Omaha daily bee., 1903-01-27
TIPS ron THE LEGISLATURES.


Clay Center Sun: The wholesale slaugh-
tering Of pigeons by trap shooting for
amusement is a disgrace to civilization. II.
indeed. civilization, upon the whole. is
more humane than savagery. A bill has
been introduced in the state legislature
prohibiting pigeon trap shooting. 1t should
become a law.
Wood River interests: There is a general
feeling among Legislators that their con-
stituents expect that they shall be the
father Of at least one bill, Independent OF
its legitimacy. and thus it is that each ses-
sion Of the legislature is flooded with a
host Of bills, most Of which are Of very
doubtful utility and worth. The crying
need Of the hour is not for more legislative
enactments, but fewer and better ones.
Elm Creek Beacon: Among the numerous
bills introduced in the Nebraska legisla-
ture one Of the most humane and sensible
Is that prohibiting live bird trap shooting.
This is not an evil of our town nor county
as far as we know, but It is practiced in
our state. Wanton destruction Of life for
sport can breed nothing but hard heart
edness toward animals and men. Live bird
trap shooting has been abolished in New
York and Massachusetts.
Waterloo Gazette: The Sears resolution,
making It a rule Of the house that no bills
for buildings. etc, carrying with them ap-
propriations. shall be advanced to third
reading until a revenue measure shall have
been passed that will provide sufficient
funds to liquidate the debt and meet neces-
sary appropriations. is a move that will
operate in the interests Of revenue reform
and put that class of legislation ahead Of
everything else. The large vote by which
the resolution was passed indicates the
temper OF the house along that line.
Arcadia Champion: While the legislature
Is worrying itself over the floating indebt-
edness Of the state and trying to straighten
out the revenue law tangle and at the same
time dispose Of the question Of appropria-
lions for public buildings to the satisfac-
ton of all, let them look over the necessity
of q $75, 900 appropriation to the Louisiana
Purchase exposition at st. Louis and II
there are any who can make the appropria-
ton that size and have It in keeping with
the condition that they are struggling with
we would like to see the color of his hair.
Two thousand five hundred dollars is
plenty.
Norfolk Press: Any revenue law that does
not provide disciplinary penalties for evsd-
ing taxation and adequate methods for en-
forcing the penalties will be a worse fail
ure than the present law. In addition TO
enacting a law that will provide adequate
revenue the legislature should go a step
farther and make every public officer re-
sponsible under his bond for extravagant
or wasteful use of public funds. There
is no use in raising revenue by taxation
II the men who are charged with the duty
Of handling the funds waste it in useless
aNpanditurpa nr In COntrartg given as n
reward to their political friends.
Clay Center Sun: A bill has been intro
duced by Representative Caldwell provid-
ing a department in one of the hospitals for
the insane for the detention and treatment
and parole of dipsomaniacs, inebriates
and those addicted to the excessive use OF
narcotics. We spoke editorially some
months ago OF this manner of treating in
ebriates, believing It to be a good idea.
Many inebriates threatened with such a
punishment would brace up and throw off
the habit. This would be the best result
Of the law, because it serves to develop the
latent powers of the individual and make a
man of him. In cases where the law did not
have this effect, and the man was Joined to
his IDOLS, he should be treated for affection
of the brain, as the insane are.
Wood River Interests: An adequate
revenue measure is the most important
matter up before the Nebraska legislature
at present. Both the senate and the house
have appointed committees on the subject
which are to act Jointly in draughting a
suitable measure. The joint committee has
asked that the supreme court be requested
to designate members Of the supreme court
commission to collaborate with them in
preparing the bill, and 1t is thought the
request will be granted. 1t is said the new
measure will include the following features:
~ A provision for county assessors in
each county of the state, in lieu Of precinct
ASSESSOR; (2) a provision for enlarged
powers OF the state and count boards OF
equalization, so that assessments may be
eitheT raised or lowered in whole or in
part.
Wayne Republican: A good bill to intro
duce in the legislature would provide. for
the publication Of annual reports of all
public officials handling public funds. Also
annual reports of all corporations doing
business in the state, in each county in
which they do business. The first provi-
sion is now complied with in the instance
Of county and city officials, and should be
extended to school officials, ct al. It would
be detrimental to the interests CT corpo-
rations to comply with a provision of this
kind as those doing a fair business could
afford publicity and would gain patronage
while the general public would be pro-
tected against the unfair and often insol-
vent companies doing business. In this
latter class are many insurance companies
and fake investment companies constantly
going to the wall.