Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-03-16
STATES RECORDS
BEING DAMAGED
House Finance Committee Does Not
Take Trouble to Inspect His
torical Building Basement.
rROs1EM DOESN'T WORRY THEM
1rrom stan correspondent.)


LINCOLN. March --(special)--"I do
solemnly swear that will support the
constitution o. the United states, and the
constitution Of the state OF Nebra ga. and
will faithfully discharge the duties OF
member OF the legislature according TO
the hest Of my ability" etc.
such Is a part Of the oath Of office
taken By all members Of the legislature
when they are sworn IN. This In effect
means that when a bill IL up before the
body Of which they are members that
they will use their ability 70 get the best
information they cen before casting their
votes
There Il before this legislature, az there
hiss been in previous sessions. a bill
known as House Roll No. $50, providing
FOR q special tax OF one-quarter Of / mill
upon each dollar valuation for the years
saI5 and 1915 70 provide fund to con-
struct and complete the building Of the
NehranIta state Historical society, which
was started IN 1909. and which went only
az far as the construction OF basement
IN which are now stored the valuable rec
srds of the society.
Woala Relieve ceaeestion.
Thu building. when completed. will
house besides tho historical society, the
stAte library, supreme court, attorney
general and Grand Army Of the Republic,
besides come smaller departments. The
GROUND upon which the basement OF the
building stands covers a half block Of
ground. Just east OF the state house
grounds and Is owned by the society and
q very valuable. On The north end Of the
half block stand two fine residences.
In the basement. which hse been fitted
up 20 house the property Of the society, is
located quarter Of 4 million dollars In
records. specimens and other things be-
longing 70 the state which cannot be re-
placed IN case they should be damaged
becaaiss Of the lack Of heating apparatus
IN the building 70 dry out the place. which
has beeosae dafnp and fmouldy.
Commfttse IGnores sftuatien.
With 20 much valuable property on the
verge of permanent damage, but half
hInok away from the state house, works
the finance ways and means committee
upon the bill. almost equally divided
whether the Bill should he recommended
cut fcF pass1se. They have been invited
~ - over snd see the conditions Of the
rseofds. but have 40 far stoadfastsy re-
faaed 70 take the little tlsue necessary 20
zee for thenaselvcs whether All thia prop
erty vas worth saving OF not. II took
three newnpaper men but flftaen minutes
this morning 70 accompany officers Of
tha soclaty 10 the BUILDING TO look into
enc metters ana thls in what they dis
covered.
IN damp and mouldy basement upon
the feundstipn % which no building
ssan1s, with only temporary ROOF abovs
Il. arr 20 BE- found 1850 specimens Of
Arts end animals captured In Nebranka
ana pfepered BY Nebraska taxsdefs
qniet and nopnttd. THESE Inosudc every
thing from . cRnAEy bird 70 an easls end
rem snake 30 buffalo. Some Of these
are nsxinnsn& % show The WORK Of Inothi
and Hthar destructive eaeneien Also lhor.
are 400 specimens Tor = rnuseum. which
snpst very saop lose their value Il MOI
propefiy taken care Of. Forty-oixht thou
tnnd books. noms d them Of snasnens.
value. are henpsd up promlscuously IA
eifferenk Biacees while keoo volumes q
The early newspapers o. Nebraska take ,
perlien q the room. all being more .,
lses damased BY the damp conditions o
The basosnant
What Raeesnn Are.
AMenA Che books l. the eafly ihfhf.
q ex-Gosernor Furnas, present 10 the 40
oieiS. the hufkaio presented BY nnffai
Dsll stands uhp4oleoied IN shc center 3
~ hansmenk and although il hes Gov
erinE 70 pf0teot ii the dampness an
moths cannot be kept olf. 0Ia nansrs
not listed II regular volumes. dating NJ
L. me early history Of the states- Tn
omAhe nes. the Omaha Wsrld. Herald
The onahe Herald, the Omaha RepubII
pse 40 tnpes pepers Of like interest u
eppse'eqted y 2 Pile because theFe q a
way 70 ~ them up and no place to pu
mem s'ssr thsy arr fixed up. Some .
Them have become damp from waller tina
hos 'eskea n o. snow that mas dr,fto