Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-01-04

come WhereOf only are to be uScQ SNAIL
be deemed trust funds held by the state.
and the state shall supply all losses thereof,
that may In any manner accrue, so that
the same shall remain forever inviolate
II is therefore obligatory upon your body
TO make provision for the restitution OF the
depleted funds, either by authorizing the
drawing of a warrant upon the general
fund for the amount, payable TO the treas
urer or by authorizing a special levy upon
more years. sufficient to meet the require
ments. The Items and amounts OF such
shortage are as follows:
Permanent school fund. S15s, e42 81
Permanent university fund .,"..... 9,75@
Agricultural college endowmt fund 1866 81
Normal endowment fund............ 2,6OOO9
IONal .so1o,ootsOV
Restriction OF the Lobby.
Extravagant and unnecessary appropria-
lions are very largely due to the persistent
efforts of individuals who- through selfish
interest or mistaken zeal, make a practice
OF freduenting the Legislative lobby ana
halls. and even the floors OF the respective
members in behalf Of their pet measure,
The custom is vicious and works great
injury to the state treasury. Matters at
fecting appropriations ought not to be sub
Iects of secret conference nor In any degree
affected by the attitude of any member
toward other measures. Every piece OF
legislation ought to stand upon its own
merits and this Is especially true of appro-
priations. The committee room is the
Statements and arguments that cannot be
made there ought not to be heard at all.
suggest that the public interest requires
that you adopt rule early in the session
which will protect the legislative chambers
and halls from the influence of the lobby.
under penalty. and that the rule be rightly
enforced Heads of state Institutions, edu-
cational and otherwise, should be included
In the restrictions and should not be per-
United to importune Tor Tor FppropT6 ar on,
all interests shall receive careful considera-
ton. the appropriations and claims cons
mittees should hold public sessions and al
be invited to appear at stated times and
make arguments and submit data perth
| they should be heard at no other time, save
| In this public way. Such course would,
I believe. be the means OF protecting the
treasury from needless and extravaganza
appropriations and would save individual
members much annoyance.
Railway COmmiSsiOn and Rates.
| The previous Legislature provided for sub
mission to the voters of an amendment to
the constitution creating state railway
commission Of three members. This amend
ment was adopted by a large majority at
| first board of commissioners was duly
elected. With reference to the powers and
! duties Of the commission the joint resolu-
! ton submitting the amendment reads as
The powers and duties of such commits
sion shall include the regulation OF rates,
! service and general control Of common car
riers, as the legislature may provide by
1t will be necessary for your honorable
body to define In detail the duties of this
commission and to confer upon II ample
| authority to effectively deal with the sub
jects which will come before IT, You are
to fix salaries of the members and make
provision OF such clerical help as may be
board. You should make II certain by leg
islatiye requirement that the person Sc
leeted for the important position Of secrse-
connection with railroad management and
rate making. able to meet the railroad on
BILE of rendering the more valuable assist
ance TO the board The people are looking
to this commission for; relief from railroad
achieved by the board viii very largely de.
pend upon the choice of "a secretary. He
should be an expert
have reached me predicated upon alleged
unjust freight charges imposed by the
within state. lines in particular It is as
serted that the companies operating in thl.
state collect rates which are far in exces.
the states to the east and which, measured
by the length OF the haul, are dispropor
tomato These are matters which mos
Gems. | have made no personal inVestga
ton of freight rate conditions because
no power to act and there has been 'i a,
board of commission to which such ques
| tons could be referred. The railroads O
Nebraska are in the main, owned and con
trolled by eastern capitalists. These PEG
pie are much more interested in their owl
profits than they are in the general wehsr
of the citizens of this state, though Their
should be an equitable relation existing be
tween the two The tendency of the time
experief1ce teaches that Whers tS spltaI am
tralfzed power there is apt to be oppres
sion. The railroads have been a suprem
factor In the development of Nebraska an
no one will gainsay their right to reason
able returns upon their actual investments
/ It Is ALSO right that the people should b
and extortionate rates. The remedy OF ma
tional legislation Is being vigorously an
neo a snsIv remains an.,T Tor the several state
I straint as will operate against discrimina
ton and will guarantee equal privileges I
a railroad commission and have authorize
: You to clothe II with ample power, marke
Improvement along these lines is confidentl
expected.
Education.
> The growth of our educational syster
, IN all Its branches has been phenomenal an
highly satisfactory Our people are aiiv
. have ever shown willingness TO provld
for the needs OF such Institutions when
: eyer the need has been made manifest. A
BY direct taxation the university and tw
: normal schools, In addition to Ave junio
D normals, a school for the blind and for tn
. deaf and dumb. have no doubt but tina
! your honorable body will carefully conside
: | the requirements OF all these institution
as viii further their progress and be in lin
! with the growth and development OF IN
state.
E Institutional Comments.
: l am pleased TO call your attention to tn
; fact that the penitentiary Is nearly sell
, supporting In the department of maintt
: | nance. the current biennial report of III
warden shows that for the six month
! | ending November 70, 1906. the per capit
. cost of maintenance was S658. Durin
= that time the per capita earnings of IN
: convicts were $685. making the net mar
! tenance cost to the state but Sl5OS IL
l each inmate, a little less than cents d,
|. day. The physical condition OF the priso
\ is first-class and IL stands today as a mod,
u institution of it's kind.
The three insane asylums of NebraslS
have each been created by different statute
2 and are known by different names. Ths
! at Lincoln Is known as the "Nebrask
d Hospital for the Insane" the one at Has
8 lngs lis designated Asylum for the Incul
J.. able insane" while the one at Norfol
o is styled the Insane Asylum at Norfolk
c Owing to the variations In the statut,
}. creating them, some perplexng question
4 have arisen and are likely to continu
!. to arise In the future with respect to the
> control management and legal status.
g deem II important that the CHAPTER OF OF
d statutes dealing with the insane be r
+ vised; that the three asylums be place
: on exactly the same footing.
!. l especially enJoin upon you that yo
4. see that all aDprODriatlOus made for N