Omaha daily bee., 1910-03-27

have the protection of strong civil service
law. Their retention should depend abso-
lutey and alone on good conduct faithful
ness and efficiency. To an honest effort to
have such a law framed and enacted
pledge myself unequivocally
state Board OF Control.
'I believe the legislature should and If
elected 1 will urge that It do, devote some
study to the deslrability Of establishing in
Nebraska a state board Of control This
board should be bipartisan II created, and
have direct supervision of all public insti-
tutions, except possibly the state univer-
slty and school Of agriculture. 1t. should
make all contracts for. and purchase all
supplies, and in general discharge the like
duties as now imposed on similar boards
In other states where the plan has proven
wisely economical and highly efficient.
LAS the construction of a new state
capitol building win from now on be
pertinent and a live issue in our internal
policy believe the matter OF a more
central location can well be given some
thought by the people generally at this
time. The present location was made at
time when the very remarkable develop
ment Of this state TO it's present command
ing position was undreamt of by anybody.
Hence. glance at the map of Nebraska
today will show that there can be very
serious question raised, with justice as to
the wisdom of maintaining the seat of
state government where II now Is.
A capitol building adequate to the needs
and commensurate with the dignity OF
Nebraska will involve heavy expenditure.
That such new structure might well be
erected in a more central location in the
state and more equally accessible to all the
people in the widespread borders Of its
domain seems hardly to permit of argu-
ment, aside from the merely selfish plea
that would inevitably be made for the
present location.
Even II the people decide, after mature
elaboration, to put their new capitol build
ing in different and faiPer location Lin
coin would still be the home of the state
university, to say nothing OF many other
state institutions. The university Is stead
lily forging to the front as a really great
educational center and one Of the very
best uses to which the present capitol build
ing could be put, in my Judgment, would
be to turn it over to the Board Of Regents
to be used for university purposes To this
end 1t could be very readily adapted and
at reasonable expense extending over a
period of years.
L Nebraska Wants Better Roads.
That the state itself should take a live
lier interest in the subject OF good roads
most sincerely believe. Many OF our sis
ter commemorative have gone far ahead
along this great line OF work and 1t il
high time that Nebraska should at least
make move to get into line with the best
thought Of the country on this very impor-
tant subject. The legislature should have
Its attention directed sharply to the need
for definite general plan to be followed
for series OF years, under direction, per-
haps, OF the state engineer, until we shall
have very materially Improved our high.
ways. Cost Of hauling crops, to say moth
ing Of comfort, and the saving OF time and
work, demands forward step in good
road making.
| While propose and desire to stand fol
election on the platform that the democ.
racy Of Nebraska may adopt In its state
convention, must reserve the right to re,
pudiate a county local option plank as
being distinctly undemocratic. 1 do not
believe such a plank can or should b,
placed In our state platform, but 1 fee
sincerely that the issues herein outlined
| should be discussed and considered by IN,
people OF this state. hope to see then
win such public approval as to be given 4
place in the declaration OF the Nebrask,
democracy to be put forth in July. Let NJ
have a platform OF constructive charaete
and not one based on sumotuary .theorie,
| OF law"