The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1923-03-15
New Planof
Government
Is Offered
Speaker of Lower House Out
lines Method for Conduct
Of State Affairs-Wants
Taxpayers Considered.
Exposes Bryan's Aims
BY p. &. POWELL.
staff Correspondent The Omaha Bee.

would call Tor aDOuSnlnent OF the Bry-
an code modification bill and the tri-
departmental plan OF government. sub
jects of a debate which has continued
in the lower house for two days. was
urged today by Speaker A. y. Math.
ers OF Gering.
Bear in mind that in urging this
solution of the problem, | am as
much opposed to the extended activi.
ties of the present code system OF
government as ! am opposed to the
system Governor Bryan would set
up. / urge as much trimming oil ex-
penses as the governor OF sponsors
Of the tri-departmental plan. and even
more, if possible" Mathers said.
Outlines Proposed Plan.
In short. gentlemen. I am not in
favor of making apologies for former
Governor McKelvie, nor am inter-
ested in fostering or encouraging po-
litical ambitions Of our present gov
ernor."
Continuing. Mathers outlined his
plan, which he declared ne would offer
for consideration in the form OF an
amendment to either the tridepart-
mental or Bryan code modification
key bills when the debate was con-
Guided and voting on the bills began.
His plan, in brief, follows:
State auditor Of public accounts
shall be secretary of finance.
Commissioner of public lands and
buildings shall be secretary of public
works.
State treasurer shall be secretary of
trade and commerce.
Secretary of state shall be secre-
tary Of labor.
Superintendent of public instruc-
ton shall be secretary Of agriculture
and secretary of public welfare.
No Extra Pay.
These constitutional officers shall
receive no extra compensation for
such duties. The governor may, un-
der the Mathers plan, separate any of
the constitutional officers from han
ding these activities and appoint a
! person TO act as secretary at salary
10 be fixed later at any time he de-
sires.
This is the plan Governor Bryan
told voters he proposed TO put into
operation prior to election. However.
The election proved that only one OF
he constitutional officers elected was
a democrat. and. according to current
reports in political circles, the gov
ernor instantly grouped around for a
plan which would permit his party to
get all the patronage.
His present plan is the result. A
number of democratic members en-
dorsed this plan in their campaign.
Mathers branded Bryan's legislative
council plan as a catching phrase
which had absolutely no meaning"
Bryan Would Be King.
IL at any time this council voted
unanimously against the governor on
sone legislative problems. he could in
he end tip his hat to them and in
fern the members that being the SUI
preme legislative, they could in no
way rob him Of the preroestives of
the chief executive as set forth in the
constitution" Mathers said.
"In short. this executive council is
nothing but a subterfuge. a means
used by the governor TO hide the inn
mense power he is attempting TO
seize by obtaining control OF every ap-
pointment in the state.
"IIe is the supreme executive off
Ger of this state and until the consti-
tuition is changed so that he becomes
no more of an executive than the con-
stitutional officers he would put in
s.hs executive council. then and only
then would their actions be binding
upon him.
HE didn't go before the people be
fore election and tell them that he
planned to seize all Of this appointiye
power. more power than has ever
been asked or granted to any gov
ernor of this state. We didn't hear a
word OF this until after election.
Consider Taxpayers.
1T is high time we stopped being
republicans or democrats and become
cal Nebraskans with a heart beating
for taxpayers bent ON giving Ne
braska a government which will cut
present activities and expenditures to
the core, regardless Of the political
l'IluitS OF any Ou's
lam a republican. Yet, feel that
first I am a Nebraskan, and I war
elected on n fusion ticket Of demo
Gratis. republicans and progressiyes
and feel that am bound by no politi
cal ties in settling this question. We
want economy, and we want 10 gel
together and quit playing politics.
II haven't bit OF use for the multi
ple activities for which the taxpayers
have been obliged TO pay under ths
present code system. Yet, bear in my
mind, I am for the principle OF tho
code.
II want TO explain what the cod
Is in detail, Here's a dictionary def
ntion, centralizing. uniforming
simplifying and codification of laws
That's what the code has done
grouped all laws under certain sub
iects and placed handling Of the vari
ous subject matters under certaii
heads. Governor Bryan does no
pealing the code.
Repeal Used for Effect.
He uses the word repeal I'm hi
. "atements, because II has a ring !,
V. But, the truth is that the code
meaning codifying, simplifying ans
uniforming our laws under subjcc
matters handled by them, Is rctainel
by the governor. lie simply steal
MI power of appointment. puts up /.
Turn TO raSs Two. Column rwo.}