Omaha daily bee., 1902-06-01
Watson Making Record.

Deputy Labor Commissioners Watson has
demonstrated that he is not afraid to have
the courts pass upon the validity Of any
law affecting his department. When he
assumed his duties he proceeded under
the theory that the laws were there to be
enforced and when he found that he could
overcome the obstacles In no other way
he went into court. This is Just what his
fusion predecessor strived not to do. Mr..
Kent, who held the title Of deputy labor
commissioners under the Holcomb and
Poynter administrations, performed no
service which was Of any value to the
state. His statistics were incomplete and
therefore worthless, but the expenditures
for the publication of these figures were
up to the limit and he won the distinction
of Issuing a biennial report bigger than
that of any other state department.
The most trouble has been experienced
by the department officials under the law
which requires county assessors to gather
agricultural and industrial statistics. The
fusion commissioner succeeded usually In
getting about one-third OF the counties to
comply with this. but the others absolutely
refused. Mr.. Kent wrote them polite letters
and even threatened mandamus proceedings
against the most obstinate, but there Is no
record Of any such proceedings having been
begun.
It is related that Mr.. Kent was cautioned
at the time he began his duties not to
allow the law to be tested In court. Attor-
neys told him that It would be declared
unconstitutional and then his. job would be
gone. And so 1t was that the laws were
not enforced. He made an earnest effort TO
have the clerks and assessors OF the various
counties submit peacefully, but he carefully
evaded legal proceedings.
Since Mr.. Watson was appointed by Gov
ernor Dietrich last year the law relating
to the gathering of agricultural and indus
trial statistics has been taken TO the SUI
preme court and held constitutional The
validity of the female labor law is involved
in a case now held under Amusement by
the supreme court and 1t Is said that the
fire escape law and the compulsory educa-
ton law will also be put to a test.
Mr.. Watson is a blacksmith by trade and
he has carried some OF the sturdy principles
Of that business into his Office at the head
Of the Bureau Of Labor and Industrial Sta
t%istics. IF we can't get out figures that
are worth something we ought to know IT,"
says Mr., Watson. III the laws are uncon-
stitutional We might as well close up the
ONCE, and I'll go back to horse shoeing."
Corporation Laws Favorable.
Promoters Of financial enterprises have
discovered that the corporation laws Of Ne
braska are more liberal than those OF most
Of the western states and hat they are TAX
ing advantage Of this condition is readily
seen by an examination OF the articles OF
the new companies that are hled from day
to day in the secretary Of states once
A week ago a party Of California investors
banded themselves together under the Ne
bTaska laws for the transaction Of business
in their own state and the only conditions
imposed were that they abide by the Ne
braska laws and maintain an ONCE some
where in the state. This company Will do
a general lumber business and It's Interests
are practically all In California. Other IN
stances Of the same kind are numerous,
there being on an average OF at least one
non resident company organized each week.
One reason why the Nebraska laws are
tempting lie tina they make no provision for
supervision. They require annual publiea-
ton OF a statement OF Indebtedness, but the
state authorities have no way OF ascertain
ing whether OF not this section Of the law
is obeyed. The corporations are not re-
ouired to report changes in their manage
ment. transfers OF stock or even changes
in their directory. They file articles at TIT
time Of organization and make no further
showing unless they decrease or increase
their capital stock or make essential
changes in their business.
Upwards OF 10000 corporations have beer
licensed to DO business In this state oul
Il y not believed that more than one-tnire