The Omaha guide., 1940-11-02

could adopt a more slmpllfled sys-
tenn. Under the present plan there
are only two systems of county
government from which the peo-
pie may choose and between the
two there is not much difference.
We have township organizations,
or supervisor system, and the com
missioner system.
These systems fit fairly well the
majority of counties of the state
but they are not adequate for
three or four of the larger count
les and too cumbersome for sever
al of the smaller counties. There
are counties with less than 1000
population, some of them having
a valuation of less than two mil
lion dollars. To support a full set
of officials in such counties is a
burden on the taxpayers.
If the amendment carries, the
legislature is then Empowered 10
pass an enabling act establishing
a broader base for county govern
ment. Naturally. of course, there
must be limitations and safeguards
There should be a provision that
counties, where the people by their
vote So desire, could adopt a COM
mission form of government,
where three officials take care of
all the business.
Cities in Nebraska of over g.
900 population have the power
now to establish a simplified form
of government. They have the
power even to establish a city
manager form of government. On
ly one city in the state has so far
adopted a city anager system. Al
lance has that form and the peo-
pie like 1t for its efficiency.
The average counties in the
state are well governed now un-
der the present system and the PEG
pie would not care to vote a
change. But even these counties
would be benefited if the amend
ment is adopted because it might
be desirable to have the power to
appoint certain officials. The ell
ective office of county surveyor
has out lived it's usefulness. All
%counties need an engineer under
the present age of mechanization.
In many cases two or more coun-
ties could combine and have one
engineer take care of the work.
Many counties could perhaps fun
ction better if the county attorney
was appointed by the board. A
gain there may be cases where a
peculiar condition exists in only
one particular county, which could
easily be remedied under "Home
Rule for Counties" Thei people
in such counties by their vote
could get action.
Under the present setup, when
ever such conditions exist it is
necessary to go before the legisla-
ture to ask for special legislation
to get relief. If legislation is
granted in such cases it is often
not to the best interest of many
off the rest of the counties. Ev-
cry legislature is confronted with
bills seeking to remedy local con-
ditlons, which could be easily TAX
en- care of by the people in such.
localities provided they had the
power to do SC. Simplifying mat
ters will be that much relief TO
all taxpayers of the state.
The bill for this constitutional
amendment was first introduced in
the 1887 legislature and was &C.
feated by a small majority. [ in
PRODUCED the bill again in the 1889
| legislature and it was passed hy
a vote of 81 to 6. A thorough
study of the proposal by the leg
islature brought about the convic-
ton that it would be an important
and progressive step forward in
the interest of local self govern
ment.
Inc safeguard in the amendment
should be adopted is that nothing
would change in county govern
ment unless the people in each
county say So by the majority
vote. No legislature nor any 9th
er group of counties can force a
system on another county that is
not wanted. Strictly Home Rule.
e. M. VonSeggern.
WA an.,,.