Omaha daily bee., 1906-11-26
WORK On BIENNIAL REPORTS
State 0fiosn Are Preparing for Meeting Of
the Legislature.
ALL wILL BE RIAOY LARLY MxI MONTH
Governor Mickey wul Not Beatn
writins HIS message Untn AFTER
These Reports Are
All In.
rFrnn q 80 correspondent. }

state ofhcers and the heads OF the various
state institutions are busy AZ work on their
biennial reports. These reports will be
filed with the governor the latter part OF
the month or the Isl OF December Gov
ernor Mickey Will probably not begin the
actual writing OF hiss message to the iegis-
lnture until after these reports, are ell in
u IS understood he will review the work
the present administration in detail and
an make numerous suggestions for his
successors beneht.
Telephone war Continues.
The telephone war in Idncoln has reached
huge proportions and the mails are flooded
each day with literature from each Of the
companies, As result OF the agitation
the cofnmercial club yesterday appointed a
committee TO investigate the increase made
BY the Lincoln company in It's rates to see
whether the increase was made to enrich
the stockholders and directors on to keep
up the present service and inrproveit. Both
sides are alleging misrepresentation. The
Nebraska company has reduced its rates
in order TO cut in on the Lincoln company,
which raised its charges In the long rum.
tbs people here expect to reap some benent
BY the fight.
state House Needs Repairs.
The dilapidated condition OF the Nebraska
state capitol is being noticed by visiting
legisletors-elect and among them the senti-
ment is strong that before very long Ne
braska will be compelled to have an entire
new building to house it's state governm mt.
The state has not only outgrown the pres
ent quarters, but the building Is In really
a dangerous as well as dilapidated condi-
ton. A portion OF the east wing has sagged
several inches and is gradually sinking
and there is danger OF a collapse. Plaster
ms has fallen In both the east and the vest
wings, while large cracks are seen in most
any part OF tho structure. The building
is unsanitary and though large sums OF
money have been spent on plumbing the
defects have not been remedied
The creation OF new boards and the fast
growing business to be attended to by the
state officers has rendered the quarters en-
tireiy inadequate. and during the session
Of the legislature every ONCE in the build
Ing almost will have to be doubled up
with some Of the boards or departments
Library IL Unprotected.
The state library is crowded into quar-
tiers NJ for q library one-third the size, and
Il is absolutely unprotected lrom ire Many
OF the offices have no wafer at all in them
and the only safeguard from fire. except
the city fire department. is a tank on top
Of the building, but the hose TO be con
nected with this tank has not been located
50 far as any one knowa
the building is due to the negligence of the
building is due to the negligence of the
State Board OF Public Lands and Buildings.
This board could have had the pIas.ering
repaired. It had tho roof fixed up on two or
three occasions. and It is believed SO long
as It does not rain it viii not leak but
until heavy rain falls the board viii not
know whether its last effort has been avail
ING.
Visiting legislators, however, agree that
within very short time the taxpayers Of
Nebraska will be called upon to pay for
q new building. II has been suggested
that the coming legislature app.opriato
money for a supreme court building ana
for the legal department and library, but,
as the entire old building will have to 20
shortly, some are Of the opinion It would
be better to walt short time ana appro-
priate money for an entire new building
erected on modern lines.