SUPPLEM ENT.
.j
c;ov. ijawix mii;aivH.
lie Addrccs tlie Citizens of Omaha on
Current I'olitical Topics,
lu a Temperate and I'Vrrlble Manner
Set I '"or tli the Situation
And
With Facts MiienccN the School
Laud Slanderers.
Tho fallowing are tho remark of Gov.
Iuwch at th i Brand rally at Oniuba last
Thursday nilit:
Mr. Ohnirmaii and Follow Citizens
The subject of schol lands and funis
Inn bean swi.od iiiiuu by dem icrats and
assistant democrats, by thosa wno wiHh
to compass the defeat cif tlio republican
party in Nebraska, or of some p rti mis
of the repub.iian Htitte ticket, an 1 thoy
Lave n l he-titatod to disiort both the
facts and the figures, and when thane
have failed thuy have invaled the
realms of fancy and imagination for
soine new horror with which to play
upon the public mind, hoping thereby
to influence the judgments of men.
Standing at the head of the republican
state ticket, representing my party that
has bo honored and trusted me, I am
here this evening to speak regarding
thene m alter, f r tli it through the blow
aimed at myself it roaches my party.
For yci auuther reason I
am here. A reason that is
parsonal, a reas in th it lakes hold of
me wi.h the tonality of purpose and re
solve, such as incites to actioa him who
is conscious ol tan fai t that he carries hu
hono-t heart iu his breast, and is not
afraid to look a pjoploin the face. As the
governor of your state, sworn under the
constitution to a faith ml performance of
the duties of my ollioe. Uudrsiandiutc
the responsibilities aud sajie.ltiess of
the trim placed in my hands, I am pre
pared to siy that no duty has been ne
glected, thtt no trust has been betrayed.
Strong language. Yes it is true, au i the
facts warrant tue language used.
The cause of education is a sacred one.
It has become an acceptoi truth or
axiou that "iht the tiist duty of I ho
stale is to educate all its peopie." This
feeling was no less strong in ths
early days of tho country than
it is at the present ti:nO. Li oking into
he history of legislation, locking to the
ad vauceuiont of ihe cauo of educa.im,
-ve find that the I wo orduiHuces for the
governmeiitof the northwes em terri-iory,cn-i'-ied
in 175aud 17S7, setapart sec
iio:i number s-ix.e:n of every township
f.r the purpose of maintaining public
schiols.
As a justification for an act by which a
union nave i s ii lo to these lauds away,
aud ai a con idention thit would for
ever hold goo j in defense of such an act,
tuoy insertei tins declaration: "Ke.ig
iou, morality and knowledge being
necessary t: good government and the
happiness of mankind, schools aud the
means of education shall be forever en
couraged." In the ordinance of 17S7 more than
common schools were provided for.
Two complete townships were given for
the purpose of a university; and in full
compliance therewith every state organ
ized since then has received
their two townships. When in 1789 the
constitution was adopted, the ordinance
was renewed, and dl the states down
to 1848 received the specified sixteenth
section. Upou the organization in 1818
of Oregon s a territory, a further pro
vision was made, by which section
thirty-six of each township was also set
apart for public schools, and all states
and territories organized since then have
received the two sections instead of one
l TT niAv thiol mteiA as4 VwaA
JNUmuc. o, 2.746,930 V. ' . .
ririii belief that in b Iovmd in
braska an lasds.
mion! the evernrnev general and
itste tre urer. anas and build-
nas ".nnts to one V''?a Rhar2
es
large ... for -wnoiesnio
S.EKSi5io upoatbo pa
fraud and i,jrd. 1U9
part of
case
the T nieuibersMP oi aQy member
in mis
thereoi Wnt
Wlieu A sl'""
. 1
a ai cu'r "f the Doard.
chargoa
Willi "
manner
tbe aeie - ing a fact.
oi
Inn tO
Not at hi uiade bOtD luu -; -
ii lam biuiK'J : . i" ann
dl ,rrri H Hi v - Kf 1T1 Itl UUU
longut "7 odusion r.-.- in lhe
lUn it i iirao
tlie avM"""" -
LwVthutoffeVi?tor
(lev nllrfell""
ft 11 U7 OI A
...f.irnnriitci?1';"' nU
matter cam-"e -- tuejauU!i ii iu
favor oi leaving tu aitornev gs-
uw r . .l-111l J v .
of,moo:edQ qu-r t m.y
it is
lHa
rd aa tO luo h"-
ru' . . arnns. as i . .
htiui r . . - ' s'.a e in
otUoff-ed for . J aiethould have
8en!n2lrtunitvtovoith9 .
an opp Ttum ty peqplb
SENTIMENT OF gnd that of
upon this q-rnwTre Recorded against
t state treasurer neyer
occurred to mo to Impute a dishonest mo
tive by reason of that difference of opin
ion.
hii charges of fraud in tho matter
of appraising these lands aro brought to
the attention of the board thoy at once
soot a telegram to the treasurer of said
county instructing him to
ItKTURN ALT. I.EASKS.
They were returned, aud wore cancelled.
IiiMtead of approving this action oa the
part of ti e board we are met wilh tho
charire that tear of disgrace prompts tho
action. In the absonce of proof ' of an
evil or wicked motive I would rather be
lieve that men aro honest, and give them
credit for an hones;, act when performed.
Mistakes in judgment may occur, but
to make such mi.-tiko the basis of a
chargo of dishonesty is without reason
or justice, and should meet with the con
demnation of all lair minded men. It is
true that lands were leased in
CEDAR AND OKKEI EY COUNTIES
without notice of sale, but is not true as
to Liincoln county. In Cedar county
21,700 acres of laud wern returned as ap
praised un ler date of May 5, 1883, and
in Greeley county twelve sections
were returned as appraised under date
of May 8, 1883.
The appraisal lists of these lands show
ed them to be appraised below the mini
mum value at which they could be sold ;
and in nci'her county did the appiaisers
note any settleis or improvements upon
the lands appraised. These lauds were
leased to the highest bidder; but that
tho citizens of Cedar or Greeley county,
were not advised ol such fact, will not
be substantiate J by au examination of
bids filed, rejected, or awarded to citi
zens of these counties, and the board
had reason to believe from representa
tions made by reliable parlies residing
in these counties that none of the lands
if offered could be sold at the minimum
price. The lands so lea ed iu Cedar
county were agricultural college lands,
and th ;se in Greeley county were com
mon" school lan is. These are the
only instance of lea.sft Without notice of
sale. During tho spring and early sum
mer of 1883, th-re arose an unprecedent
ed demand lor Nebraska lauds. The
years of successive g od crops were
bearing their legitimate fruit, and
tho throng of land seekers
became so great that in a day, so to
speak, lauds that hitherto had rem uneJ
unt-tken and unsought were eagfrlv
taken. Land grunt roada bad disposed
of the remnant of their lands, anl a ill
the? came. Wliea such lands as could
be bought iu fee, or at low prices and on
long time, were absorbed the demand
for school lands became great as the
terms of lease, mid sales have always
breu made easy by legislative enact -merit,
although the minimum price at
which they could be s id is much above
the ave: age price ol other wild land. It
is easy indeed to prophecy alter the fact,
and we will all agree that could the leg
islature have f .rseen the demand and
the results under the present law their
uniied wisdom would no doubt have de-vi-eJ
some mems to check the evils
complained of uudor the present law. If
we consider this matter from the stand
point of the fund to be benefitted by
leasing and the rents so derived, then
the object for which these lands were
given is in a fair way to be accom
plished, but if we are to consider It
alone lrom the standpoint of individual
interest, then we are at once confronted
with the questions of policy regarding
these lands and the proper disposition
to be made of them, considering both
the claims of those present and tho-e of
the future questions that will call for
the careful and conscien ious action ofi.
our law-makers, aud demand their best
thought.
PRIVATE 8AL.H ACT.
Speaking of thie reappraisal of lands
iid that wisoin tne past two years
fte public .;e, "1 ,tVthemB7m
r acre as faxed Dy i"
"in Lancaster couxx - 9
tiou
a. w qiIa since Juiy
been ne puu - , -iearly app"""
The reason why i4toclctton seven
ihi. "ifiaws where it appears
of the school lanfff 'ed at public sale.
are
the
13 I rx -i
Bale or lease, ---- ivate sale ac. -
KSITT, ma7 Whiu. TO thole
made were
loaaneS. It
L since 1879 leaseu fc for
Bv reference w
counties, dj V x., chasers oi dw
K dalt1h0awedU surrender their
lands were alio weajo advanageous
lauds on terms that , er broUght, back
to themselves dVio these coumies,
to the state 'ld. under the lwse
which were cfe-'- 0s,iy io
V. This arp'.ies f.8P.ecl"ro rnrsons
law
r . 1 . tn o
few persons
rOIcountfes during the ye
18SS anvl 1869. private sale?
Why are lands sold at Pr uftry
t act of F:bru7 lVilnimum rate
section 1 ":"ei 6 per cent, ins e avx -upon
lauds leaseao d value ani
rer cent of the apora 4any lessee
SpSSoS 19 by proTidi-B : ' fline aP-
of educanoaay ai- ount treasurer 01
P'y in Wnt?gtv1 , b the ld is situated
the county - aised for me pu
to have s
)i ,
further pro
nose of sale." Tue f""" &ho county
ITb hat u pon uayment of v ; v de
treasurer, .coU,l1Ve d siotere.ted frce
shall app"t three a to ap-
hoUiers, wnose duty exclusive
an
the
praise the 1-nd at i i make relUrft
of improvements, an twenty
under ath' aI,Pliwnt shall then,
davs. The f"0 surrender his
'their apPrsea vaiue,
than V Pt'ract of s alb shall
Under this law the state board had no
power to re-ot an appraisal so made nn
der oath of the three di-interested free
holders, nor any power to revb w the set
of any such ollicer or unprai-or. Unde
Under,
ju.V-
the act of Fobruar 21 183. this so
was so hiuonded, that if In the
iraisal wus not made upou a full valua
tion, he could refer it to the boird, and
they had tho power u order the contract
made, or tho !aud rdapira's!d, or tho
applb-a'fon rejee'ei. This law 1ms been
ktiictly followed, and the commissioner,
es he inform me, bus instructed
every county trosurer iu the
s!ate in counties where lands aro luthe
market niid have been so appraised by
circular letter t report with every ap
plication his judgment as to the fairness
of the valuation r- turner by the apprais
ers. The cases referred to the board
have in most instances been rejomed
and would indicate that tho commis
sioner had done his duty in the prem
ises. It is fair to presume thot county offi
cials have been faithful in the discharge
of their duty in the matter of the ap
pointment of appraisers. We are bound
to believe that men sworn to do their
full duty, and who make their return
under oath as provided by law, that
they have s: acted, are swearing to the
truth and are not committing porjury.
I repeat that in the abseuceof proof to the
contrary we are bound to believe this.
The action of the eonimissioiior and of
the board is ba-ed upou the sworn state
ment provided for bv law. If it bo true
that under the present law
the state cannot socure a fair and just
ya'uation upon her school lands then
let the remedy be applied by the enact
ment of a law that will furnish the need
ed projection. If local influences stand
iu tho way of a fair appraisal than re
move the difficulty by t change in the
method of appraising. Clearly the rem-
o ly for ex istiug evils does not consist in
uniair, uniust, ana unmanly altu-k or
criticism intended to relied upon offi
cers who are in the faithful discharge of
duty.
INVESTMENT
OF PEHMANENT SCHOOL
FUND.
It has been
charged by insinua'ion
had been neglectful of
that the board
duty in the
iuvestirg of permanent
school funds and the following detailed
sta enipnt is in answer to the demand for
dites and 'amounts :
January 1883, when the present
board came into power, the permanent
school fund on 1 a d, as reported by the
state treasurer, was $137,487.77.
Investments have been made as fol
low March 13, 1S83. ?5,000. Howard coun
ty 8 per cents; netting the state 6 per
cent.
March 13, 18S3. $10,000. Platte county
8 per cents ; netting the state 6 per cen:.
April 10, 1883, ?2i,000. Dakota county
6 per cents, at par.
September 20, 1883, $24,000. Kearney
county 6 per cents, at par.
October 10, 1883, 412,000. Dakota coun
ty, 6 per cent at par.
October 2G. 1883, $7,000. Dawson coun
ty, 6 per cent at par.
November 13, 1883, $11,000. Kearney
county, 10 per cents, to net state 6 per
cent.
December 11, 1883, $12,000. Dawson
county, 6 per cents, t par.
December 15, 1883, $33,500. Phelps
county 7 per cents, to net state 6 per
cent.
January 8, 1834, $1,000. Phelps coun
ty, 7 per cents, to net state 6 per cent.
January 8, 1881, $9,000. Dawson coun
ty, 6 per cents, at par.
February 8, 1884, $4,000. Hall cour&y,
6 per cent at par.
February 21, 1884, $500. Phelps coun
ty, 7 per cen's, ?o net state 6 per cent.
March 4, is, f7,uuv. Dawson county,
nmnber
6 ner cents at par- .vested dur-
MakiDg the torn - -a, cover-
Si rPerfoaf oftwenty-one months of
troduced a resolution mcir prov,ding
upoa the records 01 d ,,elongmg to
"j.v.o moneys on "a should be
1 mu rrtit school ""--n.ent
Invested fn three P fuTure .
hand to make sac a Jncted to , re
"teraBsufflcient, amount
hl2h "rate
tnree per cents to maa.e
invt stmeot. minds of the
There was a doubt lo the m
question: purchasing U.
nHava tnu . thn nerm-
S. three per -
wer unv" ,r-
tun
ot aihOOUi T ' honflS 1"
Viona
registered county
; i ra'o
i V.rta?" .
i-m anu
... oawer tO It l"'?1" r.v., ron n ion.
lu ion.
court
maao aa
inJ (;ai
Keport,, page fail) .
U. S. three
-
-
ing count e to "btednesB. and pro
in tt-eir bonded deb e tlf lng he
:,,- for resristerin.,, t ay the
l1 aud for levying Uldout to
for in"l.r,T county
- - -. . T TT1 Ml I L
bons.
cent
as to
rtKS
their juo -
rer.der
it In
vl sabie Xo defer active u ai ;em
lr-veHiuLi"""
A .ince that tiaie
. .
made Qf th3
ous rate vu" "
sued.
Tlie !ikotii county liuding louU of
which iln.re liai been much said that is
untrue, and of which tho permanent
school fund holdt f27,(IIM) were issued un
der tho lin lin act of 177. They were
issued, anl d itd July 1 12; anl pre
texted to tlio auditor and Mc-retary of
state, for rci-trutiou, and certification,
v. hieh wai refusud by such ollicer.
AppllcHtion was iiinde to the
supremo c urt Mr a writ of m.in Imiihi.m
to compel the ollic rs to act. Tho writ
wa i'i-.tiHil Htxi observed by tho registry
oill -eia. Tho ca-o m f illy ioorld in
tho Fourteenth Nebra-.Ua Hepurts. pa ice
ISO. .
The bonds were offered tho board as
an investment April 10. lss;l. It aopeurod
that the b Midi ,nd brou regularly is
sued, tho proper levies imlo i pav the
accruing interest and in now in the hands
of the county troisurer. Tli.i sro not
the bonds that have bo'n in litigation.,
There is no doubt but tin bonds owned'
by the state will be pai l in full, in
terextand principal. Those are tho only
l)oiidi owned liv the permanent school
fund upon which there hat ever bon
even a temporary Mnponsio.i iu the
payment- of intere-t. Applying this
gratifying tUe of all'drs t the results of
yourown experience. All will agree
that care and caution have l oen exercised
by the board iu the matter of invest
ments. '
Where, it is asked, ate tho school
moneyH deposited ? Can it. be thHt t uoss
who ask this question are no: aware that
under our law the state treasurer is thM
custodian of these fund an I that tho!
t-tati board of school lands and funds1
has no control of them Mtvem an inyest-!
merit is m-ade arid the trehsitior iu-j
structed to mk payment in ao. ordancei
therewith. Wli'-n in vo-tin-nt-i have
been made tho money h is been ready.'
The treasurer is resoonsiblo for lha- part
of it. To hold this board ri sponsible
for tha paf keeping or the plat e where
the money msy be kpt w u!d be as
wise anil 1 tir an to bold th 1 l oird of
county couimis-ions re-jxoihiulo for tho
acts of your county trniiurer.
It ii said that iIih li.Mi'd are anxious
to obtain a revenue from tho leas
ing of educa'i.uia! lands and then
keep 13 1,00 to $300,IMM uninvestod
because they cannot invest it, and it
is said. "Why are thi-y so dn.iiio.is lo
ruit land for three cents per aero, when
they claim they cannot invest the money
after obt.-tinir g ii?" Is it possible that the
author of such a statement dois not k now
thHt lhe bonrd of school lands and funds
has no juri-diction whatever over the
monies re eived from leas' rents, inter
es' on notes or state school
taxes, but that all these go, to
the s'a'e treasurer, and are appor
tioned iwico each yar per capita to the
schoolchildren ofthe s atu ? The leis
ing of every a -re of school
laud in the i-t-ite will not
increase the permanent school fund
in the least. It simply increases the
amount apportioned to the school chil
dren of the state, and goes directly to
the payment of teachers' wag-8, and in
this way let-sous the tate of taxation for
that purpose. This temporary fund
amounted to ?485,0;i 84 lor the year t nd
ing May, 1881, ai against
.221,014 36 for the year end
ing May, 1881, and it is safe to say,.T,
that it will never be less than $500,000
per annum from thit time forward.
This large sum of money goes directly
to the lessening of your school tsx, and
the fund thus divided is greater than
tha. now used to support the whole state
government, including Us penal, reform
atory, charitable aud education-d insti
tutions. I t-m informed that a certain
democratic sta esmau In his perambula
tions around the state is recommending
a change of plan and that thJLs money be
distributed directly and taxation for
scuool purposes be done away with:
Marly oblivious of the fact that
tSu September. 1.1.
m 1 1 a i
cests ;
bonds and ftU
mALeU. . til II Vl.V.f Oi.
est bearing fanoo. . al coant
3lUo""- - looi an actual wv".
Vrto radsWd.pUcestDe--
40,031.54. Showing t jniere,t
dringundbeathe pressr.t time
.il hfl held to a str.ct at-ou
and . rMt n'.aced in tn''""5
count ior "J- irntbs tlie i"r ',it.
Kcogmzing "rpect fully
statement ol ''"f Nebraska. A public
ted to the peopl- oi d j t
nhf. the iorw"-"-
mcil is never . .iue to mm
.. ,i in turn i
i , . .n int.
Crll
that our cr. -
wn, .t.nen
i . did cuicn n '
ia '
VOU Wl
tive that
Xjrouil
Vhe o j" ct s u2bt by hnn. - ubir(J d
c are II
be just. ' '. ..,, or faithuiue
reflet ..p tha i J. vlil cons.der
of anofli ialor ofhcml- ' e tfa c ,me ;
"el thamrretiom wuw , ,h mo-
,.i V- vnnre,le -win ...w... iu
,teu vuo a- no
a"T to actio..,
i nn -
or on
per
:-,.t tnev
tbe otcer
Keek w
hand, is the
"J..,.Im.itota
a?c0mpli;u ,na; .interest, or
BOaieuu,". : - An e Q
an m---
Dal:;". : tobe reached at
nv cos-,
a
ev
In .tauons f ' femnts -o"-"dr
..o-ti we i i' t v that promi-.
well their urcr,-u-t ,e can 0t
ruem, and the m". kuPlh;t duty oe
.2. to exacting 2 ,'n the pople-of a
be tot
well pe
forn-
r.orca" " , jniua-
do an act of 'ius
QO .Vial I brieve
WrTta e afford to do an
te.,Vaoftl
..All 1 L F
:"1":
iielievi.n . .. - ir
fijenoe await their
Pe'itn 'and
verdict.
k .nil 1 ill .
cou
osr-
per-
tne
ingtbese lands;
