Omaha daily bee., 1901-01-01

having been raised at Meadville, pa, where
he attended the public schools. He secured
his legal rudiments as a student in the
law school OF the state University Of Kan
sas at Lawrence and has been practcing
at his profession for sixteen years To
the core, however, he is a Nebraskan, has
claimed Nebraska as his preferred rest
dcnce since 1871 and has been identified
with Burt county all OF that time but two
years He was mayor OF Tckamah three
years and county attorney OF Burt county
six years, resignlng the latter position
few days ago to avoid embarrassment with
his coming term as lawmaker. lie is 40
years OF age OF slender build. which makes
him look tall. although Of medium height,
of light complexion, but with n tinge OF
gray already appearing in his hair.
Il have made my canvass for the
speakershlp entirely Independent OF the
senatorial contest" said Mr.. Sears. "aud
without promises OF committee appoint
ments or house patronage. OF course
consulted with all the men who had inter-
ests involved but | declined to be anyone's
candidate but my own and my associates
whose favor ] asked. Had the speakership
been made a part Of the senatorial strug-
ge | doubt whether | would have met the
same success.
mo. | have no novel ideas as to the
management OF the business Of the house.
expect to follow in the lines laid down
by my predecessors and abide by estab-
llshed precedent. I will try to the best OF
my ability to conduct the sessions on
plane OF absolute fairness and treat all
alike without reference to partisan anil
atlons. ! hope. however to draw all re-
publcans together into a harmonious ma
jority barring discussion and diversion
I that the business will be dispatched in the
most busnesslikc manner. IL fair treat
ment will abate factional opposition feel
sure the house will have smooth sailing
ALL the time"
This IL SteeIe's Third Term.
Senator G. +. Steele, who will act as
president of the senate. is beginning his
| third term as representative OF Jefferson
county in the upper branch of the legis-
lature. He is furniture dealer at Fair
bury, successful merchant actively in
terested in the republican party. For four
years he was sheriff and another four years
treasurer lie is an old soldier. who came
to Nebraska from Illinois thirty years ago.
What will | do when | become acting
governor" replied Senator Steele to the
query. II hardly expect to be called into
| that responsible position, but IL ] am,
think | will retallate in kind on Senator
Talbot You see. Talbot as president of
the last senate encountered an accidental
summons to the governors chair during
the Sioux Falls convention, when both the
| governor and lieutenant governor were out
| OF the state. He sat down and wrote out n
| long pardon for me, forgiving all my sins
and trarsgressions to date, and sent 1t to
me. | shall be tempted to make out
| pardon for him for all his sins OF omis-
| sion and commission and especially OF re-
| canting his republicanism while holding an
Office to which he had been chosen by re-
! publican associates"
Governor POyntcr's Message Complete.
Governor Poynter has completed his
regular message to the legislature. Com
| pared with effusions of his predecessors IT
is said to be short and to the point, cover
| ing about thirty pages Of typewriter manu-
script, making not more than 5000 words.
The message is principally n review of the
work under the direct supervision of the
| executive during the last two years with
| special stress upon the various branches
| that have been hampered by want OF legisla-
| tion or by supreme court decisions invali-
dating legislation under which action was
formerly had. Incorporated into the re-
view are a number of recommendations
| for curative acts and suggestions Of ways
| and means to improve existing methods
| of state administration.
THE governor has been careful In the
preparation Of his message" said one Of
his clerical staff, land has succeeded in
| covering a great deal of ground In q short
| space. He has revised 1t several times
and always in the direction of making It
| more concise. He has a faculty OF con-
densng which Governor Holcomb did not
have. Governor Holcomb re-wrote his
| last message several times and each time
found 1t expanded two or three pages. until
| 1t became a ponderous document Gov
ernor Poynter's production is an anti-ex-
pansionist message, at least in point Of
| size"
| In his message to the legislature Gov
ernor Poynter will advocate radical change
In the laws relating to the management
OF the Institute for Feeble Minded Youth
at Beatrice. The principal suggestion will
be that the law requiring parents to pay
tuition OF children in the institution
be repealed. Under the existing statutes
parents are required to pay $40 per year
for children kept In the home, but in the
event OF their failure or inability to pay
this amount the county from which the
inmate is sent is allowed to contribute the
fees.
Ne.er Turned Into Treasury.
| Under the present system a lot OF money
accumulates at the home, which is never
turned into the treasury" said friend Of
the governors, who is interested in the
proposed change. The constitution OF the
state contemplates that all money expended
by the state shall come from the state
treasury. The money payed for the tuition
OF inmates never finds its way into the
treasury, but is used for purchasing sup
plies for the institution. We want the law
requiring the payment of this fee repealed
for experience has shown that in nearly
every instance the money comes from the
county and not from the parent"
The trouble at the Beatrice home under
the administration OF DR.. b. F. Lang, all
arose from the unauthorized and Ill advised
expenditure Of the cash fund, which was
used for purchasing all sorts OF supplies that
were not needed. The friends OF the governor
insist that the proposed change is not In =
tended as a reflection on persons who may
| Tar hau oh rvA ~.