Omaha daily bee., 1919-07-15
CODE BILL TO Be
OMITTED FROM
SESSION C ALL
Governor MCKeIvie Gives Ten
Reasons for Not InCorpor-
ating Measure in
Summons.
BY q Staff Correspondent.

Lincoln, July l4.-(Special. y
Governor McKelvie will not include
i'll his call for special session Of
the legislature about July 2S, any
thing in connection with the code
bill. He gives several reasons for
so doing and calls attention to what
the people of the state will be put
up against in the way of expense,
stating that it will cost at least
$l50,0O0 for printing and circulating
the code proposition. The governor
charges that the "wets' are at the
bottom of the whole thing. He says:
1T has been urged upon me to
include in the call for the special
session, the enactment of the civil
administrative code with the emer-
gency theory that referendum
would probably be obtained against
the code. Among those who have
so advised, have been several mem
bers of the legislature, some of
whom voted against the code when
it was up for consideration in the
last regular session.
after having considered this mat
ter very carefully, | have decided
that | shall not include this subject
in the call for the special session.
I do not want it to appear-even
though there could be no basis for
the charge in fact-that | desire to
deprive the people of any rights
that are reserved to them through
the referendum.
However, | wish to present to
the people, for their information,
some very important facts bearing
upon this subject.
Would Violate Purpose.
First, the exercise Of the refer
endum in this instance would be
a distinct violation of the purpose
of the people in writing the lnltla-
tive and referendum provisions into
the constitution. The civil admins
trative code bill reflected the ma
jority sentiment of the people, as
was indicated by their vote at the
last general election, when they ap-
proved the republican platform, in
which was contained a declaration
for this legislation.
Second, the referendum petition
against the code has received the
substantial support Of the old, wet
machine that has repeatedly thwart-
ed the will of the people in the past,
and the petition, in many instances,
was circulated in connection with
the referendum petition against the
ratification of the prohlbltory
amendment to the federal constltu-
ton.
Third, the exercise of the refer
endun in this instance will cost the
state $150,000 for the printing and
circulation of the code among the
voters. prior to the next general
election. This is two and halt
times the total amount of the sal
aries to be paid all of the heads Of
departments under the code.
Other States Adopt Principle.
Fourth, the principle of admin
is.ration involved in the code has
been adopted by at least three other
states, and several more states have
made provision for its enactment
at an early date.
Filth, the code represented an
expression of the majority of the
people and it had right to be given
a trial before it was held up. Had
this been done, it could have then
been easily made an issue in the
next campaign and the Legislature
could have been instructed to repeal
it if the people so desired, or the
repeal OF the law could have been
initiated.
Sixth, it was upon my request
to the legislature that the code was
not passed with the emergency be-
cause wanted the three months
succeeding as a period in which to
4.