Omaha daily bee., 1899-08-12
HOW TO BRING HOME H FIRST NE
TASK

~ ~ ~ hD@ $500 49,
BRASKA.
The proposition to charter a train to
convey the members of the First Ne.
braska regiment from San Francisco to
their respective homes will meet with
the cordial approval of all classes of
citizens. 1t was eminently proper that
the initiative should be taken by the
ernor Poynter can rest assured that Ne
braska will not repudiate any legitl-
mate debt he may incur in providing
transportation for the men whose yalor
has challenged the admiration of all
America and placed Nebraska in the
front rank of patriotic states. When 1t
was first proposed to raise the necessary
funds for d%efraying the cost of trans
porting the First Nebraska to Omaha
for a state reception by voluntary con-
tributlons the project had to be aban-
doned by reason of the difficulties en-
countered in the effort to raise the large
sum required.
while the proposition to raise $4,000
" Il Suhiahty iuhb, B"S OJ
case the legislature fails to make the
appropriation, will make the task much
easier, its success is, to say the least,
problematic. The assurance that
$4,000 was subscribed within forty-eight
hours affords no criterion of the OBJ
stacles to be encountered in raising the
remaining $17,5OO. An examination of
the published list shows that $1,000 of
the $4,000 was subscribed by two de
partment stores and another $1,000 was
raised by hard soliciting among leading
capitalists and political candidates.
The next $4,000 will be much
harder to raise and the last
$4,000 may not materialize In time, es-
pecially in view Of the apparent attempt
Of the solicitors to give the enterprise a
political aspect. Even If the guaranty
were raised in time up to the full limit
the question would come, What proper
ton would be collectible and who could
enforce its collection? 1t must be ap-
parent that the validity of each subscrip-
ton depends upon the ability of the pro-
moters to raise the entire amount.
1t must also be borne in mind that
Omaha, Lincoln and every other com
munity is already straining every nerve
to raise the funds hat are deemed
necessary for an appropriate reception
and entertainment of the homecoming
companies. In addition to this, Omaha
is just now compelled to respond to the
call for the relief of the distressed fam
lilies of the firemen killed at the recent
fire, not considering the constant drafts
made upon it's merchants and business
men for other charities and enterprises
that depend for their success upon lib
eral contributions.
The Bee believes that the only proper
course to be pursued under the circum-
stances is to impose upon the railroads
the task of bringing home the Nebraska
soldiers on vouchers payable when the
next legislature has made the appro-
priation. This is not asking too much
Of the railroads, which will get a large
share Of Nebraska's enormous harvest
that promises to exhaust all their ia
cilities during the next six months. In
fact, the railroads run no risk whatever
as to getting their money. The patriotic
people of Nebraska will stand pledged
upon honor to make good the due bills is
sued by the governor and one of the first
acts of the coming legislature will be to
make good the pledge Of the people
Such a policy will divest the enterprise
of all political color and relieve the
people who are being appealed to for
subscriptions from being either embar.
raised or placed in an unenviable light
by the side of their neighbors.