Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1917-01-05

Governor Neville began his mes
sage to the legislature by calling at
tention to the fact that the people
had adopted a prohibitory amend |
ment to the constitution, and now
looked to the democrats TO provide
the necessary laws to enforce the
amendment. He 1adc the assertion
that "the greater part of the moral
and economic reforms enacted into
law in the last twenty years have been
fathered by democratic legislators,
passed by democratic legislatures, and
have been for the most part signed by
democratic governors. Following
this he went on: !
"We must honestly, conscientiously
and intelligently endeavor to prohibit
the sale and manufacture of intoxicat
ing liquor within the state after the
amendment becomes effective. We
are not in any sense exercising the
functions Of physician towards a
patient. The prohbitory amendment
in no way assails the right OF all in |
dividual to purchase Intoxicating |
liquors for his personal use from
sources outside the state, and that |
right should not be abridged, except
to the extent necessary to carry out
the provisions of the amendment pro-
hibiting the illegal sale of liquor
within the state. Any legislation nee
essary to carry out the letter. and
spirit of the prohibitory amendment
should be enacted. In approaching
this problem, we can safely assume
that the people who voted for the
amendment will approve the expcndi- !
ture of such sums as may be neces- |
sary to put into effect and continue !
in effect their decree.
Duty of the Governor.
"In the words of the constitution,
the supreme executive power OF the
state shall be vested in the governor,
who shall take care that the laws be
faithfully executed i
1T is clearly intended that the chief
executive shall have power to de-
mand law enforcement by loyal au-
thorities. The Sackett law is intended
to give the governor the power to re-
move officials for failure to enforce the
laws Of the state, but the delays in
cident to such removal render it prac-
tically vaueless. 1t is doubtful
whether the Sackett law could be
amended so that it would be an eff
fective instrument for law enforce
ment, but legislation can be enacted
that will materially aid the governor
in enforcing the law.
New Departments Needed.
How to make prohibition fact
in Nebraska is indeed a problem and
toward its solution the following
legislation should be enacted:
"First-A public welfare department
should be created and the governor
be empowered to appoint deputy
and such assistant deputies as may
be necessary. The salaries attached
should be sufficiently large to attract
honest, fearless and capable men, and
such additional funds as are necessary
for the operation of the department
should be provided, in order that it
may perform the functions for which
it is created. The principal duties Of
this department would be to gather
information of law violations, help in
prosecutions and assist generally in
making the prohbitory amendment
effective. 1t would also provide an ex-
cellent means OF determining whether
or not local officials were doing their
full duty in the matter of law ell
forcement.
"Second--The legal department OF
the state should have authority at the
direction of the chief executive to per-
sonally, or by representative, aid To-
cal authorities in conducting prosecu-
tons; to bring and conduct such
prosecutions in the name of the state
If desirable and to maintain special
PROSECUTOR where necessary.
Sale and Shipment o. Liquors.
"Third-The sale of Intoxicating
liquors by drug stores and other in
situations should be strictly regu-
lated and a state permit issued to
such institutions, permitting such
sale for medicinal, mechanical, scien-
tifc and sacramental purposes only,
and prohibiting the sale OF same for
beverage purposes. In the absence
of a state permit the possess ion Of
a government permit to sell intoxi-
eating liquors should be considered
prima facie evidence OF the unlawful
sale of such liquors.
"Fourth-The shipment into the
State of liquors for beverage purposes
containing wood alcohol or other
harmful ingredients and being of such
low grade and inferior quality as to
place in jeopardy the health, men
taIitv or sight of the consumer should