Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1905-12-05
STATE PRESS COMMENT.

Norfolk Press: The supreme court could
very easily make a short cut TO revision
Of the state constitution by declaring all
the laws creating state boards of this,
that and the other Observation-Disclosures
they really are. The letting Of such a
grand army of statesmen out of jobs would
create an agitation equal to a Chinese
earthquake, and something would have to
be did.
Kearney Hub: Governor Mickey is right
about the Nebraska constitution. 1t has
grown too small for the needs OF the state
But what are we going to do about it?
Unless the people should be thoroughly
wide awake we might lose some of the
most desirable provisions of the old con-
stitution in building a new one. The peo-
pie seem to be sufficiently awake. But
are they?
Kearney Hub: The Omaha Bee remarks
that "if the report that the Board of Re-
gents Of the State university proposes to
persist in conducting business in star
chamber 1t is to be hoped that 1t will re-
consider and throw its doors wide open
to publicity" The star chamber policy
should certainly be abandoned, for it is
true as The Bee further says that the af-
fairs of public institution maintained at
the expense of the taxpayers should be
administered so that the people may be
fully informed regarding them. 1t is time
to turn over a new leaf.
Albion News: A large assembly of Butler
county people passed resolutions denoun-
cling the Union Pacific and Burlington rail
roads for refusing to pay their taxes and
promised to give their business to the
Northwestern, which has paid its taxes like
L.. . aNa 20
would do the same, those taxes would soon
be in the county treasures. However. there
is something about boycotting that is re-
pugnant to the American people. II the
roads continue their present tactics they
may consider themselves lucky to escape
with a boycott. when the people become
really angry they are apt to be governed
more by a spirit of retaliation than of
justice.
York Times: At first flush It seems
strange that republican papers should de-
light in criticising republican officials.
Democrats do not denounce and belabor
democratic officials and why should re-
pubicans be so vicious toward their par
tisans? The fact is the democrats are not
in the fight They are effectually put TO
sleep The battle now in Nebraska and
in the nation is not to decide which politi-
cal party shall control but which faction
of the republican party. Republicans who
have aspirations and who are not in the
swim in the party know 1t is not worth
while to go after the democrats and so they
get after the men who really are in control
and try to unhorse them. They really Join
the democrats in an effort to defeat the
controlling faction in the party in the hope
that they can obtain control and that the
other faction will be more loyal and hon
orable than they and will help them into
power.
Norfolk Press: The tax agents of the
Union Pacific and Burlington railways are
going about the state rendering to county
treasurers such portions of the taxes levied
against their companies they think they
ought to pay. At the same time the COM
panies have gone into court asking for an
order restraining the county treasurer
from collecting any more than the amount
rendered It's a mighty poor game that
two can't play at. 1t is now In order for
every shipper who has goods carried over
either of these roads to tender the agent
such portion of the freight charges as he
thinks he ought to pay, and II the agent
refuses to accept the tender, replevin the
goods and ask for an order restraining the
company from ever charging a greater rate
than the amount rendered. This is the
exact counterpart OF the game the rail
roads are playing on the tax business and,
OF course. the companies wouldn't kick on
taking a little Of their own medicine.