Omaha daily bee., 1916-06-14
Nebraska
GOVERNOR PEARSON /
TAKES THE REINS.
Railroad Commissioners Served
With Notice That They Must
Give Bonds.
DIsQU1ET AT THE STATE HOUSE


Lincoln, June 13.-(Special.)-l is
now Governor James Pearson, ii you
please.
When Governor Morehead left the
state last night taking with him Ad-
jutant General Hall, head of the Ne
braska army, Food Commissioner
Hartman, Labor Commissioner Coffey,
Fish Commissioner Rutenbeck, In
surance Commissioner Eastman and
other deputy state house officials, he
left the state in woeful state of I'M
preparedness. While the head Of the
state and his department heads were
hobnobbing in St. Lotus, there was
nothing to prevent the Germans or
the allies sailing up Salt river and
laying our beautiful and ancient state
house in ruins.
But the people may now rest in
peace. There is head at the helm of
the ship of state and firm hand on
the rudder. Governor Pearson will
now run the state government as he
ran the state senate ~ the last ses-
sion. 1t is true he has no private sec
rotary, Mr.. Mumford having accom-
panied the governor to the democratic
convention, But Mr.. Pearson believes
he can act as his own private secre-
tary and perform the duties encum-
bent upon both with neatness and dis
patch.
Some Are Worried.
However, while the people can now
draw their breaths without flutter-
ing of their hearts, he same cannot
be said Of certain officials in the state
house.
what will he do" was a much cir
culated question among certain de-
partments.
1t will be remembered that soon
after Attorney General Reed assumed
the duties of his office he dug up a
constitutional provision which he de-
clared that the present members of
the State Railway commission had no
right to hold their offices because
they had given no bona.
Mr.. Reed declared that the offices
were vacant and called upon Cover
nor Morehead to appoint three new
commissioners. However, the COVER
nor was slow to act. He took squint
at the constitution which Mr.. Reed
said showed plainly stated that all
executive offices of the state should
give bond, declaring that the men,
bers of the Railway commission were
executive offices. But the governor
made haste slowly.
:. .. Commission Stands Pat. :. :.
Governor Morehead was not sure
what he ought to do. OF course, he
would like to appoint three tried and
true democrats to the commission, to
fill the places held by three repub-
licans, but somehow he could not see
his way clear and no appointments
have been made. In the meantime the
members of the Railway commission
= stood pat and declared the constitu-
ton did not require them to give bond
and that the law creating the COM
= mission said nothing whatever about
bonds. s.
The matter has dragged along until
the present and the coming of lieu-
tenant governor to Lincoln and as
suming the duties of the governor
has set the tongues to going again and
while the new governor will neither
deny or affirm that he intends to ap-
point three new commissioners, those
who claim to be very close to Cover
nor Pearson say that he has come
here for that very purpose and that
he came here at the instance Of At
torney General Reed.
Notice is Served.
As an indication that there is some
thing doing, Assistant Attorney Cen
eral Ayers, acting for Mr.. Reed, who
is absent, served notice on the mem
bers of the Railway commission today
that they would be required to give
a bond.
One of the commissioners this aft
er said that they did nor expect to fol-
low the orders of the new governor
and the attorney general.
When interviewed by the news
papermen this afternoon, Governor
Pearson said there was not much in
it. tn.
However, there may be more devel-
opments.
A message was sent Governor
Morehead this morning by his re-
cording clerk, J. H. Presson as fol-
lows:
Lieutenant Governor Pearson took
charge of the office at a. M"
1t is understood that Colonel Pres
son has also written the executive at
St. Louis that the state house still
stands and that none of his appointees
have been removed and he does not
think that it will be necessary for
him to return home until he has been
nominated for vice. f1resident