Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-03-14
STATE PRESS COMMENT.

INNhilitg I1uDs Inc WOouiltn VI Nilt
World threaten to remove their headauar-
tiers from Nebraska, being located at Omaha,
to some other state where their reserve
fund is not taxed They can, OF course
find such states, several OF them in fact
where equality before the law does not
apply to equality in matters of taxation.
Monowi News; ]. c. Root, sovereign
commander of the Woodmen Of the World
says he will move the headquarters from
Omaha and Nebraska because the state
IL talking OF taxing the reserve fund of
that order. Well, IL we should all shift
our business to evade taxes, where would
the support OF state county and villages
come from? Please tell us.
Weeping Water Herald There was an
other meeting of the Commercial club OF
Omaha held last week, at which the sub
jeot of independent phones was discussed
The business men there are awake in the
matter and realize that Il means some
thing in business way. What people 90
after nowadays is business and anything
that retards business retards the growth
and development OF a city. There is going
to be an independent franchise granted in
Omaha before many moons IL the most
influential men OF Omaha can secure IT,
Several Of the managers OF Independent
lines Of the state were present at the
meeting OF the Commercial club and they
are now more hopeful than ever.
Fremont Herald Every interior town
in Nebraska, as a matter of self-interest,
ought to take pride in the growth OF the
metropolis of the state, and the people of
the interior ought to do all in their power
to contribute to that growth, because II
Omaha shall grow great the greatness must
be OF value to the whole state. And the
people of interior Nebraska would BE loyal
to Omaha IL that great city would meet
them half way. But Omaha does not
meet her country cousin half way on the
road which leads TO friendly relations.
When the country cousin buys a bill of
goods from an Omaha merchant he is In
formed that personal checks will not be
received in payment. Chicago merchants
do not send such statements 20 the couns
try yokels in Nebraska. st. Joseph and
Kansas City wholesalers do not send such
notices to Nebraska buyers. We mention
this matter at this time just TO show 10
our Omaha friends fair sample of their
own penny-wise- and-pound-foolish policy.
Omaha cannot grow as rast as Omaha has
a license to grow until the business inter
csts of that city shall show a better grade
OF llberality in their dealings with the peo-
pie Of interior Nebraska. We do not speak
Of this matter in a complaining way, but
rather In the hope that we may be able to
show Omaha to herself as others see her.
Hastings Tribune: As result of Ed
ward Rosewater's address on Libel be-
fore the Nebraska Press association that
organization adopted resolutions recon-
mending that the libel laws OF Nebraska be
so amended as TO make criminal libel
mlsdemeanoT only. and not a felony, as at
a NH a
dorsed Mr.. Rosewaters suggestion which
recommends that after a court has tried
case and passed upon 1t, the papers ought
to be allowed to discuss 1t without fear,
and that the laws should be amended so
! that courts should be prohibited from drag
ging up an editor for constructive con-
tempt. As the libel laws OF Nebraska stand
now they are unjust TO the editor and are
not in accordance with the constitution,
which gives us free speech and free press.
Let the libel laws OF Nebraska be taken
| up at the next session OF the legislature
and be so amended that an editor will be
put on the same ground with the ordinary
citizen As the laws stand today any oiu-
zen can parade the streets and call whom
soever he sees NJ horsethief. and he can
| only be charged with misdemeanor; while
on the other hand II an editor were to use
/ the same language IN MS newspaper ne
would be charged with felony. This is too
much of a discrimination and calls for an
amendment OF Nebraska's libel laws.
Kearney Hub: A special fake artist for
league OF eastern newspapers has been
giving Kearney some left-handed publicity
again in the form OF special letter writ
! ten from this city and describing In har-
rowing word pictures how the town has
been bliRhted by the railroad rate ring
The last time the correspondents took
| shot at US was during the presidential
campaign of 1900 but at that time the
blight that Is now ascribed TO the railroads
| was caused by the trusts. Kearney is
live. growing town, that is forging ahead
steadily having long since recovered from
the effects OF financial depression and panic
OF drouth and famine, and the foolish
dreams OF creating nas from thistles-of
forcing the growth Of an industrial center
ahead of the time and the necessary de-
velopment Of the country. The charge Of
discrimination in railroad rates IL true, but
I Il Is also true as to towns In Nebraska
similarly situated. The Hub Is not a de-
fender Of railroad rate methods, as all
its readers know, and Is not now nor has Il
ever been a corporation defender. Hence
It Is not making any plea for the railroads
Il Is merely standing up for Kearney'
which Is given a black eye every time any
dsmagogue or yellow space writer opens
his yawp or takes his pen in hand to give
the trusts or the railroads rap Natu-
rally we are all quite tired OF II.