Omaha daily bee., 1903-02-04
rIrs roR THE LEGISLATURE.

SCribEcr News: Speaker Mockett's bill
providing for the appointment OF school
boards in cities by the mayor is meeting
well merited opposition. The public schools
should be permitted to escape the pollut-
ing atmosphere Of city politics.
Fairbury Gazette: The wolf bounty
proposition in Nebraska is becoming an in
teresting question. The claims filed thus
far aggregate S32. 900, with several back
counties to hear from. This is a pew in
dustry. which has grown up under the law
to pay 81 per head next.
Minden News: There is considerable ag-
itation Of making county officers terms
four years instead Of two. For a good on
Ger a four-year term would be a good thing.
but for a poor officer 1t would be a bad
thing. Before making the change tome way
should be provided for getting rid Of the
bad officers before four years.
Broken Bow Beacon: Alliance is NOV
ing vigorously for a normal school. This
is comDnendable in the citizens OF hat Wig
orous little city, but why should our citi-
zens fail to get the plum II it comes this
way? Who does not concede Broken Row
the advantage in location and resources
over any other place west of Lincoln7
Springfield Monitor: From the way
things look in the legislature the independ-
ent telephone companies will win by the
enactment of a new law permitting them
to enter the large cities Of the state. The
old companies, however, are not idle, and
IL they can do no better will work for a
compromise which will still enable them
to rake In the shekels.
Wayne Herald: The Herald does not
propose to mince matters nor debate the
question. 1t is an absolute fact that the
Norfolk asylum should be rebuilt and with
out delay. It is due this part OF Nebraska,
and there is no valid reason why II should
not be rebuilt, and the Herald desires to
see the senators and representatives from
this section OF the state solid for It.
Hebron Register: Among the new bills
introduced before the legislature now In
session at Lincoln is one that provides a
different manner from the present law Of
letting the contract for county printing by
county boards. The proposed new law
clearly defines the duty Of the officers hav-
ing the letting Of such contracts and its
passage would give the country printers a
show to secure at least a part of the work.
wahoo New Era: Senator Hastings Of
Butler county introduced a bill empower
ing county boards to make an annual ap-
preparation of 3 cents for each inhabitant
Of the county, for the purpose of aiding
county agricultural societies, but provides
that the premiums awarded shall be only
for agricultural exhibits and none Of It to
go to pay premiums on horse races. A very
good provision. II that bill passes we shall
withdraw our objections to a county fair.
Hastings Tribune: The members of the
Nebraska legislature have a golden oppor-
tunity TO make themselves heroes and be-
A. -
is SO easy that we are not going to do
much more than throw out a hint in the
right direction. For instances: Wouldn't 1t
be nice If the net of law were so con-
structed that all the big fish would be
caught and prosecuted with the same
swiftness and dispatch the smaller ones
are, and when 1t has been unquestionably
decided that they are criminals that they
be treated as such.
Stromsburg Headlight: II a bill which
Senator Umstead of this district has intro
duced goes through, the renters of Ne
braska farms will be confronted with a
landlords lien" which will grant the
Landlords a lien on all crops grown on
leased land, and also all personal property
used in the cultivation of said land" A
nice little measure which undoubtedly is
prompted by a selfish motive, as Hon. Um-
stead is now said to be quite a landlord
himself. Should the measure become law
there will be more than one renter who
will kick himself all over the barnyard for
having Helped the measure along by voting
for its maker.
Wausa Gazette: The committee on in
ternal improvements is considering a bill
providing for the sinking of six wells, in
different parts Of the state, for the
purpose of ascertaining whether or not
coal, oil or gas can be found in paying
quantities. The measure asks for an ap-
preparation of $50, 900. The bill has some
enthusiastic supporters In the house, but
it is very doubtful indeed that the pres
ent legislature, with a 81, 900. 900 debt star
ing IL in the face, can be induced to vote
an appropriation for prospecting in oil
wells. A plan for getting the state in
debtedness Town to the constitutional limit
would be far more seasonable.
Gordon Journal: We cannot understand
why any man OF good, sound judgment
should advocate the establishing of a half
dozen plug normal schools in Nebraska.
What Nebraska wants is one good state
normal school, centrally located, thai shall
take rank alongside OF our State university
among the educationl institutions OF the
land. and that we can have II we use com
mon sense and judgment. 1t stand to rea-
son that II the state has to support but one
normal school, that one can be better
equipped and pay better salaries TO better
teachers than would be the case IL a half
dozen smaller schools had to be maintained
at the state expense. All this talk about
more normal schools ought to be speedily
%squelched. 1t is the sheerest nonsense.
st. Paul Phonograph-P Press: House TOLL
No. 20, known as the Ramsey bill, was
adopted by the shippers and Independent
elevator men as the one bill that offers
the relief sought by grain and stock grow
ers. Independent shippers have been dis
eliminated against by the railroads to such
an extent that the people are determined
to stand II no longer, and when the PEG,
pie as a body speak the corporations know
that the day Of retribution is near at
hand. A number OF worthy measures have
been introduced in the legislature which
are in the interest OF the producer. And
the test will come when the measures are
placed on their passage. We believe that