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


The chief executive should have con-
ferred upon him absolute authority and
head appointed gui BY him, any aSd his action
should not be. subject to the review Of any
court or board
As you are doubtless aware, the Norfolk
Asylum for the Insane has been In opera
ton about two years since its restoration.
and has even now nearly reached the maxi
mum OF its present capacity. IL must he
provided with more room in the near
future. / recommend that the Easements
on the three cottages and OF the admins
lieving the rooms above and adding to the
capacity Of the institution TO the extent
Of being able TO care for Atty OF seventy
storehouse is also needed
In May. 1906, charges OF incompetency, OF
Of permitting subordinates TO assault
abuse and maltreat patients were preferred
against the superintendent and assistant
superintendent OF the Norfolk Asylum for
the Insane These charges were investi-
gated by me and also by the Board OF
Public Lands and Buildings. l found that
the allegations were sustained and on July
10, 1906, I issued formal orders removing
the superintendent and the assistant SUI
perintendent from their respective offices
They refused to vacate and ! then lnsti-
tuted custer proceedings In the supreme
court. Later and before decision was
rendered by the court both OF the officials
reconsidered their action and vacated their
positions to my appointees, the present In
cumbents. Since then the grand jury OF
ward attendants OF the asylum and they
are now awaiting trial in the district court
on the charge of assault with intent to do
school Lands ana Funas.
In his biennial report the commissioner
of public lands and buildings recommends
that deferred payments on public land
sale contracts be placed on per cent
basis, instead of per cent, as at present.
For the reason that an abundance OF pri-
vate money can be obtained at the lower
rate on farm loans the purchasers OF state
lands are rapidly paying up back principal,
taking deed and negotiating private loans
at less expense. The result Is loss to
| the interest revenue of the state because
| II Is impossible to reinvest the funds In
permissible securities bearing nearly 30
good rate as per cent. A.. =. .
constitution be amended so as to permit
| OF the investment of the permanent school
/ fund in other securities additional to gov
eminent, state and county bonds and state
| warrants. The opportunity to invest In
such securities as the constitution now per
| mits is being rapidly curtailed, for various
reasons, while the amount of money which
| the state, has for such investment Is IN
creasing and will so continue. concur
with the commissioner In both these recon-
| Anti-Pass Law.
| During the last two years a very general
| sentiment has developed against the is-
action on the part of railroad officials Ii
| rightly regarded as unjust Discrimination
and as being subversive OF the public veal
| Both the great political parties have de
! clared against the practice In their state
conventions and have pledged themselves K
definite action. l am one of those who be
lieves that a party platform means some
thing and that its tenets should be faith
fully carried out by those assuming Of
fcial T,esponSsi3ity reeSmmend that "a a.
to our statutes rigid anti-pass law, ap
plcable to all cases save those of bona
their Immediate families and caretakers o
live stock. With the exceptions noted,
heavy penalty should be imposed both OF
the party who issues a pass and the part!
who solicits the same.
Direct Primary.
In many quarters there is vigorous oppo
sition to the convention system of nomi
mating candidates for state, county and dis
trict offices, and in lieu thereof 1t is pro
posed to substitute a direct primary sys
TEN, one that will enable the voters 4
make direct choice Of such candidates a
the precinct primaries. 1t is believed tina
the proposed plan will do away with man,
current abuses Of power and influence vs
plane and make possible the selection Q
better officials. These are results devoutl
to be wished. regard it important, tina
the party pledge in this particular shoul
be fulfilled and l urge your HONORABLE
body to carefully consider the various Idea
that have been suggested along this lin
and to ultimatelS give to the state som
form OF a direct primary law, but wit
such limitations as will make i popula
|
, against the selection Of candidates who ma
but not a majority, and should in all r
spects safeguard the principle that tn
majority have the right to rule.
Labor Bureau.
The results accomplished by the Burea
of Labor and Industrial Statistics are nc
; satisfactory. and are not commensurate
l have been able to observe the entire his
J tory of the bureau has been a .disappoint
ment. IL you think best to continue tn
department. / recommend that the service
OF the clerk be dispensed with, as IN
deputy commissioner and the stenographt
constitute ample office force.
Law Enforcement.
1 have a firm conviction that the chic
/ executive should have more specific powt
! conferred upon him in the matter of la
> eonstitution reads: ''The supreme excel
: tive power shall be vested In the governo
: who shall take care that the laws be faiti
= fully executed" While the foundation
! we'll laid the statutes are not SUFFICIENT
= broad to give to the governor the pow'
! which is often needed to correct abuse.
g number of complaints have reached me
4 refusal on the part of county attorneys
: prosecute offenses, even when the nece
: sary complaints, etc. have been placed
. their hands. On account of such negle
4 Of duty the law abiding sentiment In Il
: community has been outraged and grei
J. wrong has been done TO the rights OF estal
q lished society. The governor is powerlei
q TO interfere, because he has no control ovl
: | county attorneys. IL Is true their col
!, ! stituents have recourse in impeachmei
q proceedings before the county board, bl
: / such a course Is technical, dilatory nj
! vexatious. A more effective and eXped
n tious remedy should be provided. recon
a mend the creation of a statute providlT
a that in all criminal cases and In civ
d matters wherein the state is intereste
v where proper complaint has been made
the county attorney and where he neglec
or refuses to prosecute, that the governs
be given power to either command sue
y county attorney 20 Immediately institu
d vigorous and faithful prosecution, or
Q lieu thereof to hire special counsel to tai
d charge OF the case at the expense OF Il
g county, or to do both. and In event Of Il
! continued neglect or refusal of such coun
I attorney to act that the governor be Civ
z absolute power to remove him from ON
n greatest importance to the cause Of go
e government and would remedy dets
y which now plainly exists.
" | further recommend that the statut
IS be amended so as TO prohibit, und
e penalty the shipment OF liquor by EXPIRE
70 and transportation companies into su
cities towns and villages as have. by
majority vote OF by action of the cOunC
e declared against the liquor traffic with
z their borders, no matter TO whom the shl
> ment may be consigned. When a Cpl
IS against the saloon business its wish
a should be respected and should not be 4
& at naught by any liquor house, express
e transportation company. / regard such
l. law as this imperative, to the end tn
,r local self-government may be sustained a
n not be brought into contempt.
m The Parole Law.