Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1919-05-08
M'KELvIE I'LL
MAKE CAMPAIGN
FOR CODE BILL
Has Challenged Fred C. Ay'
ers, Promoter of Propa-
ganda Against Measure,
to a Joint Debate.

Lincoln. May 7.-(SpeciaD-Gov-
ernorf McKelvie will go out on the
platform and endeavor to inform
the people upon the merits of the
administrative code bill, and has
challenged Fred c. Ayers. promoter
OF the propaganda to hold the law
from going into effect by invoking
the referendum upon it, to Joint
debate.
Ayers has already organized a
committee for the purpose of taking
such action, and last Sunday papers
favorable to the move published a
lengthy statement regarding the bill
sent out by Ayers, which the gov
ernor calls the starting of cam,
paign OF misinformation and par
tisan prejudice and with the idea
that the way to defeat measure is
to misinform the people" The gov
ernor says:
the matter of circulating petitions to Sc
cure the required number Of signatures to
refer the civil administrative code bill,
and I read your statement in the Sunday
papers relative to that subject
have been 30 busy with other matters
that this Is the first opportunity l have
had to recognize that statement, and am
referring to 1t now because I am sure that
II you are to assume responsibility for
such an important work you will not
want to conduct 4 campaign Of misinfor-
nation and partisan prejudice. Those
features are most prominent In your state
ment In the Sunday papers and you seem
to have proceeded upon the 'theory that
the way to defeat a measure is to misin-
form the people
I think you will agree with me that the
success of our form of government de-
and every subject wins or loses ultimately
upon that basis. You may be able to
temporarily inflame the minds of the
people by appealing to their .preiudices.
but that kind of campaign will ultimately
rebound to the benefit of the very ones
whom you now seek to injure.
So in order that you may proceed in
an orderly manner to really inform the
people regarding the code bill, / have a
plan to suggest: I take 1t that you have
fully Informed yourself about the code
bill and exactly what it will do in opera
tion and, that being the case, you are
no doubt In position ito discuss it very
inteligently. Therefore. since you have
undertaken the task of obtaining names
to a referendum petition, l assume that
you desire all assistance YOU can have in
obtaining those names, A good way to
accomplish that would be to enlighten
the people upon the features Of the code
Provides Information.
I am willing to aid you in your very
Important task. ! think l, too, know,
something about the code bill, having
given the subject several years Of
full study, and I am willing to join you
in 8 series OF debates throughout the
state In order that the peoule may really
be informed upon this subject. have
no doubt you would want these debates
to be held in the localities where you
are most DESTROYS of circulating petitions
and this would give you a splendid OPP
portunity to get the people together and
have the subject presented in an inteli-
gent and orderly manner. whereupon the
petitions could be presented to them for
their Signatures The only reservation
make in this connection is that you
will not want to hold these debates upon
dates for which already have appoint
fectly willing to grant me this cons!dera-
ton SO long as l am willing to aid you
In obtaining an intelligent understanding
Of the bill among the people who are to
sign.
In order that you may not enter this
proposition without full understanding
of what 1t contempates. want to say
to you In advance that the subject now
of the merit of the bill, but also to
the justice and fairness and wisdom of
referring such measure before 1t has
been given trial.
Cites Platform Plank
In your letter in the Sunday papers,
you seek to convey the information that
this measure was passed without due con-
:. sideration at the hands of tife, voters.
That statement is entirely wrong, for
there was contained in the republican
platform the following plank.
I'VE favor the enactment OF civil
administrative code In this state. creating
a financial and accounting system whereby
a vigorous and effective audit over fl
ot,l "a H.
established, and providing for the con-
solidation OF the boards institutions, COM
missions and different departments and
agencies of government, thereby eliminate
ing useless offices and positions and avoid
ing the overlapping functions thereof, and
we further favor the creation of an ef-
fective budget system to the end that
government functions may be more ef-
ficiently and economically administered"
The civil administration code bill an
swers exactly the requirements of that
plank. Over one hundred thousand copies
of that platform were circulated among
the voters of the state; 1t was published
in all the leading daily papers Of the
state; and. upon that platform, the pres
ssnt administrator was elected by the
candidate or party in this state in years.
Furthermore, that legislation was dis
cussed by me In over $50 speeches which
/ made when I candidate, and
have presented 1t to more than 10000 peo-
Pile in the state at conventions and other
gatherings at which ] have spoken since
have been elected 1t was carefully con-
sidered throughout the entire session of
the legislature and was passed by liberal
estly say that snap Judgment was taken
in approving this legislation.
Purpose of Legislation.
You seek to convey the impression that
this legislation is vicious and reactionary.
If that be the case, then the party with
which you are affiliated must assume its
~
First, it approved the theory of GEN.
traiized responsibility by placing the APP
pointment of the secretary of the bank
Ing board entirely In the hands OF the
governor.
Second, 1t approved the consolidation of
boards and commissions under the admin
istration Of Governor Moorhead and con-
solidated the food, drug and dairy conn
1 mission with the oil inspection and hotel
departments.
Third, a democratic legislature author
ICED and appointed joint committee of
the senate and the house on reform OF
legislative procedure and that committee
in it's report. under date of May Is, 1914
made the following recommendations:
I'VE recommend that the next legis-
lature carefully consider each above de-
partment referring to the divisions
that are consolidated under the code),
bureau. institution, board commission,
society and survey provided for in the
appropriation bills with the view or
their consolidation wherever possip eh
same will result in avoiding duplica-
ton of work. the reduction of expense
and promotion Of efficiency"
Also that committee recommended:
..That an efficient survey of the state
he provided for by the next session OF
The legisia ture with a view to bringing
The various functions under few de-
partmental heads so as to promote ef-
ficiency. organization and economy
Neville's Message.
Fourth, Governor Neville. in his mes
sage before the last Legislature, made the
following statement:
'"rhe new constitution will without
doubt, provide more economical and
business than through the multitude OF
boards under the present system. The
board system is not only expensive ana
Inefficient but in addition. divides