Omaha daily bee., 1911-01-06

,tse~v.rrs ~ sr.,.tor laws has always been {
diffcult % secure in any country can
nrd no other commonwealth in the re-
public that has less q poverty. ignorance
rrime or drunkenness than our own Ialr
state n Nebraska But We in common
vita al Of our sister states are lacAlhs
IN public sentiment that shall insist upon
decent respect for and obedience to the
laws. which the people enact through their I
legislatures I know there are some who
continually CRY for new laws and new Avs
from each succeeding legislature out
,onnarfson Of our law enforcement with
that Of other nations and an obserF ance
Of the hardness with which justice often
-, fts hand upon the malefactor must
force the careful student OF the problem
to adrnit,that our weakness Sc not 20 much
IN our lack 81 laws but rather because u
our failure TO enforce their provisions after
they are written upon the statute books
Of the state I am not q lawyer. but II
cared 20 take the time could cite
HUNDRED statutes now encumbering the
law books Of the state which are never
enforced and are a reflection upon the et-
fectiveness and the forcefulness OF our
civilization What r. needed most al pres
ent Is a healthy public sentiment that Will
compel a decent respect for and obedience
10 the laws we now have and also men
IN Office with the honesty and the oour-
age and the determination TO enforce them
IL Is futile to pass laws II men may dis
obey them with impunity and especially r.
this 20 Of laws limiting or controlling the
sale Of liquor.
Under the saekett Law.
"Realirsng this weakness In our present
administration Of law and justice, pre-
vious legislature enacted what is com
monty known as the Sackett law. Under
this statute II an official empowered with
the enforcement OF law refuses 70 DO his
duty the governor iE authorized to IN
struet the attorney general 10 commence
action in the supreme court against the
offending officer. The court may in its
Judgment appoint a referee TO take test-
mony 20 ascertain IL there is any ground
for such action. After a hearing is had
and testimony taken the referee shall make
his report back 10 the court and the court
may take such action az II shall deem
Just. This law has been much talked
about and / think the governors power
under q has been greatly oveT-estimated
and misunderstood by the general public
It's value as a means TO law enforcement
has yet to be proven. 1t has been invoked
BY an executive but once since IL was
adopted by the legislature and that time
by myself Because OF the time required
under the necessary court procedure as
Indicated above its value as a remedy for
the evil IL was presumed TO correct In
greatly impaired. 1t takes too long to ges
results by this act under present methods
IL seems TO be somewhat the rule Of late
to elect governors OF this state for but
one term and unless the executive shall
commences an action against dereliet
official soon after he 10 elected he is very
likely 10 so out Of office himself before
he can hope to secure a decision an TO
the deIinonent officer II power over an
official who shall fan TO do his duty Is
10 tie In any manner vested in an exeCu-
tive then believe that the governor should
be given the right 10 hear complaints
against Officers empowered with law en-
foi cement and upon a satisfactory showing
being made to him that the official com.
planned Of is guilty as charged the gov
ernor should have the power to suspend
the delinquent official pending an appeal
20 the supreme court At the governors
conference held in Washington -. c.,
January last Governor Hughes Of New
York. now Mr. Justice Hughes % the
United States supreme court, and many
distinguished executives OF other states.
expressed themselves as believing that this
power should be lodged In the executive
II this Is thought too great an authority
70 vest In the governor. and admit il is
In a certain sense an arbitrary power
then the present act should be amended
go as 70 provide for immediate trial and
decision by the court in giving precedence
TO these matters over an other questions
before that body. /. perhaps. ought &c
-. ~.
efficiency OF the Saekett law that sinos
The attorney general has commenced e
take testimony ia the custer suit asains
the chief Of police OF Omaha ] am reliably
informed that the police force Of that cit,
have suddenly screwed down the lid q
tight that ginger ale Is now eonHideret
strong drink in the metropolis after
o'clock
BEARD 81 CoatroI.
The general management and admins
tFation Of the institutions OF the stat
should be placed in the hands OF q non
partisan esntral board Of control. author
tHed By constitutional enactment 70 tax,
from the Beard OF Public Lands and Build
ings the labor and duty OF managing an,
directing the various state institutions nov
under their control. This board Shout,
consist Of three or i've members 10 serv
A1f not iEee AAAn ave years eaa 10 De a.
pointed By the governoT Il should b
made their plain duty 20 see that efficienc
and not political pull should determine. a
far possible. the personnel Of the EN-
ployes and officers Of the state institu
tons The members should not be a. o. on
political parry and In order 20 make thi
latter requirement effective. a civil seryie
commission can be created 70 examine an
certify candidates 10 place upon the vail
ing list OF those desiring employment @
the state and the board should be require
20 fill appointments from those who hav
passed Satisfactory examination Unles
this Is done, In my judgment Il would b
Just a. well 10 leave the responsibility q
appointments in the hands OF the governo
IS a. present as otherwise We Vii onl
change from the selection OF state al
pointees by the leader Of one party 70 ina
% appointment By a party majority OF
Board Of ControL
state Ftaancea