Omaha daily bee., 1907-01-22

!
has been discussed so much by the state
press. We are sure the man who occupies
the governors chair would not regret to
have this responsibility shared by one or
two others.
Humphrey Democrat: The Nebraska
legislature has got we'll started TO grinding
out business. and really IL begins to look
as though we are to have business-like
session. II the republicans will act on the
square and bring about the reforms which
they promised in their platform, they will
have accomplished much that will result
in a great benefit TO all classes OF people
in the state.
Lyons Sun: Is the legislature going to
continue their hot air gait throughout the
session on 2-cent passenger fare and anti
pass legislation, losing sight OF the freight
rates? lowering of passenger rates and
abollshing the pass will not beneit the
farmer, merchant or ordinary citizen OF
rural districts like Burt county one dol
lar, where a small reduction in freight
tariff would ten dollars.
Waterloo Gazette: The legislature is get
ting right down to business and many
platform pledges of the party are being
embodied in bills and presented to the diff
ferent houses for passage or rejection.
and we have little doubt that 1t will become
law. The lobby. so-called, is doomed. but
no law can take away the constitutional
right of a private citizen or even a cor
poration to be heard on any and all bills
before the legislature, either by petition or
before proper committee.
Broken Bow Republican: The newspapers
are full Of suggestions for new laws to be
passed by the legislature. There are en-
ough laws now on the statute book. What
is most needed Is the election Of men to
enforce them. The legislature could-if II
would-perform wise and highly com
mendable feat by passing an act to sub
NIT to a vote of the people an amendment
to the constitution providing that legls-
lative sessions shall be held not oftener
than six years except upon call Of tho
governor, for a special purpose.
Schuyler Free Lance: The railroad cor
porations will get in their work this legis-
lative session in the senate, and II am
able to guess the senate is not what It
should be. The house is overwhelmingly
on the side of the people and the election
of Nettleton as speaker testines to that.
In the senate the election OF Saunders of
Omaha as president tells a story also and
1t is railroad dlctation story. Saunders
is a known corporation member by
previous session. Just watch the senate
and see IL II does not do the dirty work
for the railroads
Papillion Times: It is too late now to be
gushing over the numerous pardons
granted by Governor Mickey during his
reign. But II is not too late, in fact, II is
just the time to advocate the creation OF a
board of pardons which should act upon
all cases. To be sure, a governor with
backbone would not be wheedled into
granting a pardon on fiimsy excuses, but a
board would relieve the governor of a dis
agreeable duty and would also act as a
safeguard against wholesale defeats OF JUS
tice such we have experienced during
the reign of Mickey.
Tecumseh Tribunal: One of the acts of
the legislature should be to provide for a
constitutional convention The present con-
stitution of Nebraska has served well
enough, but the state has grown and con-
ditions have so changed that a new con-
stitution is almost imperative. In this
move all parties should join hands. Now,
while the people are alive to reform mat
tiers, would be the time to get such a
constitution as would be of real benefit to
all. The present constitution was made to
serve a state OF thousands OF people, but
people.
Albion News: The railroads are likely to
reap the penalty of their long years of
misrule in Nebraska. Up to the present
time about 100 bills have been introduced
in the legislature, and fully half OF them
are for laws aimed at the railroads. The
people Of Nebraska have been long suffer
ing and slow to wrath. They have sub
mitted to the most aggravated oppression.
and II will indeed be strange, now that
they have gained the ascendency, IL they
don't bear down rather hard on the rail-
roads While It cannot be denied there is
ample provocation for retaliation. yet any
thing more than a square deal' will
eventually react, As Governor Sheldon
said. 1--WE don't want to put TIE railroads
out of business, but out of politics"
Friend Telegraph: Even after the tax
case is won in the United States supreme
court the farmer. under existing circum-
stances, will continue to pay the taxes In
this state The wheat rate in this state is
five times as high as 1t is in the states
east Of Nebraska. The present rate from
Friend to Omaha is IL cents per hundred
and from Omaha to Chicago the rate on
wheat is 1OA cents per hundred The
distance between Friend and Omaha Is 100
miles and the distance DetNeen OHldnd anu
Chicago about 500 miles There is nothing
which needs regulation so badly as the
grain rates in this state With proper
regulation Omaha would at once become
a splendid grain market. What is the
matter with the legislature Of this state,
now in session, passing such laws as will
regulate these abuses Of holding up and
literally robbing the farmer Of the wheat
he produces in the state from year TO
year.
Holdrege Citizen: Our state legislature is
now getting down to work in real earnest,
and the indications are that II will be the
best legislature we have had for years.
legislature that one does not have to
apologize for. or, at least, one which we
must put the mildest possible construction
upon their actions, will be a novelty in
Nebraska. II now looks as II we had one
which would do the business and OF which
we can feel proud. The republicans made
some pretty strong promises before the
election and the indications now are that
they will go ahead and fulfill these prom
ises Both houses have given notice that
! they don't want to be bothered with lobby
lists and that they must keep In their place.
| This is a good sign, and so the legislature
is beginning right There is strong hope