Omaha daily bee., 1909-02-24
NEBRASKA rREss COMMENT.

Grand Island Independent: II the divorce
legislation now proposed is enacted and
enforced Nebraska will be one state to
which sffinities need not rush for relief.
Kearney Hub: The state senate has done
at least one good thing in passing the bill
to abolish secret societies in the public
schools. All other schools maintained by
the state ought to be included.
Lincoln News: The time Of the ieRlsla-
ture is taken up for hours listening to or
settling quarrels that might better be set
tied at home. This can be done by an act
enabling the cities to make their own char
ter.
Schuyler Free Lance: The present demo-
cratic legislature will probably wreck all
hope of continued democratic success in
Nebraska. That Is democratic history. The
democrat is a great reformer until he gets
In and then he forgets II.
Fairbury Journals: When It is proposed
to tax money and notes and mortgages, 1t
is always argued that It will drive capital
out of the state. The same argument will
hold good with cows. Take the tax off Of
cows and lower the price of milk for the
babies.
Seward Blade: Talk about pie counters!'
al iSklSlhluTe Wants 10 create commas
slons to codify the statutes-to create a new
normal school board, a state architect and
a state accountant, three boards Of control
for state institutions and an additional food
commissioner and other offices too numer-
Gus TO mention"
Central City Record: II the legislature
will speedily kill off about nine-tenths of
the bills now before them. pick out a
dozen or so of the most meritorious of
those left, concentrate their energies upon
getting them In good shape, and then pass
them. they may have a good excuse for
drawing their salaries.
Central City Record: There is a bill be-
fore the legislature prohibiting youths un-
der IS or intoxicated persons from run
ming automobiles. 1t ought to pass unani-
mously. No man would want to ride on a
railroad having a 16-year-old boy at the
throttle, and he has still more strenuous
objections to a drunken engineer.
Norfolk Press: A bunch of people be-
sieged Governor Shallenberger with bills,
hymn books, tracts and tears to move him
TO commute a death sentence to imprison-
ment for life. He should have dumped the
whole bunch OF them into the asylum for
the feeble minded. People are doing a
mighty small business when they attempt
to keep a murderer out of hades tenn
porarily.
Central City Nonpareil: On the theory
that a purchaser has the right to know
how much of a thing he is getting for his
money the Nonpareil favors the bill re-
I curing newspapers to publish a sworn
statement of circulation. If it has proven
a good thing to brand packages of food
products with the quantity they contain, It
ought to prove a good thing to brand news
papers with the circulation they possess.
The advertiser Is entitled to as much con-
sideration as the food consumer.
st. a Republican: While the Omaha
World-Herald is running editorials at pres
ent telling what a great man Abraham Lin
coin was let 1t not be forgotten that eleven
years ago this week It's columns were ramp
ant with abuse of Mckinley because he did
not Immediately declare war against Spain,
and ten years ago this week 1t was pouring
out its bitterest attacks against the same
Mckinley because the american soldiers
were in the Philippine islands upholding the
honor Of their country and their flag.
Crete Democrat: We are pleased to see
the republican papers like The Bee and
~ NHS tASOh Ntl kANO
the present legislature at every move it
makes. 1t may cause quite a few, now
smorting under the republican lash. to quit
voting the republican ticket when important
officers like United States senator or con-
gresham are to be filled, and in return
get republican votes for some county, town
or precinct offices. These one-sided trades
have been made by pie hunting democrats
L ff1f Nhav kaxA hnEArnA kha Ia..oht1- ,tAaIr
OF the republican leaders.
Beatrice Express: The Oregon plan of
electing United States senators will no
doubt be adopted in Nebraska. There is a
screaming cutlery for it-especially among
the democrats. With such a law a re-
publican legislature would elect a democrat
to the United States senate IL he won the
popular vote in November against a man
nominated in a nonpartisan primary, which
the legislative majority is figuring on and
will probably establish. 1t would dissolve
party lines, which would be democratic.
and would be advantageous to the minority
party, as II was in Oregon.
Kearney Hub: The mania for creating
new offices is exceptionally acute with the
present legislature. One member proposes
a dentist for the state institutions. on a
salary, of course, and q fat appropriation
for instruments OF torture. Another mem
Der has a bill for a state board Of horology
10 be appointed by the governor, OF course
and to have charge of watchmakers ant
repairers and issue certificates. About tn
only thing lacking is a board to overse
the treatment OF corns and chilblains an'
TO prevent schoolboys from playing keep
and wishing" their warts onto some othe
unsuspecting kid.
81. Paul Republican: When the legisls
ture begins to tinker with the revenue law
!, OF this state then their troubles will begll
In earnest. The revenue laws were place.
there at a time when the assessment roll
!, OF the state were dwiEdled to the smalleE
. possible point. and an attempt to chang
back to the old method will bring a short
age. The proposed repeating OF the railwa
terminal taxation laws. which will alloy
: the railroads to escape taxation on Il
large depots and shops and yards. will b
another way OF tax escaping. II there 4
a change In the revenue laws IL should b
l. a change forward, and not q step backwarc
y
n The Consumer as n Foot Ball.
: Galveston News.
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