The Columbus journal. (Columbus, Neb.) 1874-1911, 1909-01-13

the law, if need be, SO that such
action can be prevented.
Record Of Legislation OF 1907.
am pleased to inform you the railway
commission estimates that shippers and
passengers Of this state have been saved
Sc, 600, 900 as a result of legislation passed
by the last legislature, reducing passen-
ger fares to 2 cents a mile: express rates
% per cent: and freight rates, on grain
other commodities in carload lots. Is pei
cent.
Experience has demonstrated that tbs
terminal taxation law which was passed
by the last legislature has provided 6
more equitable system Of taxation, and or
the whole has been beneficial to the tax.
payers residing in the cities and villages
The last legislature also passed an act
to control lobbying and to prevent corrupt
practices affecting legislation: abolishe1
the free pass evil by enacting an anti
pass law; enacted statewide primary
law. requiring political parties to nomin'
ate their candidates by direct vote Of the
people, and gave the railway commission
power to put an end to rebates and dis
ordinations IN transportation, to make
and to fix rates, and to control then
properly in all particulars. Telephone
telegraph, express and street railway
companies were also placed under the
control Of the railway commission.
That legislature passed a pure foot
law and en- employees liability act. II
enacted laws providing for neglected chill
dren; provided for free high school privil'
eyes for normal training in high school.
and assistance for weak school districts
prohibited pooling by bridge contractors
and provided a way to remove officers FOL
wiliful neglect Of duty and failure to en-
force laws.
Primary law.
The primary law should not be repealed
but in some particulars should be amend
ed Provisions should be made for a ro-
tated ballot The precinct committeemer
should be selected by the voters at the
the county candidates. as now provided.
There. should be n different provision
than that row continued in the law re
garding platform conventions. Now. eacl
county is entitled to one delegate. This is
rot representative. Another objection !:
that the platform convention is not hex
until after the primaries. A party plat
form should he promulgated before Tho
candidates are nominated. Provision:
should be made so that the platform con
vcntion shall be held before the primarie!
or the matter of platform making left t.
the candidates nominated by the respec'
tive parties.
Sterilization of Deiinquents.
Those dependent upon the state have
been increasing year by year. and more
particularly the insane and convicts. Thu
is a matter for exceedingly serious con.
sideration.
Society is justified in adopting sucf
policies. and In carrying them out agains
individuals. as will in the long run tent
to help elevate and perpetuate the hu'
man race. Careless and ill-advised mar
riaSes have had Il great deal to do in In
creasing the dependent classes and II
producing untold misery. 1 therefore
recommend for your earnest consideration
change in our marriage laws so that il
will be impossible for any man or woman
to marry until = certificate from physi
clan licensed To practice in this state ha:
been presented. containing statement
tina, their health is good and that they
are capable of producing healthy off
spring. Those who are Il burden upOI
society should not be permitted 10 repro
Guce themselves.
In order 10 prevent the confirmed Grim
inal ard the incurabie insane from pro
dhcing offspring l suggest that you Elv'
careful consideration to the necessity o
passing a law providing for the steriliZa
ton of that class Of people.
ReeuIaticn Of Liquor Traffic.
In my opinion the time has come fol
advanced legislation to better regulat.
and control the liquor traffic. At the pres
ent time there is no political party which
publicly will stand pat" on the Siocumi
law. The demands of the hour call fol
legislation to control and regulate thi:
traffic in accordance with the presen
conditions and needs of the state. Thi:
question should not be permitted to dras
along until legislation is enacted tina
will satisfy only the the extremists. II
that event the legislation will probably
be that which a minority rather than ;
majority approve. Experience in the en-
forcement of the LIQUOR laws demon
strates that it is difficult to enforce
these laws in any community where pub
lie sentiment is against such action.
"a aviSfS iS indie
feasible. 1t breaks our laws. corrupts OIL
politics. degrades our men and fills Ou
prisons and asylums.
This question must be met in a practi
cal way After careful consideration
have come to the conclusion that the pro
per thing to do at this time is to pass {
statewide prohibition act, making pro
vision so that any municipality may sus
pend such an act By a three-fifths vote
pensed as may be provided by law. Thi!
will put the burden upon those who de-
sire of make a profit out Of the salooI
business. rather than upon the people O
the state who desire the saloons abol
ished l therefore recommend that 20,
pass such an act and that you also sub
nit to the people of this state a consti
tutional amendment embodying such pro
visions.
The Anti-Tr Law.
In the early part Of my administration
l was requested by numerous petitions t,
enforce the anti-treat law. To such
replied that stood ready to do all in m!
power to enforce that law. but that moth
ing could be done unless those who hat
knowledge OF its violation would them
selves take the initiative in. securing thu
evidence. presenting it to the prosecuting
attorney and standing behind the com.
plants.
Til. M .4in.lnH sonfiox, Of tn, Cloc,,x,ol