Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1905-11-23
GOVERNOR on EXTRA SESSION
Chief Executive Recognises Urgent Need
for Changing State Constitution.
NAY RtcONVtNt LEGISLATURE IN WINTER
Beside AmendinG Organic Law, Ad-
veestes Necessity of FreiEht Rate
Regulation 10 Complete over
throw of Corporation Rule.

The state constitution must be amended
The state has outgrown its provisions aud
the time has come when change is nee
essary, recognized that fact last winter
when / submitted a number OF amendments
TO the last legislature, but they were de-
feated."
Thus did Governor Mickey voice his senti-
ments Wednesday morning when asked
whether he would call an extra session
OF the legislature to submit amendments
TO the constitution at the next state cleo
ton.
whether 1 shall call the extra session
I do ont know at this time" said the gov
ernor. Some Of the best men in the state
have suggested to me that this would be
the wise course. while others are not 80
sure. Something must be done however.
for the state at large is suffering be-
cause OF our narrow constitution. am
seriously considering the matter and may
call the extra session, but cannot say
anything definite now,
Many Changes Needed.
I'VE neod amendments to the constitu-
ton which will give US FIVE supreme court
Judges and do away with the commission;
and by eli means the system of investing
the permanent school fund should be
changed so other securities could be bought.
There was a number Of other amendments
which I urged upon the late Legislature. l
have talked with a number of the legisla-
tors and many OF them seem to think con-
stitutional convention would be the only
method by which the needed changes could
be brought about
''There are other things which should be
considered IL an extra session is called,
among which Is freight rate law. But
the question naturally arises, could we eX-
pect the legislature as constituted now 70
give us those things which 1t has once
| refused us The next legislature am salts
fed will be pledged 10 these reforms before
II il elected. The indignation Of a people
against railway domination cannot be APP
peased with promises any longer. Radical
| changes must ccme. The next legislature
must be composed Of men who will look ia
the interests of the people and not serve
the corporations I believe that is the kind
OF Legislature Nebraska will have. That is a
reason why l hesitate about calling an ex-
| ira session. 1 expect much from the next
| legislature.
EacaDinE the Railroad Yoke.
"There is no question in my mind but
| that we are coming out from under the
! railroad yoke The attorney general Is con-
| Rdent he will win the railroad tax suit
| II we lose i'm the lower court it will not
| iniure the states case in the least but, on
the other hand, it may help us, because II
Brown loses out he will hurry the case To
| the United States court and get a speedy
| decision. Should the railroads lose, then
| they will take the full two years to get
! into the higher court, and all during that
! time their taxes will be tied up. OF course
! this will hurt many of the school districts
] in the state but in the long run 1t Will
| be of the greatest benefit to Nebraska. Ii
will mean the everlasting overthrow OF
railroad domination. / think l know the
temper Of the people, and II the roads
| enjoin their 1905 taxes which they probably
will do to be consistent then the storm
\ is sure to come which will sweep Ne
| braska back into the hands of Nebraskans
and out of the railroad grip.
strong Men VIII he Needed.
TT will be necessary for the republican
| party TO nominate strong men on its state
| ticket next fall, for the people will not
! stand for any candidate who is under the
| domination of the railroads and other cor.
| porations. The party cannot afford to lose
| the ground it has gained. The republican
party must nominate men who will stand
| by the party platform and carry it out. and
| not men who will promise and do nothing.
! In the course of his remarks the gov.
| ernor took occasion to express qualification
| at the enforced dissolution of the Grain
| trust and added
but that will not stop the prosecution