Seward daily gateway., 1930-08-20
Editorial
SENATOR HOWELL OF NEBRASKA

In the search for something about the distinguished Senators who are expected in Seward The C te way is fortunate in finding here two former Nebras kans who have known Senator Howell for many years and are able to tell of his personality and
 Robert Beecher Howell is descendant from one of the oldest New England families, direct ancestress having arrived with the Plymouth colony was accorded
 right to vote with the rulers of that bleak Massachu sets oupostthe first woman ever to receive the vot ing privilege in America.
 Beecher Howell as he is familiarity known, was born in Adrian, Michigan, was appointed cadet md shpman at Annapolis in 1881 and graduated from the Naval Academy in 1885 Later he took a course in school of law He located in Omaha, Nebraska as CIV il engineer in 1885, served State Engineer, and City Engineer for Omaha On the outbreak of the Spanish American war he called back into the Navy, where lie commanded vessel in Southern waters.
 He was elected to the State Senate of Nebraska in 1902 and two years later made Of the directors of the Board of Utilities of Omaha, and reelected several times He for twelve years Republican Nat onal Committeeman for Nebraska In the meantime he had made fight year after year for city ownership of the Omaha waterworks system at that time grinding monopoly After ten-year struggle the movement was successful and he was made general manager of the city system. ~I <A
 The success of this movement for public ownership was immediate Water rates reduced fifty per cent and the muddy river water clarified and made real y drnkable Followed then struggle tO take over the electric light company and the gas company This suc ceeded and the Howell management was W1dened to take them n The ice monopoly the next subject of attack Failing in attempt to purchase Howell es abshed for the city ice factory cut the price of Ice in half, established "tney stations all over the city, and paid for the factory and turned good sum into the general fund in three years.
 During all this time Howell active in State af- fairs joining with the Progressive Republican forces in the fight for lower freight rates lower passenger rates the direct primary equal suffrage and other pol tica reforms and effort for better wages and bet ter chance for working men,
 In the World War Senator Howell was called back into theservice and placed in command of the i'm porant station at Portsmouth N H., where the depth bomhs radio apparatus and other delicate war nstra-
 ents manufactured Thus, educated by the Navy, he was twice called to his talents in the service of his country after he had become private citizen
 He tooka leading part in the perfecting of the ra- do for land use chairman of the first Radio Com mission and delivered series of lectures the sub ect all over the country before there single broad lcastng system in existence outside the Navy.
 He was elected to the United States Senate in 1922 and again in 1928 In the Senate he has made consis tent fight for honesty politics. common sense and jus tice in Government and far is reasonable and expe dient public ownership of utilities including railroads canals and water power He is strong debater grace full speaker constructive and thorough in his nvestga I tons and his marshaing of facts, and firm almost