Omaha daily bee., 1906-12-31
NEBRASKA rRrss COMMENT.


Valentine Republican: Wherein lies che
necessity for two federal district courts IN
Nebraska Many are naturally inclined to
believe the main reason for this contention
is to provide more ofHces, there not yet
being enough to go around. Business Of
the one court IN this state has never been
congested to any alarming extent and NJ
present appears to be grinding out grists
as fast as litigants desire to MI the hopper.
Columbus Tribune. It is dlfhcult to de-
ternine which set of lobbyists Is doing the
railroads the most good. Bob Clancy and
his associates at Lincoln or Mike Har-
rington and Edgar Howard, who with their
self-constituted provisional or providenual
or some other kind OF government owner
ship league are attempting to distract the
attention of Nebraska legislators from the
real and dificult task of formulating def
mite and specific and effective rate regu-
lation for this state.
Fremont Tribune: The republican party
has made certain pledges. 1t has been com
mlssioned to carry them out, and II It
falls to do that It is likely TO go hard with
the party. The people expect that there
will be legislation against political and all
other kinds of passes; on freight and pas
senger reduction; on q primary system Of
nominations. II the members of the two
houses should. In caucus, select a com
mittee OF FIVE for each OF these subjects
to bring In bills II would give recognition
TO fifteen party leaders who would insure
the keeping OF the party's pledges and the
faithful service with respect to paramount
issues promised the people in the campaign.
The special committee plan is manfestly
the wisest one for the legislature TO pursue
Tekamah Journal: There is only one
way for the state legislature to deal with
the lobbying that always menRcss the
most mature judgment on legislative mat
ters down at Lincoln and that is to have
It all done away with, no matter in whose
interests the lobby may be working.
committee OF men from one interest or set
Of interests has Just as much right to at
tempt to influence legislation by the lobby
ing method as has another. The state In
stitutions have no more right to have
man hired TO look after their chances to
secure a big appropriation than has the
Burlington railroad to have a man to look
after it's interests. When the time shah
come that legislative districts will send
men to represent them, wholly competent,
and with minds of their own, then the
lobbyists business will be Improbable.
Then his salary will cease and with that
the nuisance will abate.
Friend Telegraph: The clans seem to be
gathering at Lincoln anticipating the COM
ing meeting of the legislature. Already IL
has been limited that II an opportunity Of
fers the corporations will have no hesi-
fancy in skinning the people out OF the
victory won at the polls last November.
We pity the legislator from the bottom
of our heart who goes to the session this
winter pledged to his constituents and then
disregards his pledges, or disregards the
rights Of the people who sent him to I'LL
that very exalted position We have
recognized the fact that these vital ques-
lions have been agitated so much that the
people are in no mood to be monkeyed with
by any one. Possibly more people will be
engaged in watching the movements Of the
Nebraska legislature during the present
winter than any similar body which has
ever assembled in this state. To the legis-
lator who carries out his pledges faithfully
there will certainly be hope in the future,
otherwise none
Columbus Tribune: Senator John c.,
Byrnes and Representative Jim Greig
will be two democratic members of the leg
islature whom we are confident the cor
poration influences will not be able to use
as obstructionists. Both of them have said
frankly to the editor OF this paper that
they will gladly support any republican
measure promising relief along the lines
indicated in both party platforms and that
they will refuse to stand as obstructionists
for the sake Of gaining party advantage.
And why should not the representatives
Of both parties stand together for needed
reforms in this state? Both parties stood
for the same reforms during the cam
paign. There were influences at work in
both parties before election to defeat honest
reform and the same influences will be at
work harder than ever In both parties in
the legislature to defeat honest reform.
The people, therefore, will not ask whether
representative has stood with his party
but whether he is lined up with those rep
resentatives in both parties who stand for
the public interests. 1t is to be hoped that
a majority OF the legislature will assume
the same attitude as that OF John Byrnes
and Jim Greg.