The Red Cloud chief., 1901-01-11
ROYNTER'S WORD
Outgoing Executive Addresses
the Nebraska Lawmakers.
(0NDlTlOH OF TIL! STATE FINANCES.
Carefully Looked After. RECON-
~inendations Made.- suggests
constitutional Convention,

~ the oHudlorS anu representatives
Of the Twenty-seventh Session of the
Legislature of Nebraska.-Gentlemen:
Complying with the provisions of the
constitution of the state of Nebraska,
! place before you a of the
operations of the various departments
of state during the past biennium, and
offer for your consideration some sue-
gestions aS to what deem the needs
of the state.
Too much of our legislation is built
upon the give and lake plan-a sys-
Pm of you help me ard I'll help
You" between legislators. Log-roll-
ing Is notorious in almost every legls-
lativc hall. and all the way up to the
national halls of congress. The lobby
eXerts undue influence. As a result
of these things we have a mass Of ILL
considered laws. the meaning Of which
Is obscure. many contradictory, and
when submitted 20 the test of consti.
tutionai Interpretation, utterly fail
and become null and void. We need
fewer rather than more laws. The
Legislators who will repeal a large
number of laws now upon our law
books. which are and have been for
years dead letters. and will strip 9TH
ers of useless verbiaGe which tends 20
dSScure their meaning, and clothc
them in language so plain that the
"wayfaring man. though n simpleton.
need not err therein" and in the en-.
actment of the few needed laws frame
them so plain and direct that there
can he no room for any uuibbling as
TO their nearing. would earn foi
themselves memorial tablets from
their grateful fellow citizens.
Many laws passed by the Legislature
woui6 fail Of enactment II the voters
and taxpayers of the state had the
opportunity Of expressing themselves
upon their ~desirability before they
went into effect. II every law had to
pass the test of popular approval the
number OF statutes would be much
xpailer than it Is now, and the en-
ibrcement Of these approved would be
an easy task. Purely partisan meas
ures would be unknown. and the oc-
cupatiOn OF the lobbyist would he at
an end. I believe 1t would be to the
great benefit of tho .tate " all acts
of the legislature, except emergency
legislation for the maintenance Of pub
lie business and institutions. were sub
mitted TO the ratification Of the people.
FINANCIAL.
The state treasurer reports a bal
auce on hand at the close Of business
November 30, 1900, OF $615. 01S.34. The
bonded Indebtedness of the state has
been entirely paid and a balance in
Ne sinking fund of $50, 1855. 90. This
YOU should transfer to the general
fn.I al ,.NIaat1a Nhn Nrnno,tpar IN
credit any further moneys coming in
TO that fund to the general fund. No
further levy for the sinking fund has
been made. but some back taxes upon
that fund will be collected from year
to year. Our floating Indebtedness rep
resented by state warrants is $1.727,-
509.72. The school fund has invested
in 81, I65. 1852. ~ of this amount, which
has practically put the state upon Il
cash basis so far as the purchase of
supplies aud the maintenance OF our
state institutions are concerned. The
interest arising from these war
rants goes into the temporary school
fund. and is distributed again to tn
taxpayers through the school fund APP
portiOnment. The treasurer very just
ly remarks that a thorough revision
OF the revenue laws should be made.
or an amendment authorizing a levy
OF seven CA mills for the general fund
instead of five co mills, since the pres
ont levy Toes not keep up with the APP
preparations. thereby increasing, rath-
az than reducing, our floating indebt'
edness. To my mind a just assess
ment is much more preferable than an
increased levy. Our present levy OF
five 90 mills would be all sufficient
If our assessment was what il should
be. The states educational funds arc
Invested in the securities designated
Ky the constitution to the amount 81
$4,365, 544.6S. Each year finds 1t moro
difficult TO secure investment for these
funds In the securities required by tn
constitution The constitution shoul'
/. he amended allowing a larger scope
for investment Of the states educa
tional funds.
concur In the recommendation o
the treasurer, reducing the interes
upon state warrants to three CD pc
cert. This will enable the treasurer
TO secure practically all OF these war
rants for the school fund investment
The present condition of the state
finances. as compared with even SO re
cent date as four years ago, must D'
a source of congratulation to the citi
dgus of Nebraska. Should this con
dition continue. your best EFFORTS mus
be used and your wisdom devise way
and means to keep the appropriation
within the limit of the levy permitted
by law.
ELECTION OF UNITED STATES
SENATORS.
One OF the most important dutle
which you have to perform Is IN
election OF two senators to represen
Nebraska in the senate of the Unite
States. The experience OF our owi
state. as well as that of other states
in times past. recall to lis the ain
Guilty attending this duty. The seie'
tion IF senator's would be much sim
Rifed, and those chosen to that hig
Once more representative, II the pee
pie themselves chose them by difee
vote. The time of the Legislature
which is really too short for the care
full consideration OF legislation
taken up and the minds OF the mem
hers distracted with the too often ION
arawn out struggles in the election