citizen-judge for the purpose
of backing up the political combine
against the governor? What paper was
it, If not the World-H Herald. that could
scarce conceal its joy over the fina pas
sage of the measure? What paper vas
it, if not the World Herald, that later,
when the constitutionality of the law
was called in question by some of the
ablest lawyers in the state, made its. bed
with the Russell Churchill crowd and did
all it could to undermine the position of
the governor? What paper was it, If not
the World-Herald, that went wild in it's
jubilation over the decision of the su-
preme court overriding the very points
on which Governor Holcomb had
grounded his veto message?
Is the World Herald now opposing
the restoration to the governor of the
w~erogative wrested from him two years
ago? If not, it is pursuing a very
peculiar course in support of r%estora-
ton. In its last Sundays issue, the
World-Herald, discussing editorially the
proposed Howell charter. asserts that the
bill "as n whole commends itself to the
people of this city" 1t takes exception
to the appointive tax commissioner and
urges that that officer be made elective.
1t criticises the composition of the
council and suggests that the ward rep
resentatives be elected by the people of
the whole city-a provision already in
the charter bill-and concludes:
With these amendments and others of a
minor character which the Douglas delega-
ton proposes to offer we believe the
proposed charter will meet the indorse-
ment of all the people of this city who do
not have corporation or selfish Interests
at stake.
The WOrld-lierald then has no fault to
find with the Howell charter except in
these two particulars and other possible
amendments ''of Il minor character"
But what does the Howell charter
propose as TO the police commission?
The police commission is provided for
in section 1866 rs follows:
In each city there shall be a board OF fire
and police commissioners, to consist of the
mayor, who shall be ex-oficio chairman of
the board. and four electors of the city, who
shall be appointed by the governor, com
missioner of public lands and buildings, AMI
the attorney general, sitting as an appoint
ing board, of which appointing board the
governor shall be chairman. The governor
shall call the beard to a sitting at any time
necessity requires a meeting, or the same Is
deemed advisable, and the commissioner of
public lands and buildings and attorney gen.
eral may call a session of said board should
The governor refuse to make such call on
written request from them, of which meet
ing and the time and place thereof they
shall give written notice 10 the governor d.
least two days prior thereto. Any two of the
officers named shall constitute a quorum end
may perform any of the acts of appointment
herein authorized to be done and performed
by said board.
The World-Hcrald has endorsed this
section of the Howell charter. Does
this section contemplate restoring to the
governor the executive provocative
wrested from him by conspiracy two
years ago with the aid and encourage
ment of that paper? Does it not rather
aim to complete the theft by comforting
on the other W members of the APP
pointing board the legal authority to
ignore the governor and act without
him. If the World-Herald is not
opposed to the restoration of the gov
ernor's power why does it not de
nounce this scheme and urge that the
wrong of two years ago be righted
without a moments delay?
1t was only three years ago last July
that the original Injunction was issued