Omaha daily bee., 1907-01-04
rwo GOVERNORS MESSAGES.

Two GOVEHNORS, hbSSAGES
The messages of the outgoing and
incoming governors, delivered to the
members of the legislature in joint
session, furnish interesting reading for
the citizens OF Nebraska. Governor
Mickey gives a comprehensive review
of the present condition of the state,
with special emphasis upon its finances
and incidental recommendations based
upon his experience in the perfor-
nance of his duties. Governor Shell
don outlines in a broad way the policy
which he proposes to pursue and the
general features Of legislation which
he hopes to see enacted and put into
force.
In several particulars Governor
Mickey's message is an agreeable sur
prise. He calls attention to the evils
from which the people of Nebraska
have been suffering at the hands Of the
railroads, their pernicious influence
with legislation, their inexcusable re-
fusal to pay their taxes, their excessive
and discriminating exactions from
shippers and passengers, the corrupt
ing influence of their insidious free
passes, and urges laws to prevent con-
tinuation OF such abuses. He handles
without gloves the shortage in the
permanent school fund created by the
stealings of ex-Treasurer BARLEY and
the failure of the state to get any re-
dress or recoupment from Senator Mil
lard's bank, through which 100000
Of the money was cleared; or from the
bondsmen, who had voluntarily gone
surety for Bartley's honesty and integ-
Iity. Governor Mickey has reached the
conclusion that the state has exhausted
its remedies and that nothing remains
now except to make good the deficit
of 1925. $3.50 in the school fund
either by direct appropriation or by
the levying of a special tax. With an
extra 1-mill levy now in force to sink
the states floating debt, it is a ques-
ton whether special levy would be
justified. The chances are that the
legislature will prefer to continue the
present extra levy indefinitely until 1t
sinks not only the floating debt, but
the BARLEY embezzlement as well.
The outgoing governor is careful
not to endorse all the demands of the
different state institutions, whose esti-
mates added up far exceed the possible
revenues. The pruning knife will
surely have to be used vigorously by
those who are to count out the money.
AS was to have been expected, Gov
ernor Mickey strenuously defends his
prolific exercise of the pardoning
power, which has turned so many des-
perate convicts loose upon the COM
munity, and Indignantly resents all
criticism, charging it to "prejudiced
individuals" The humorous part of
this display of injured innocence is to
be found in connection with another
section of his message preaching law
enforcement and asking for greater
power to enforce criminal prosecution,
presumably so that he might pardon
or parole more prisoners after they are
convicted.
Governor Sheldon in his salutatory
does not go into such detail as does
his predecessor. Aside from the plea
he makes for revenue law revision
with view to abating certain fragrant
instances of double taxation, he con-
fines himself chiefly to the issues upon
which he made his campaign before
the people. On these questions he is
clear-cut and unequivocal. He wants
a direct primary law, strict control of
railroad rates, taxation of railroad
property in cities on a more just basis,
complete abolition of free pass brib-
cry, full powers to the new state rail-
way commission. law for direct pri
mary nominations and economy and
efficiency all along the line. Governor
Sheldon will doubtless follow up his
suggestions as occasion requires. He
has said enough to prove that he is
thoroughly in harmony with the re-
form program, which the legislature
is expected to spread upon the statute
books.