The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1899-01-13

determination of the number of Ne
Jraska's people every five years Upon
hese two en~umerations the constitu-
! ion requires that the apportionment
# senators and representatives shall
')e made, thus requiring an apportion-
nent to be made each FIVE years. In
1915, when the last app0rtionment
;hCuld have been made, we find that
here had been no census taken in
he state, as required by the corstitr-
,ioa, ur1.. which to base such appoT,
,icnment, and it WAS argued by some
that the legislature had no power to
make an apTortiOnmant. The Ian
| gua2e of the constitution is that the
legislature shall make this ~apportion-
| nent at It's first session after the emu
| neration and at 10 other time. AS ]
| understand it, that which the consti-
tuition requires TO be done will be
lone, and having been done shall not
again be done until its provisions
leain require it. The present appor-
aiorE1eut is manifestly unjust to the
Western half of our state. With more
than one-sevcnth OF the population, it
has only five representatives. out OF
l hundred, and less than three sena-
tors of the thirty-three in our senate.
AS an act of JUST e long delayed |
recommend you to take up the work
of reappOrtionInent which the legisla-
ture of 1895 should have made, and
give to our western people the rep
resentation TO which they are enti-
tied.
] desire to call your attention to an
evil which has grown with the growth
of the state, and one for the eradica-
ton of which the best thought Of our
best minds have been engaged. / re-
fer to free railway transportation. The
pass system has grown to such pro-
portions that it has become a burden
to the managers of the railways Of
the state, Il scandal in state politics
and disgusting to thoughtful citizens.
Railways are built as business enter
prises. Profits must be made for in
ycstors upon business done. II all pas
sengers should be carried free, profits
must be made from some other branch
of the business, and it is fair to pre-
sumo that under su h circumstances
it would be necessary to advance
freight rates. If one half those trav-
cling should do SO upon free transport
~tation. all the profits OF the business
must be collected from the other half
who pay fare. Now IL the business
were remuneratiye with only one-half
those travelling paying fare, if al
should be made to pay alike the
same profits would accru to the rail
ways if only one-half as much was
charged for the service. 1t has been
estimated that our railways in Ne
braska receive less than two cents a
mile for the passenger service in the
state. when account is made of the
free transportation given those to
whom, Under one preteXt or another,
they think it necessary to give passes.
AS a business proposition it is unjust
to the railways OF the state that Gus
tom should place this burden upon
them, and they should he protected by
with adequate penalties for its
enforcement. II they protect them
selves against loss by charging in
rates to those who pay for
transportation, then as a business
proposition it is unjust to those who
pay fare and they should be pro-
by law with adequate penalties
for it's enforcement. Such q law
Cull lIllCNC Tx v - ~" az
ticing an injustice upon 4 part of their
patrons and secure to them the same
upon investments which they
now have and at the same time admit
Of a material reduction in passenger
The passage of a law against
the issuan e Of any free passes, eX-
,ept to employees of the railways, and
making the n accepting a free pass
particeps criminis participating
both alike subject to penal
lies attached adequate for its en-
with a reduction in passeu-
ger rates equivalent to the profits de-
by the adjustment of passes
would be alike just to the railways and
The travelling public.
In the matter of appropriations [
would earnestly recommend the most
rigid economy onsistent with the
welfare. The amount of an ap
preparation does not always indicate |
is character. What would seem q
arge sun appropriated for a specific
purpose may be in reality an econom-
cal expenditure of public money,
while a small amount set apart for
he same purposes would be eXtrava-
rant. The appropriation Of IN amount
or any purpose obviously too meager
or its accomplishment, while at the
line it would give color to the claim
or economy by the legislature MAX
ng it, the following biennial would
its rue character, either in de-
iciencies to be met or in poor service
the state, either of which would
clearly the dishonesty OF
ncompetency of the Legislature max
ng it. Our state institutions for the
ARE of our detectives are constantly
and would naturally require
IN increased amount for their mainte-
lance. The people have a right to de-
Dand economical management for
hem, and at the same time that these
wards of the state should receive most
and conscientious care. The
legislature which succeeds in eXer-
Using business Judgment of such high
character that our state institutions
IRE amply cared for without profit
ga Y, that appropriates funds in an
amount sufficient to meet their de-
hands without a deficiency, would re
,eive the appreciation of all right
linking people of the state. The APP
,ropriations for the maintenance of