Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-12-16

a
this attitude is equivalent to refusal on
Mr.. Mickeys part to grant the commute
ton.
After calling upon the governor, Mrs
O'Hearn and the clergyman went to the
penitentary, where ar AFFECTING interview
between the condemned murderer and his
mother took place.
Governor Mickey made trip 10 the pen
in the forenoon to talk with a young con-
vict named King, from Douglas county, VIII
wants his two-year sentence for grand
larceny committed. He was received at the
penltentiary ten months ago.
Price ON state Issues.
w. b. Price, old populist war horse,
has given to the public the following letter
he has addressed to Chairman Rose:
LINCOLN, Neb.-Hon. w. b. Rose.
Chairman Republican State Committee
rCcted to the members-eiect OF the Thir-
| tieth session of the Nebraska legislature
poignant statements II contains and for the
understanding which you display relative
to difficulties to be overcome by them in
enacting into law all of the measures prom
ised The letter also impressed me with
your apparent honesty and personal anx-
iety IN having your party redeem every
pledge. The anti-pass law, the direct pri-
mary law and laws to tax the railway
| terminals, while new to your party are not
so 10 a large NUMBER OF our citizens, 10.
the reason that they have been discussed
and advocated for a number Of years by
your political opponents therefore ali
parties being now agI eed upon the neCes-
/ sity for their enactment, little or no discus
/ sion will be required for their passage
! But the great battle will come upon the
/ laws fixing maximum freight ana las
| senger rates to be paid railroad companies
in this state. As TO the imperative need
! Of such laws, l take II all parties are
agreed, this being true, then the vital point
10 how can II be done with the least frlc-
ton and certainty Of accomplishing the de-
sired results? The plan proposed 10y you
and your party is to confer upon the rail-
way commission the power TO Tx, determine
and enforce reasonable freight and pas
senger rates. This plan, in my judgment,
/ is fraught with two doubtful and therefore
dangerous contingencies. First, and most
| amendment creating the commission nj for
various reasons and discussed during the
| recent campaign Second, and the one
] which / consider most serious can the leg
/ islature confer this power upon a cJmm.s-
| sion? 1 have serious DOUBTS upon this
/ point, and IL Is at least OF such importance
as to require careful attention from every
| member-eleCt, and Of all who are sincerely
working for relief from the too high, in
equitable and discriminating rates now In
/ force in Nebraska.
The constitution (section T. Article XII, en-
titled cOrpOrations) provides.
And the Legislature may from time TO
time pass laws establishing maximum rates
Of charges for the transportation Of pas
sCngeIs and freight on the different rail
roads In this state
FIom the wording Of this pO ton Of our
constitution IL Is very clear 10 my unCer-
standing that the Legislature aiCne has the
power to fix, make and determine what
rates shall be charged for the transporta-
ton OF freight and passc myers in this state
and Il has no inherent power to confer or
delegate this vested duty upon another
body or upon any executive ctfcer or ON
GERS.
Ths constitution must be strictly con-
strued, and Il is very clear TO me that the
court would have to give the above con-
structiOn TO our constitution. i think this
was known to at least a few Of the manip-
ulators Of your state convention. You will.
no doubt, recall that the platform drafted
by the special committee called for legis-
latiVe enactment upon this subject, but
/ when the committee selected by the cOuven-
ton met IL changed II so to ClOthe the
! PROPOSED commission with the rate-making
power. This appears 20 be just little the
smocthsst piece OF political work ever per-
petrated BY the power behind the throne"
The contention that the constitutional
amendment adopted BY the people at the
| November election covers any doubt upon
this matter is not well taken. In ny ;.'dg-
.uent. The language Of the Joint resolution