Omaha daily bee., 1903-01-09

1uur bOuN EnOIlu make n llberal appFu-
r~riation for the proper representation OF
Nebraska at this exposition. subject to
such restrictions and details Of expenditure
as prudence may suggest.
P~enitentinry.
BY reason Of the failure Of the last legis-
lature to make. a sufficiently large appro-
priation the rebuilding OF the center and
west wing Of the ptnitentiary, DESTROYED
by FIRE two years ago, Is not yet completed.
The stone Is practically all laid. but the
Interior cannot be finished and made ready
for occupancy until another apprOpria-
ZION becomes available. To this duty /
trust you will give early attention. II Is
also absolutely imperative that the west
wing be equipped with from fifty to
seventy-hve new steel cells. the present cell
room being entirely inadequate to the needs
Of the institution. AT this time three con-
: victs are compelled to bunk in one small
/ room. the capacity Of which is scarcely
equal to the proper accommodation Of two.
The result is that these unfortunates are
crowded together I'm an almost barbsruus
manner and in violation OF the p~rompungs
OF humane reason and the laws of health.
This condition is in nc. sense a reflection
on the cement OF the penitentiary,
but is unavoidable on account Of the lack
of room: | recommend that sufficient APP
preparations be made, both for the COM
pletion Of that part of the penitendary
which Is now I'm process Of construction and
for the addition of new cells as suggested.
Food Commission.
The food commission law should be made
\ more comprehensive. AT present its oper-
atoms are confined to dairy, cider and Vine
/ q ApoaNNo anu III lht NOlAllllloCAbh
having charge of the department has done
excellent service in it's limited sphere, It is
evident that a broadening of the enact
ment would be OF corresponding benefit.
The public health is. largely dependent on
the character of food products and GER
tainly it is hitting that a matter so init
mateiy connected with the very existence OF
our people should be regulated by proper
legislation. The scope e. nc present law
should be broadened so as TO include the
regulation and control of food products for
the use 'of man. Such products should be
/ lnn m HEnV mn Riot A. On chair aaW
its and deception as to purity and quality
should be made a penal ofense. The pres
ent fee and permit system should be abol-
ished. the expense OF the maintenance Of
tn office should be paid from the general
fund and a direct appropriation should be
made for-that purpose.
Norfolk Asylum.
In September, 1901, the main building Of
the asylum for the insane at Norfolk was
partially destroyed by FIRE and rendered
unit for further use. At that time the
mates. These were afterward divided be-
tween the similar institutions owned by
the state at Lincoln and Hastings and
were, there given the care and attention
which their cases demanded, as well as
could be done under the crowded con-
has been built to the Institution at Hast
ings, afrOrding additional accommodations
which have temporarily relieved the en-
barrassment. 1t is possible that for a
short time the state could continue to care
for its unfortunates at the two institutions
buN IL blAouiu W II III lllllu lIdl
the Lincoln hospital is now charged with
thirty more than its capacity will justify,
while the asylum at Hastings has its
normal capacity filled. 1t is evident, there
fore that prompt and decisive action should
be taken In order to avoid the necessity of
caring for these sufferers in any other way
than in a well equipped hospital. The
state now has at Norfolk an investment
OF about So, 900, in the way of land, un-
injured buildings and equipments, exclusive
OF the partial ruins Of the main building,
which also represents a considerable
of the growing needs of the state proper
Tomato to the growth in population and
tine me corresponding Increase Of demen,ia
North Platte country, II seems to me that
the institution at Norfolk should be re-
able appropriation for that purpose. l
further advise that his and all other build
ings authorized by your body be made as
nearly hreproof as possible, to the end
that danger to human life and of the de-
struction of property on account of fire be
reduced to the minimum.
. state Accountant.
with the gradual increase of state bust
ness 1t becomes more and more necessary
that a state accountant should be provided,
as an adjunct of the Board of Public Lands
and Buildings, whose duty'it shall be to
scrutinize and verify the accounts of the
various state officers and state Institutions,
and who shall have authority over the
a view ato,, reducing then &c. a uniform
system. Believing, that such an oficer
i WOutd IttueT NdtudDfe beTNlCe 10 Ile state
land would serve as a checE' on. extrava-
gance in the conduct OF state affairs, l
recommend that the position be created.
These are the more important points of
desired legislation that suggest themselves
to my mind. During the progress of the
session 1t may be that other matters will
arise tor which l shall wish to cali your at
tention by special message. / trust that
the utmost OF harmony and fraternal good
will may attend all your efforts.
Governor savaEe's Message.
Governor Savage devotes the opening of
his message to a discussion Of the cUnsti-
t~utional provisions which safeguard the in
vestment of the permanent school funds.
He recommends an amendment that will
enable the treasurer to invest in securities
other than those at present specified. He
concludes his paragraph on this topic as
follows;
The amount of securities held for the per-
manent school fund now aggregates $3.50,
OOO. The amount OF money which the state
has forthcoming from sale contracts of
rangements must be made, therefore, for. a
continuous Investment of a trust fund of at
least $10,O0O,OO0, Under prevailing constitu-
tional limitations investment of anywhere
near the full amount of this fund Is impos-
sible.
Under the head of "Retrenchment and
Economy" he says:
A careful study Of this phase of the ques.
ton |Justi1es me In my own mind In rec
OmmenQlnR the dDOntlOn OF the DEPART
ments OF auditor of public accounts and
commissioner of public lands and buildings
and the assignment OF the duties incumbent
thereon to those departments Differed by
the secretary of state, the treasurer and
governor. With a few additional clerks the
duties Of the auditor and commissioner OF
public lands and buildings can be performed
by the secretary of state, the treasurer and
the governor, thus making a saving to the
taxpayers of approximately $50, 900 per year
simplifying government and doing away
with the necessity of an outlay OF at leasl
$4,000 made necessary for accommodation
for the new adjuncts which naturally viii
be created from time TO time.
The Bureau of Industrial Statistics Is &
source of unnecessary expense and should
be abolished. The law pertaining to tn,
= collection and compilation of Industrial sta
tistics should be so amended as TO impos,
this duty jointly on the department o.
: banking, the department Of public instTuc
! ton and the Board OF Agriculture, BY s.
: doing the service can be improved and
. substantial reduction made In public ex
/, pense.
a A comparison of expenses incident TO pub
. lie printing fails to Justify the existence o
: the state printing board or for a SPECIFIC
! appropriation therefor and l recommend a.
. a measure of economy that the law creatinl
I the said board be repealed and that IL
duties be imposed on the secretary of state
Congress is at this time considering a bill
which provides for the location of a ma
tional fish hatchery in Nebraska. / recon
4 mend that your honorable body memorable
congress TO pass this measure and that tn
: Nebraska Representatives IN both hranche
q support. Should the measure pass IL w6ui
% he an act Of wisdom for Tha state n. furi