THE FRONTIER.
PUBLISH El/ EVFUY Tf> l) R3DAY By
Th« Fiiorcriltn Pbintixu (Jo.
OTIEILL, NEBRASKA.
NEBRASKA.
Some cases of destitution Bre re
ported from Sioux county.
The Falls .City creamery building
Was completely destroyed by fire.
The citizens of Beatrice favor ward
reduction in the interest of reform.
All the churches of Fairbury have
united in a series of revival meetings.
John G Edmondson, a prominent
citizen of Fremont, died last week
from appendicitis.
North Platte has a bachelor ladies’
club numbering twenty-eight. It re
cently held a banquet, at which the
bill of fare was sandwiches, coffee and
pickles.
V. Barton, a farmer living west of
Hay Springs, caught his hand in the
running gear of his wind mill and
smashed it so badly that amputation
was necessary. '
H. Fishback, a Beatrice dealer in
poultry, last week received nearly 10,-:
000 pounds of rabbits from points in
Kansaa There were about 2,000 of
them cotton tails. J
The doors of the Standard glass and
paint company, one of the largest,
wholesale houses in Lincoln, were
closed last week by local creditors on
mortgages aggregating slightly over
*7,000. i
1 Forty thousand pounds of twenty
four-inch iron tubing came in over the
Burlington from Columbus, O., says
the Tribune, for the Crawford citizens’
ditch, a portion of which is to be used
at the dam at the reservoir.
William Dacy, one of the early set
tlers of Box Butte county, became'
tired of trying to dig a fortune out of
bis farm and went to the Black Hills
to prospect. He staked out a claim
last fall and sold it the other day for
*14,000. '
The marriage record in the Cass
aonnty Judge’s office shows 148 licenses
teued in 1896. This is a decrease of
fifteen as compared with 1895, the hard
times probably affecting the matrimo
nial market aa much as any other lino
of buslnesa
Church services were resumed in Os
eeola last Sunday, and the school has
also commenced. The school wa«
Onaed for three weeks It la thought
the danger from diphtheria is passed,
aa there are but a few eaaea, and they
aU of a mild type.
4 directors of the Platte county
fair association, after having advertised
for many months for bids to sell the
fair grounds and all equipments, held
a meeting last week and reviewed the
, A1.1 were rejected. The fair will
to held this year aa usual.
JohnO. Kramer of Nebraska City
baa brought suit against Joe Snyder
and hia auretlea for *5,000 damages
Snyder runa a saloon in Dunbar, where,
on Sept. 14, 1896, Kramer was beaten
over the head with a beer bottle by,
Snyder. He claims to have lost his
power of speech, which he thinks is
worth *5,000.
Frank Yocum of Ogallala, who shot
*®a Killed James Van while charivaring
married couple at the Union
dep°t in that place, December
S3, 1890, had his preliminary hearing
*n“ was hound over to the district
«onrt under the charge of manslaugh
ter. His'trial will take place at the
Beat term of court.
An agent who has made his head*
quarters at McCool Junction for a cou*
pie of months has succeeded in selling
* large numbers of pairs of spectacles
„their wiTe*. even
the children and the hired men. He
hat convinced nearly everybody that
they need glasses, and has taken in
•early a thousand dollars
' Th* el‘y attorney of Hastings has
decided that the last election held in
that city for the purpose of voting
•8,006 bond* for water works improve
ment waa illegal. . His decision was’
? ffronnds that the legal
publication notice had only been run
W^en ^ should have run
thirty days prior to the election.
J. M. Russel & Son of Wymore have
recently <leased 160 acres of land one
mile east of Lincoln Normal for fif
teen years for orchard purposes Their
mlWd? ^ ,*° PIT: fruit near«r *o
railroads, Lincoln being a good dlstrib
for fruit in car lots or
Jwselly, having favorable freight rates
orchards at Wymore are.
f®||" *° ni°e miles east of the sla
tton. Their crop in ’Be was 75,000
brnketo, setting at so cents down as
^£1“ *0..?snt,1P®r basket at wholesals
Traey^will plant extensively this
Thomas Cooley, a hiirhlv
young- man, 19 years of age, and the
««ly son of a R. Cooley, was kicked in
*hors? and killed in
I*, occurred at their home
adjoining Waverly, The shock to the
£r?°-,i?vt,Xtreme!r *freat.it being the
th® ““nti »wwn son and one
daughter within the past fifteen
John Connors of Fort Scott, TT-n
was in Sioux City en route to Wayne,
has b*en negotiating
with John T. Bresslor and others of
40 frCCt a beet suPar factory
“ ^“ Nebraska town. It is proposed
wlth a capacity of
200 tons of beet sugar a day. Mr. Con
lisoooo'snd* iplant l*}11 0084 about
*150,000 and is confident it will be
M®nt*’°«n«ry. youngest child
«< John Montgomery of Greenwood,died
m membraneous croup The mother
of deceased is said to be a Christian
science healer. The little sufferer
passed away surrounded by a few of
these believers, and no physician was
tnnumoned.
.The Cloride (New Mexico) Black
Mange brings to W. F. McLaughlin of
tirand Island, the following as a sort
^ New Year’s greeting: “John Yaple
Ms'Completed assessment work on the
* “!» wining claim of W. F. Me
Lenghlin of Grand Islandv,Neb. The
S?SfSdlto^p,e‘ S **wi*g
GOVERNOR'S MESSAGE
A VERY LONG AND ABLE
DOCUMENT.
The Nebraska Executive Dlinmn
Affaire Thoroughly and With Jtocoinln(
Dignity—Defends the State and Makec
m Number of Recommendations.
SECTION THREE.
Penitentiary.
By the census of 1590 It was shown tha!
Nebraska had a population of 1,058,910. At
the present time It Is fair to assume that
the population has increased to 1,290,000.
By an examination of the report for the
biennial period ending November 20, 1894,
It will be found that the average number
per year sentenced to the penitentiary
was 175t4, and the average number per
year for the 'biennial period just closed
as shown by the report of the present
warden, is 176V4. The number of prisoners
confined In the penitentiary November 30,
1894, was 3H; while the number Imprisoned
November 30, last, or at the end of the
biennial period, was 275, thus showing a
considerable decrease. It will also be ob
served, by the report of the pardons and
commutations submitted herewith, that
executive clemency has been exercised
with less frequency than during the years
previous, and tho number paroled only
a little In excess thereof. These statistics
disclose Nebraska standing In a very en
viable position respecting the low per
centage of criminality, as well as that of
Illiteracy, thus confirming the axiom that
Ignorance and vice go hand In hand.
The condition of the penitentiary upon
the whole Is very good. The present man
agement has taken advantage of the op
portunities which have been offered for
Improvement. A careful study of the his
tory of the penitentiary since Its organiza
tion will not disclose any two years of Its
existence during which greater progress
was made than during the biennial period
just closed. Credit for this condition Is
due to the efficiency of the management
of the present warden, who by a wise and
Judicious policy has Improved the standard
of morals In the penitentiary, as well as
made large reductions In the expenditures.
This good record has been made by the
warden, despite the fact that he has
failed to receive the co-operation of most
of those with whom he has had official re
lations In Us management.
MANAGEMENT.
The question of the management of
penal Institutions, Is of course, difficult un
der most favorable circumstances. There
are various methods of management, each
having warm advocates. While the en
couragement of any method of manage
ment that will develop the reformatory
features of prison life appeals strongly to
the sympathetic and humans sentiments
of mankind, yet It Is to be borne In mind
that the place should not be made so In
viting that the careless and wickedly dis
posed will commit deeds of lawlessness
without fearing the punishment to follow.
The humanity of the present age demand!
that punishment for violation of law by
Imprisonment or otherwise shall not 'be
Inflicted barbarously. Inhumanly, or In any
manner that would tend to stifle the better
sentiments of a man, even though a vio
lator of tho lnw; but rather that the pun
ishment shall be humane, yet reasonable,
fixed, certain and determined In Its char
acter. This may be brought about by con
finement In the penitentiary In solitary
cells. In restraint of liberty, In strict and
rigid discipline. In plain, simple fare, yet
plenty and wholesome, clothing of the
most common quality and tome particular
Uniform color and hard, steady and con
tinuous labor during the period of confine
ment. I do not believe In a sentimentality
that would supply to the prisoner, con
victed frequently of the most hentous
crimes known to mankind, with every
luxury, form of amusement or intellectual
recreation that would be regarded as spe
olal privileges by many who lead a hum
Dio, yet honest and upright life. I believe
In classification of the prisoners, so far as
It can be done, with the view of separating
the older and more hardened criminals
from those who have committed, perhaps
under mitigating clcumstances, their first
offense, and who sincerely repent, desiring
to pay the penalty for the broken law,
retrieve the mistakes of the past, and lead
on honest and upright life. Such prison
ers should receive all reasonable encour
agement. This, It seems to me, might
properly he done by constructing new
cells In the new cell house In the east wring
of the penitentiary, which Is now used
as a chapel. This would render It less
difficult to maintain this class of prison
ers without coming so much In contact
with the more hardened class.
While some advocate changing the
striped clothing customary to be used In
prisons all over the country, I doubt the
propriety of it. I understand It has been
tried only In very few prisons and there
found to work not very satisfactorily. Its
advocates say It Is degrading and humili
ating for the offender to' be required to
Wear this badge of a broken law. It can
be said with equal propriety that It Is
humiliating to be put In prison and re
strained of one’s liberty. The logical se
quence of such reasoning would be to dis
charge all the prisoners and tell them to
go their way and sin no more. We must
come face to face with the practical side
of depraved humanity and prison manage
ment of ouch, as well as to have the
theoretical.
We have had In this state almost ever
since Its organization a form of prison
management that has been debasing and
degrading, a system of leasing the peni
tentiary and the convicts therein to selfish
Individuals for the purpose of private gain.
We have at least rid ourselves of this one
objectionable feature of prison manage
ment. The last session of the legislature
passed an act providing for the annulment
of the lease of the prison and prisoners
and also providing an appropriation for
the payment of what should be round to
| be due the lessee by the cancellation of the
lease. Under the provisions of the act the
lease was cancelled, the appropriation be
ing made by the legislature for that pur
pose being exhausted in the payment. This
report Is on file In the office of the land
commissioner. The state Is to be con
gratulated upon the consummation of such
a laudable object as that of cancelling this
lease, even at the expense It Incurred.
CONVICT LABOR.
After the state had taken full control
and possession of the penitentiary and the
labor of the convicts, an effort was made
by the board of public lands and buildings
to again lease tho penitentiary grounds,
machinery and labor, thus returned to
the objectionable system from which we
had just freed ourselves. As soon as the
Intention of the board came to my notice,
I took occasion to cummunlcate to them
my views In regard to the matter. In the
nature of a protest, asking that the state
should assume control of the penitentiary
and of the labor of Its convicts, except
as the same had been contracted out under
the old lease, and which by the terms of
the act for Its cancellation, were to be
continued In force during the period for
which they were made. The board, how
ever, proceeded to again lease the peniten
tiary grounds and property, as well as the
labor of Its convicts, subject to the sub
contract mentioned. It bccurred to me
that this contract did not properly protect
the Interests of the state, was beyond the
authority of the board to make, and ought
not to be recognized as a legal and bind
ing contract on the part of the state. The
warden, being of the same opinion, de
clined to recognise the validity of the con
tract. The controversy was submitted to
the supreme court, and an opinion ren
dered ie the. effect that the attenjpt ta
again lease the prison and the labor o!
the convicts was lllegral and that th<
■board had exceeded its authority.
After the decision of the supreme court
the board called in Mr. James Whiteheac
and under the designation of agent of thi
•board, he assumed to perform some dutlej
connected with the management of th(
penitentiary, which might very properl j
have been done by the warden, under th«
direction of the board. The report of th<
board's agent Is presented with the repori
of the land commissioner. I am satisfied
that he has accomplished nothing thai
might not have been done by the warden
and that ’the expenses occasioned by hi*
appointment were utterly needless. It i«
disclosed by the report of the agent thal
there has been collected by him, as tht
proceeds of the labor of the convicts
$14.2*0.73. Of this amount there was ex
pended $10,014.97, and paid into the state
treasury $4,115.08. These expenditures I
regard as having been made without au
thority of law. All moneys derived from
the labor of convicts should, it would seem,
be turned into the state treasury to be
drawn therefrom bn approved vouchers,
as In other cases, In the manner provided
by law. The board having the power to
make provisions for the proper employ
ment of Idle convicts seems not to have
exercised this authority, except tempora
rily from time to time, as shown by the
report of the agent of the board. It also
appears that the contracts or agreements
temporarily entered Into were at a much
lower figure than heretofore secured,
NEW LAW NEEDED.
I have thought it proper to go Into
details to some extent regarding the his
tory and condition of this institution, as
it 8o?ma necessary that there should be
an entire revision of the law respecting
its future management. Under the lease
system there have been established dif
ferent industries at the institution for the
purpose of utilizing the labor of the con
victs. These industries have been main
tained by sub-contractors of the lessee
and are yet owned by them. There are
now In operation a broom factory, a har
ness factory, a cooper establishment and
an iron foundry. The capacity of these
several industries is perhaps large enough
to utilize all of the labor of the con
victs not required in the management of
the institution. If arrangements could be
made for the continuance of the work
performed in these different establish
ments at a reasonable rate, of wages for
the labor of the convicts, with suitable
provisions and restrictions to fully pro
tect the rights of the convicts and the
morale and discipline, it becomes a ques
tion whether at the present time the state
should attempt to employ all convicts on
Its own account. It would seem ad
visable to inaugurate some system look
ing towards the ultimate control on the
part of the state of all the labor of the
convicts and that the penitentiary should
be made self-sustaining, or as nearly so as
possible. Prisons in several states are,
as I am advised, entirely self-sustaining.
In adopting a plan of conducting the pen
itentiary entirely <m state account, it
would seem the better part of wisdom to
begin cautiously and in a moderate way,
and by careful experiment determine the
best method of utilising the labor of the
convicts without unnecessary expense on
the part of the state or loss occasioned
by inaugurating an enterprise which can
not successfully be carried out. In this
is also involved the question of bringing
into competition convict labor with that
of free labor. The penitentiary should bo
bo conducted as to reduce to the lowest
degree possible, with due regards to the
interests of the state, all competition with
free labor. I can see no objections to the
inauguration of a system looking to the
manufacture and production of numerous
articles required in the maintenance of the
different state institutions as a means
of providing employment for prison labor
and making the prison self-sustaining.
This plan has many warm advocates
among those who have studied the subject
of prison labor. This could be introduced
»n a small way, and gradually developed
as wisdom and experience would tsuggest
until, p i haps, the larger portion cf the
inmates can thus be employed.
This whole question is submitted to you
for your consideration with the hope that
a law will bo enacted providing for the
state’s management of the penitentiary,
in a manner such as to place the insti
tution on a higher moral plane and pro
vide for the proper utilization of the
labor of the convicts while in confinement.
Hospitals for the Insane.
Nebraska has three hospitals for the In
sane. located at Lincoln, Norfolk and
Hastings, respectively. I choose to treat
all of them together and In a gene al
way. They have each been managed In
a wise, careful and economical manner.
The professional treament has been of a
high order and the welfare of the un
fortunate wards of the stale conflned in
these Institutions has been carefully
looked after In all respects. A visit to
any cne of these institutions cannot but
ilmpross one with the high professional
sk'H and orderly management which char
acterises it. The welfare of the inmates
Is Improved wherever possible and the ut
most kindness and gentleness In caring
for them prevails.
A considerable saving has been made In
the expenditures. Some further can
doubtless be made and yet I am Inclined
to the view that in these Institutions the
minimum expenditures in their mainten
ance has been very nearly reached, in
caring for the unfortunate Insane. It is
apparent to the ordinary observer that
the necessary employes, as well as offi
cers of such an institution, are more num
erous than are required in any other
Institutional work. The proposition of re
ducing expenditures further by a reduc
tion of salaries has been sugegsted to me.
I submit it to you for your careful and
Judicious consideration, without recom
mendation on my part farther than to
say that I approve of any effort which
may be made to place all salaries and
wages of employes of the state upon a
basis of equality, as near as may be done,
with reference to the character of the
work to be performed. "The laborer la
wormy oi ms ntre' ana an servants of
the state, In whatever capacity employed,
should receive fair and Just compensation
and their services should be the very bast
obtainable, honestly, faithfully and In
telligently performed.
The management of each of these insti
tutions has made request for approprla.
tlons to provide additional room. Each
Is now crowded to Its utmost capacity and
yet there are a number of Insane persons
being cared for by the different counties
of the state who could be much better
and more economically treated In state
hospitals. Reasonable provisions should
be made to meet the Increasing demands
upon these Institutions In the most eco
nomical manner compatible with the wel
fare of the unfortunate for whom such
institutions are maintained. It will be ob
served that the population of the Hastings
asylum and the Lincoln hospital are
much larger than the Norfolk hospital.
The best results as to economy and effi
ciency In treatment and management can
be obtained as the population of these
Institutions Increases up to a certain limit,
which as yet has not been reached In
any of them. In view of the fact that
the institution at Norfolk has less room
than cither of the others, It seems to
me that If the legislature shall determine
to make appropriations for additional
room and It can be provided for with as
little cost at the Norfolk institution as
elsewhere, it would be advisable to en
large that Institution until Its capacity
hus reached 350 to 400 Inmates. The sug
gestions madebythesuperintendent of the
Lincoln hospital present some features of
economy In the way of procuring addi
tional room with a minimum of expense,
which I submit to you for your careful
consideration.
The Hastings Institution lp denominated
' an asylum far th? chronic insane and re
i celvea its inmates from the other two,
I by transfer of inmates after a period of
time has shown that the hope of recovery
' is very small. This hospital
> ! for the insane, if the intention of
the lawmakers in its establishment be
carried out to its fullest extent, will have
to have its capacity still further increased,
although it now has the largest popula
tion of the three. Some Interested in the
subject of caring for the insane favor
the placing of all three of these institu
tions on an equality, that is. making them
all asylums for the Insane, without quali
fying the different degrees or types of in
sanity. I do not believe it would be ad
visable to make any change of this kind
at this time and am inclined to the view
that the present arrangement has ad
vantages that perhaps overcome any dis
advantages or objections that might be
urged against its continuance. The re
quest for an appropriation for additional
buildings at the Hastings Institution is
with a view, 1 assume, of increasing its
capacity so that it may be able to receive
inmates from the other two institutions
by transfer as rapidly as it shall appear
that the condition of the patients renders
it advisable to place them in this insti
tution for permanent treatment, as con
templated by the law creating It. It will
be obsevred, however, that no fixed or
definite rule can bo made in determining
just what patient shall be transferred. It
Will, therefore, fulfil reasonably well its
mission by receiving those seemingly best
adapted to transfer only so fast as va
cancies occur by death or recovery, after
its maximum number of inmates has been
reached. I Invite your attention to a care
ful perusal of the biennial reports of the
superintendents of these three institu
tions, which will give you much valuable
Information.
- .. b ;
State Industrial Schools.
By constitutional enactment the legis
lature may provide by law for the estab
lishment of a school, or schools, for the
safe keeping, education, employment and
reform of all children under the age of
sixteen years, who, for want of proper
parental care or other cause, are growing
up in mendicancy or crime. Under this
provision the industrial school at Kear
ney. for both girls and boys, was first
established. Afterwards the legislature,
in its wisdom, very properly made provis
ions for the separate institutions. The
one at Kearney was maintained as an in
dustrial school for boys, and another es
tablished at Geneva of the same char
acter for girls. The reports of the super
intendents of these two Institutions are
quite complete and show them to be in
a satisfactory condition. While I do not
think there has been any extravagance in
the management of either of these insti
tutions, I am of the opinion that there
is opportunity for greater frugality than
heretofore exercised without Interfering
Witht the efficiency of the work or reach
ing the line of demarcation between par
simony and rigid economy. I invite your
attention to the improvements suggested
by the superintendents. Some of them
are well worthy of your careful consider
ation. I am prepared to favor appropria
tions for additional buildings at either
of these Institutions.
Institution for Feeble-Minded Youth
The work of the institution for feeble
minded youth, located at Beatrice, ap
pears to be in a satisfactory condition,
and I know of no suggestions for Im
provements to make to yotu, unless per
haps it is along the line of more right
eoonomy in its management. I coincide
with the views of the superintendents
respecting tne advisability of making
further provisions for a class cif citizens
who are past what might be termed the
school period in an institution of this
kind and are yet not lit subjects to be
again returned to the county of their
residence, there to struggle for a living
and be subjected to unfavorable com
ment, rendering tneir lives miserable. I
am impressed with the view that a large
number, afflicted as are the^e wards of
the state, should be cared for and looked
after with the same spirit of humane re
gard as that given to tfie Insane; and
yet I am doubtful of the propriety of
this legislature making additional appro
priations sufficient to accomplish this
much desired result.
Institutions tor the Deaf and for the
Hlind.
I desire to call the attention of the leg
islature to the urgent necessity for suit
able legislation making proper provisions
tor the control, government and maintem
ctiee of the Institution for the blind at
Nebraska Olty and the Institute for the
deaf and dumb at Omaha. These two In
stitutions are so nearly alike in character
tliat I am of the opinion that each can
be provided for by the passage of a single
act. In the treatment of thl3 subject. In
speaking of one, I take It that the saime
remarks will apply as well to the other.
The law at present governing the Insti
tute for the deaf and dumb Is found In
cliapter 22 of the compiled statutes of
1SU3;’ while the law governing the institu
tion for the blind Is found In chapter 42
of the same statutes. The law for the
governing of the Institute for the deaf
and dumb was passed in 1875, prior to the
adoption of our present constitution, as
was also the law governing the other in
stitution. The present constitution pro
vides that a board of public lands and
buildings consisting of the commissioner
of public lands and buildings, the secre
tary of state, treasurer and attorney-gen
eral shall have general supervision and
control of all buildings, grounds and lands
of the state, the state prison, asylums
and all other like Institutions except
those for educational purposes. It was
Intended by the original enactment of tho
law governing these Institutions that the
Institute for the deaf and dumb should
l>e controlled by a board of directors, as
mentioned In the original act. and the
Institution for the blind should be gov
erned by a board of trustees to be se
lected by the legislature, as therein pro
vided.
Under the provisions of the present con
stitution these Institutions could1 no long
w njveu.iru tia uriginauy mieiuieu,
and in the case of the (institute for the
deaf and dumb the board of public lands
and buildings assumed control, the gov
ernor exercising the authority to appoint
the managing officers. This institution
has been conducted in this manner until
the present time.
Respecting the institution for the blind,
in an early deelson of the supreme court,
found In the 6th Nebraska, page 256, in
the case of State vs. Bacon, it was de
cided that this institution was not an
educational institution w’ithin* the meaning
of the section of the constitution hereto
fore cited and was within the control of
the board of public lands and buildings.
Thereafter this institution was under the
control and management of that board,
the governor appointing the managing of
ficer. In a recent decision, found In the
case of Curtis vs. Allen, 43 Nebraska. ISf,
the supreme court reversed the decision
above mentioned and held that this was
an educational institution and not under
the control of the board of public lands
and buildings.
SCHOOLS, NOT ASYLUMS.
That both of these two institutiens are
educational in their aims and obieru
rather than asylums or permanent abiding
placets for the unfortunate blind and d«^uf
it seems to me hardly admits of argu
ment. The latter decision of the supreme
court was in accord with the spirit and
intention of the law establishing and pro
viding fer the maintenance of these tv. o
institutions end if either is found to be
educational in its character by a prop-r
tribunal, it must follow as a logical se
quence that the other is likewise of the
same character; the one being for the
purpose of educating the unfortunate
children of the state who have loot, the
sense of sight and tl>e other for those
who have lost the sense of hearing. View
ing the BUbJeet In this light, and yet net
wishing to exercise any control or ' su
pervision that might not have the ap
proval of my fellow state officers com
posing the hoard of public lands and
buildings, I requested the attcrney-gen
eral tor an opinion as to whether the in
stitute for the deaf and dumb was of the
same character and standing ns the insti
tution for the blind: in other words,
whethr it was an educational institution
or an asylum, within the meaning of the
constitutional provisions cited above. In
an opinion which will be found in his
report, the attorney-general passes upon
the question adversely to the position
taken by myself. With all due deference
to the opinion of tiie attorney-general, I
am convinced that both of these institu
tions are educational in their character
and should be treated as such. This view
Is held by their superintendents and the
method of the work In operation In each
of them clearly demonstrates it to be cor
rect.
After the latter opinion of the supreme
court respecting the legal status of the
Institution for the blind, some effort was
made by tiie last legislature to enact a
law respecting Its government, but for
some reason It failed to pass both branch
es of the legislature. An effort was then
made to fall back on the old law enacted
at the time of the creation ’ of these in
stitutions and elect trustees by a joint
Bessicm of the legislature, as provided by
the original act. Tills section having been
abrogated by the adoption of the ocrnsii
tution, I deemed it my duty to refuse to
recognize these so-called trustees or any
of their acts, believing the action of the
legislature to be in conflict with section
10 of article 5 of the constitutional provi
sion governing the appointment- of offi
cers created by the constitution or by
law. This resulted in another ease in the
supreme court, in which it was decided
that the position taken by mo in this
matter was correct and that tho action
of the legislature was in conflict with
the constitution. The institution has
since befn under the control of a super
intendent appointed by the governor and
responsible to the chief excutive for tho
proper discharge of hi3 duties.
Tills state of affairs renders the situa
tion in regard to these two institutions
unsatisfactory. Assuming as I have that
the institute for the deaf and dumb is.
notwithstanding the action of the board
of public lands and buildings in assum
ing • entroi, in exactly the same situation
as the institution for the blind, I recom
mend a revision of the two chapters re
ferred to. The revised law should provide
for the appointment of a beard of control
or trustees of three or five members to
Verve for stated periods with componra
tion fixed at a certain amount per diem,
together with actual expenses, and not
exceeding altogetlier a fixed sum during
any one year. They should be required
to meet not oftener than once in every
three months for the purpose of examin
ing into the general condition of these
institutions and taking such action as
shall be deemed advisable for their proper
conduct and management.
Nebraska Industrial Dome, and Home
for the Friendless.
With a view to aid in the suppression
of prostitution, the legislature of 1881 made
provisions for the establishment of the
Nebraska Industrial home, to provide
shelter, protection, employment and
means of self-support for penitent women
and girls. The government was placed
under the supervision of the “woman’s
associated charities of Nebraska” and
an appropriation of $15,000 was made to
purchase a site and erect buildings. This
institution was located at Milford and
has since been In operation, doubtless ac
complishing great good in the direction
Intended by its founders.
In 1887 the, legislature saw fit to make
an appropriation of $5,000 to establish and
provide for the erection of a home tor
the friendless at Lincoln, Us management
to be under the supervision of the society
of the home for the friendless. Hundreds
of homeless children and aged women
have been cared for at this lnstitutLm
during Its existence.
The similarity of these two institutions is
marked. Bach originated with an organ
ized society of benevolently disposed,
vmrsnan women, wno desired to benefit
society by rescuing fallen women and
providing a comfortable home for those
whom unfortunate circumstances had cast
helpless upon the world.
At each recurring session of the legislat
ure liberal appropriations have been made
for the maintenance of these institutions,
and at the present time the state Is almost
the entire support of each of them. I am
In some doubt regarding the propriety of
the state assuming the financial responsi
bility and not having equally the respon
sibility for the government and manage
ment of them. The conditions under which
they are now managed and maintained
bring a sense of responsibility and prima
ry duty upon the part of the governing
officers to the associations referred to,
rather than to the state. Heretofore there
has been more or less, contention and con
troversy respecting the authority of the
state In the management of them, though
I am pleased to flay that for the two
years past the relations have been of the
most pleasant and amicable character. It
seems to me It Is a sound proposition,
however, that the state should have the
complete and absolue control and manage
ment of all of Its institutions and that
the officers should be responsible alone to
the state for the faithful and Intelligent
discharge of their duties. The Institutions
under consideration are of a peculiar
character, and as the women seem to be
better adapted to know the needs and best
methods of conducting them, it might be
well to povlde for a government by a
board of women, who should be directly
responsible to the state for the manner
in which they discharge their duties. This
plan would serve the purpose and fulfil
the objects sought by their founders, and
yet bring the institutions within the com
plete control of the state, where, in my
judgment, they properly belong, if the
state is to be held responsible In any way
for their management and government.
Control of State Institutions.
The interest of the state in these public
institutions amounts to millions rf dollars
and there are expended annually large
sums of money for their maintenance in
conducting the business for which they
were constructed. They should each be
governed and controlled in such a way
as to bring about the greatest harmony
■between the several institutions, as well
as the greatest economy in their manage
ment in 'the 'interest of the taxpayers
of the state. Their control and manage
ment heretofore by different bodies, and
as many different methods, has
been productive of much needless expense
and friction as to the policies which should
obtain. This fact, I doubt not, has become
quite apparent to every executive of the
state of -Nebraska. Governor Boyd in his
closing message to the legislature speaks
of this matter as follows:
“And in this connection I would further
call your attention to the fact that there
are a number of state institutions over
which the authority of the executive has
been by the statute taken from him. In
the case of the industrial school for boys
at Kenarney, of the industrial school for
girls at Geneva, of the institution for
feeble minded at Beatrice and of one or
two others, the appointing power is
vested in the board of public lands and
buildings. This board is also by the consti
tution given full control of all institu
tions, and the executive has no check or,
them whatever. This should not be so.
The governor should have the power tc
appoint the superintendents and manag
ing officials in every one of the state in
stitutions; and I would recommend that
this legislature so amend this statute, that
the appointing power shall be fully re
gtoj-ed jo_hlm.’\
... 1 111 .. 11.. ,,M M
iMy predecessor, Governor Crounse, site
wise toe's occasion to express his views on
this same subject In the following lan
guage:
“In the case of some of the Institutions
of the state the governor appoints the
superintendents and other officers, while
In others this authority Is given to the
board of public lands and buildings. This
iswrong. The governor should be charged
with the appointment in all these cases,
and he alone be responsible to the people
for his action. The responsibility for a
bad appointment should not be a divided
one, and one not directly traceable or
jhanrgeable to any one person. Considera
tions of a political or partisan character
may be opposed to a favorable acceptance
of this recommendation at this time, still
sound legislation should not be avoided for
fear of the loss of some partisan advant
age. It Is unfortunate that the heads of
some institutions, in cases where fitness
and experience has been added, should
become the sport of political fortune, and
for good reason only should tried and ex
perienced officers be replaced.”
ONE RESPONSIBLE HEAD NEEDED.
• To all that has been said by these two
gentlemen on thl3 subject, I can give- my
hearty approval. I am quite well con
vinced that a more satisfactory adminis
tration of the affairs of these various In
stitutions can be secured when there Is:
one responsible head to whom each must
be required to account for the faithful
discharge of the duties of hts position, and
that a fixed and well defined policy deriv
ing Its source from one head may be In
augurated which will work advantageous
ly In each of the institutions. In my judg
ment. it was never intended by the consti
tution that the board of public lands and
buildings, therein created, should have the
control and supervision of the administra
tive and governmental part of these dif
ferent institutions, but rather, as their
name Implies, and as expressed in direct
terms by the constitution, they should
have control of the public lands and build
ings, to look after, to care for the repairs
and Improvements, the erection of new
buildings when provided for by the legisla
ture, and such other control and supervis
ion as pertains to the buildings and lands
belonging to the state, as distinguished
from the care, maintenance and control
of the Inmates of such institutions. Thera
has been almost continually, since the en
actment of the law defining the duties of
the board of public lands and buildings,
more or less difference between that board
and the executive regarding the powers
and duties of each, and this without re
gard to whom may have been occupying
each of the respective posi
tions. This ought not to be permitted to
exist, and the duties of this board should
be made clear, specific and well defined,
and provisions made so as to prevent any
differences respecting the duties of execu
tive officers and this as well as other
boards created by statute. This board by
law Is now required to approve vouchers
for expenditures made by many different
boards, as well as the vouchers required
In its own expenditures. An auditing
board should doubtless exist to approve the
vouchers issued by the heads of the
different departments in state institutions,
as well as by boards when created with
authority to Incur indebtedness or maks
expenditures in the discharge of their du
ty. This board might very properly be
composed of two or three state officers,
the auditor being one, as these duties per
tain very naturally to the duties of his
own office, each voucher upon the state
treasurer having to be presented to him
and there approved before the Issuance of
a warrant. The board of purchase and
supplies incurs much indebtedness In sup
plying the different state institutions.
This board should he required to approve
■Its own vouchers and then be passed to
the auditing board for final approval be
fore the Issuance of a warrant on the state
treasury for the amount of the claim.
A very slight modification of the law re
garding these subjects would obviate need
less confusion, and encourage a more har
monious administration of state affairs.
It would also provide for a better system
of appovlng vouchers upon which warrants
are drawn against the state treasury.
university of Nebraska.
The state university is in a very flour
ishing condition. The excellent work in
the educational field occupied by this in
stitution under the direction and efficient
management of the chancellor, is very
gratifying to all citizens of the state. The
high rank which it occupies among similar
institutions of the land testifies to th*
excellent work which has been performed.
The university educational work has been
extended so as to provide a practical train
ing for a short period of time In tha
varied branches of agriculture for those
who are unable to avail themselves of the
opportunity offered to take the prescribed
course in the college of agriculture and yet
wish to prepare themselves for active and
intelligent work in agricultural pursuits.
In a state such as ours, where the agricul
tural Interests are paramount to all others
it seems to me that an effort to promote
this feature of university education must
find much cordial support by the peopla
generally. In considering the needs of the
institution especial attention is requested
to this branch of the work which is now
In process of development.
The law provides for two funds to be
used In support of this Institution, first,
•the endowment fund, to be invested and
the interest of which only can lie used
in its support; and, second, the regent’s
fund, which shall consist of the proceeds
of the investment of the endowment fund,
the annual rental of the university and
agricultural college lands, tne matricula
tion and other fees paid by students and
a tax of three-eighths of one mill on the
dollar valuation on all taxable property.
From this it would appear that it was
the intention to have the university sup
ported from these funds rather than from,
an appropriation from the general fund,
unless for repairs and permanent improve
ments. The condition of the state's finan
ces would seem to emphasize the necessity
for adherence to this method of deriving
revenues for the current expenditures oil
the institution as nearly as possible, with
out injuring its usefulness. The estlmato
of expenditures calls for an appropriation,
from the gene- -1 fan.1 of 124,500, and, also,
$50,000 for permanent improvements.
■While I am strongly Impressed with the
necessity of economizing wherever possible
in making appropriations for the expenses
of state government, I bespeak for this
highly useful institution a liberal support
sufficient to maintain its various depart
ments unimpaired. The report of the re
gents for the biennial period just closed
will bo submitted to you and is worthy of
your careful consideration. It is an im
provement on all past reports in Its thor
oughness and the attention given to de
tails respecting the past management and
the future requirements of our university,
(continued)
Doctors iu China.
European doctors iu China find tha
Celestials somewhat trying patients.
John Chinaman rarely obeys the in
structions how to take his medicine,
but consults with his friends on the
subject, and follows the advice of the
majority. As the native practitioners
furnish very largo doses, John is apt
to think that the foreigner has been
mean in giving him a small quantity,
and so take:: two or three doses u once.
Women Beating? Trains.
Fort Scott, Kan., Jan. 5.—Olive and
Clara Lowe, two young women who
had been employed in Kansas City, left
there for Hot Springs, Ark., paying
their fares as far as l’aola. Then being
out of money were put off the train.
They boarded tlie next train and hid
until they were found near here and
arrested
