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THE NEBRASKA
SCENE
by James R. Lowell
Candidates running for election
to the unicameral legislature are
facing a stiffer political catechism
than was ever put up to candidates
for the two-party, two-house body.
The three main questionnaires have
been put out by the P. T. A., Ne
braska Federation of Labor, and
the Nebraska Progressive League.
The Nebraska Congress of Par
ents and Teachers wants to know
whether legislative candidates will
support legislation forcing a study
and investigation of the entire field
of state taxation with the object of
revising our system of taxation so
as to more equitably distribute the
cost of all state service, including
education.
This group also wants to know
legislators’ views on old age secur
ity for teachers; raising the educa
tion qualifications necessary to
secure a teaching certificate; rais
ing educational standards for the
youth of Nebraska, and views on
ratification of the child labor
amendment to the constitution of
the United States.
The labor group is concerned
wih the views of prospective legis
lators on i.-e of prison labor; re
peal of the anti-picketing and crim
inal syndicalism laws; the child
labor amendment; minimum wages
and hours of labor; garnishment of
wages; awarding of state contracts
to the most advantageous rather
than to the lowest bidder; unem
ployment insurance; company lab
or unions; arbitration in labor dis
putes; and the question of whether
both man and wife should be on the
public payroll.
The Nebraska Manufacturers as
sociation is interesting itself in the
labor questionnaire, and is advis
ing candidates to arm themselves
with all the facts before pledging
their votes.
Nebraska labor apparently fav
ors repeal of the anti-picketing
law, which was enacted in 1921,
later to referendum, and has re
sisted several attempts to repeal.
The law simply provides that in
case of strike, picketing will not
be permitted, and it does not deny
the right to strike. It does, how
ever, protect the right to work.
The manufacutrers declare that
since the passage of the anti-pick
eting law Nebraska has enjoyed a
high measure of industrial peace.
President R. A. Freeman of the
Manufacturers’ : association says:
“Strikes can, and often do, become
an extremely burdensome war to
be borne by a community. The
honest, sincere working man of a
state deserves protection if he
i . . , It .ft t VaflL
wants to work. The anti-picket it l
law protects him in this right . . .
“To repeal the anti-picketing law
would be a distinct step backward.
It has been on our statute books
for more than 15 years, and as I
have already said, was approved
by an overwhelming majority at
the polls. It is confidently believed
today that most of our citizens are
still convinced of the soundness
and fairness of this law."
The state progressive league
aims to put the legislative candid
ates on record as to whether they
will "protect the natural resources
of the state from the encroach
ments of private interests."
Candidates are asked to commit
themselves as to whether they fav
or a state central power authority,
raising fees for power site leases,
municipal ownership, and lobbying
in which members of the legisla
ture receive entertainment and em
oluments.
Meanwhile it appears that at
tempts to hold the unicameral leg
islature unconstitutional will be
disregarded. A suit to void the
districting act because of alleged
inequities in population was beaten
in the Lancaster county disrict
court.
It was argued that the Nebraska
legislature inadvertently omitted
Sarpy county in the congressional
districting act, but Assistant At
orney General Murphy pointed out
that the courts held the act valid
and added the county to the proper
district. Murphy admitted the
error in the statute, but argued
that the evidence showed it was a
mere misinterpretation of a map
and legally corrected by the court.
The district judges upheld
Murphy’s view, and reprimmanded
the instigators of the suit for their
action in attempting to create a
chaos in state legislative affairs.
It was indicated that the case will
be taken to the supreme court, but
political prognosticators say the
unicameral setup will be upheld
and Nebraska will duly embark up
on its one-house experiment next
January,
In the Nebraska political scene,
the Lowell Service summarization
of political trends shifts this week
to the third district where the sev
erity of the drouth has caused a
swing toward the national admin
istration during the past few
weeks, and, incidentally, to Gov
ernor Cochran.
There still appears to be a slight
Landon-for-president majbrity -in
the 3rd, but the promptness with
which the administration stepped
in to relieve victims of the drouth
in this hardest hit section of the
state in 1936, has raised the Roose
velt. stock somewhat. Governor
Cochran also has been working
hard to insure speedy drouth relief,
and while Dwight Griswold (R)
had a majority over Cochran two
months ago, the consensus now is
that Roosevelt-Cochran on the
democratic side, and Landon-Gris
wold on the republican, are about
even in the 3rd.
Simmons (R) is rated to edge
out over Norris for U. S. senator,
with Carpenter (D) trailing, and
Stefan is picked to retain his job
as congressman from the 3rd dis
trict.
Dick Johnson is favored over his
democratic opponent from Omaha;
Harry R. Swanson (D) is a big
favorite for secretary of state; Dr.
T. W. Bass likewise is ahead for
state treasurer and is one of two
or three republicans given an al
THE RICOCHET
p|p3?
I
I
I_
Copyrtjht 1938, Ay 1W Chkafc Trfbun*
most certain victory for state of
fice; Jurgensen is ahead for lieu
tenant governor; Marsh <R) looks
best for auditor; the Swedish
names of Olson (D) and Swanson
(R) for land commissioner make
this a wide open race; and Good
(D), because of his greater experi
ence, is expected, to come out ahead
in the 3rd for railway commis
sioner.
Political forecasters attach con
siderable significance to the state
labor convention at Grand Island
last week when five candidates
were endorsed. The Roosevelt for
(president. Cochran for Governor,
and Norris for senator endorse
ments are not unexpected but the
prognosticators were a bit sur
prised at the convention’s putting
the stamp of approval on the two
republican candidates, Johnson for
attorney general, and Bass for
state treasurer.
Johnson, who worked his way
thru law school at Lincoln as a
laborer and who has been active
during his career as a lawyer as a
champion of laborers’ rights, na
turally comes in for labor endorse
ment. However, the only reason
for Bass’ endorsement, as the po
litical soothsayers see it, is his
commendable past record as a state
officer and the fact that he ranks
head and shoulders over his demo
cratic opponent ir^ qualification for
the treasurership.
Reapraisa) of state school lands,
ordered by the 1935 legislature,
has made little change in the net
value of the lands in the counties
that have been surveyed to date.
However, in Red Willow county,
the valuations were increased from
$78,585 to $105,905, while in Kim
ball bounty the appraisal was low
e.ed from $220,506 to $189,776.
Since last August mineral leases
have been granted by the state
board, of educational lands and
funds on 28,952 acres of state
school lands. Hopes of striking
oil in the state have accounted for
putting $2,895 in the state school
fund, the leases being granted at
10 cents per acre. The state would
collect 12 per cent royalty if oil
were found on its lands.
The state has 1,638,000 acres of
land of which $118,876 is under
sale contract. Lands not under
sale contract are subject to lease.
Lessesses pay 6 per cent of the ap
praised value as rental money.
Lands leased usually are of the
poorer class,the better having been
long ago sold by the state, before
I such lands were withdrawn from
sale by act of the legislature.
Revenue from state lands for all
purposes during the calendar year
1935 totaled $629,717. About two
thirds of this was from rental of
leased land.
With income from bond interest,
about a million dollars a year is
derived from state funds and lands,
all going to county and school dis
trict to pay expenses of public
schools. When school lands are
available for lease, an auction is
held, but the bidding is on a pre
mium in addition to the rent. The
premium is paid only once and in
advance.
The 1935 legislature ordered a
new system of appraisal. Under
the new act, all the school land in
a county is classified in about a
half dozen classes, based on ad
aptibility for cultivation or graz
ing and upon topography and type
of soil. The state then is required
to apply the same per acre valua
tion to the same type of lands in
the same county. The county boards
act with state officers in determin
ing valuations.
If repeal has done anything to
the bootleggers, still operators and
hangers-on of the “moonshine” era
industry, it has given them a shield
of apparent respectability and a
“bulk” customer list, a survey of
state and federal enforcement ac
tivities reveals.
Fred Parker of the Nebraska
Beverage Dispensers association
estimates that several thousand
gallons of raw alcohol are being
sold daily in Omaha. In addition,
stills are pouring great quantities
of “corn” whiskey into the city.
The situation is not as bad out
state, but the bootlegger industry
still hangs on.
The raw alcohol goes largely to
“bathtub” gin fans, who still pre
fer their private recipes, the heav
ier “kick” and the lower prices to
the labeled and stamped brands
sold by licensed dealers. Failure
of most out-state towns to permit
sale by the drink is blamed by
Parker for the flourishing moon
shine and bootleggingbusiness that
continues.
Since last July the federal and
state investigators have seized
nearly 100 unlicensed stills in Ne
braska, several of them with capac
ities for turning out from 500 to
700 gallons a day.
Not all the moonshine turned out
in Nebraska is sold here. Last fall,
federal officers uncovered a still
near Arlington, Nebr., capable of
a daily output of 700 gallons. The
bulk of the product was being
trucked to Chicago.
The federal tax on alcohol is
$3.50 a gallon. Rough estimates
indicate a loss of $20,000 to $30,
000 a day. What to do about it is
a tough problem, and the next leg
islature no doubt will consider it
at length.
•A third party was formed in
Nebraska last week for the first
time since the bull moose organiza
tion in 1912. It is the new Union
party, with William Lemke, of
North Dakota al presidential can
didate.
Still Burn Oats Despite
Cattle Feed Shortage
CHICAGO, ILL.—Despite the fact
that cattle raisers are forced to
buy expensive foreign oats and oth
er fodder or watch their herds
starve, stocks of grain are still be
ing destroyed in the midwest and
elsewhere under government direc
tion, according to authenticated re
ports filed here.
These conditions will play an im
portant part in boosting the cost of
living another 12 to 15 per cent by
spring, latest available estimates
show.
Meantime farmers are complain
ing that their crops are being de
stroyed on a settlement basis far
below the prices commanded by
foreign shipments, which are being
shipped in to meet the demands.
A typical instance is reported by
the Erie (Kans.) Record in a
despatch reaching here. The Rec
ord says:
“Earl Smith, who resides six
miles west of Chanute and who
signed up with the government in
the soil conservation program, re
cently was forced to burn two and
one-half acres to comply with his
agreement, this in spite of the fact
the corn crop in his section is a to
tal loss and other feed is very
scarce.
“The oats were cut and raked in
to windrows and Mr. Smith figured
on giving the surplus oats to some
of the neighbors who were badly in
need of feed, but he was informed
that this was not permissible and
that the oats must be burned.
“The oats burned represented 15
per cent of Smith’s total acreage
and he said he was told that he
would receive between five and sev
en dollars an acre for the reduction,
payment of which would probably
be made in September.
“The oats would have averaged
around 20 bushels to the acre.
“Mr. Smith has been buying feed
for his livestock since burning the
surplus bats.”
t- *1 - - - -
PAYING THE PIPER
The New Deal party has very
little to say about government
finances. Evidently, the adminis
tration high command has decided
♦hat the least said about taxes and
debts and deficits, the better.
Perhaps the figures are so vast
as to be beyond easy comprehen
sion. Moreover, we haven’t begun
paying for the spree yet. The piper
hasn’t asked, for a settlement. And
until he does, government extrav
agance and deficits will remain
more or less academic subjects
with most of us.
Therein lies the hope of the New
Deal and the danger of the country.
For the public debt and the public
rate of spending have reached truly
dangerous proportions.
It would be mad enough were
we to face no more than repay
ment of what we now owe. But
nobody knows how much more
debt we will have incurred before
a halt is called. Re-election of Mr.
Roosevelt means a continuation of
this mad spending spree; a staving
off of the inevitable; frantic cling
ing to a fool's paradise, bought and
maintained with borrowed funds.
In the end, it means disaster for
millions of American taxpayers.—
Kearney Hub.
- * .
CANT LAUGH THIS OFF
It has been effectively demon
strated that Governor Cochran
thinks all he has to do is “laugh
off” everything seriously involving
his administration.
The governor is wrong.
Just recently he attempted to
“laugh off” a charge by Dwight
Griswold, Republican candidate for
governor.
Griswold, in a speech at Kearney
charged that Governor Cochran
had deliberately concealed an ex
haustive report dealing with con
ditions at the state penitentiary.
The penal report, Griswold said,
was made by a nationally-known
prison authority praised by J. Ed
gar Hoover, head of the nation's
G-men, for his ability. Griswold
charged that the typewritten re
port was filed with the board of
control in the spring but that it
was immediately pigeon-holed by
Governor Cochran.
Cochran laughted and said,
“there’s absolutely nothing to it,”
when reporters asked about the
prison report. However, there
were admissions made by others of
the administration that a survey of
the penitentiary had been made but
the report was not in “final form
i
PROMISE
Consumer Taxes
“Not only must the government
income meet prospective expendi
tures, but this income must be
secured on the principle of ability
to pay. This is a declaration in
favor of graduated, income, inherit
ance and profits taxes, and against
taxes on food and clothing, whose
burden is actually shifted to the
consumers of these necessities of
life on a per capita basis rather
than on the basis of the relative
size of personal income.”—Frank
lin D. Roosevelt, Looking Forward,
1934, pages 104-05.
“We favor maintenance of the
national credit by a federal budget,
annually balanced on the basis of
accurate executive estimates with
in revenues raised by a system of
taxation levied on the principle of
ability to pay.”—Democratic Plat
form 1932.
“Such a revision of our corpor
ate taxes would effect great simpli
fication of the tar procedure, in
corporate accounting, and in the
understanding of the whole subject
by the citizens of the nation.”—
Franklin D. Roosevelt, Message to
Congress, proposing new tax bill,
March 3, 1936.
! PERFORMANCE
Consumer Taxes
| in 1930, “we find that those taxes
; bearing most heavily on the well
l to-do, contributed . . , 68.2 per cent
; of its (the National Government’s)
total internal revenue and customs
receipts, while miscellaneous taxes
and customs recepits, bearing most
| heavily on the Consumer, contri
' buted only .. , 31.8 per cent of such
receipts ....
“In 1935 the Taxes based on
ability to pay contributed 38.7 per
cent of the internal revenue and
customs receipts . . . there has been
an increase in the proportion of
revenues contributed by Taxes
based on consumption to 61.3 (per
cent).”—Robert Jackson, Treasury
Department, before Committtee on
Finance.
“What is known as consumers’
taxes, namely the invisible taxes
paid by people in every walk of
life, fall relatively much more
heavily upon the poor man than on
the rich man. In 1929, Consumers’
Taxes represented only 30 per cent
of the National Revenue. Today
they are 60 per cent . . . ”—Frank
loin D. Roosevelt, letter to Roy W.
Howard, September 2, 1935.
and therefore could not be made
public.”
Griswold met this weak alibi of
Cochran with the flat statement
that the report was in final, type
written form, that it had been for
months and added that it spoke in
very plain terms of bad conditions
at the prison.
“It is well known in informed
circles at the statehouse,” Griswold,
said that greatest caution has been
taken to conceal this government
report from the people. Cochran
is particularly anxious to keep it
in its secret hiding place until after
the election.”
News of the secret report came
to light after Governor Cochran
had boasted that the state saved
$2,500 last year in fuel costs and
went on to praise the educational
work being done at the penitent
iary.
Griswold declared that it came
in poor graee from a governor who
last year spent more than $22,000,
000—the largest in the state’s
history—to brag about saving a
mere $2,500 and particularly when
he was “sitting on” the revealing
report by the national prison ex
pert.
Despite the determination of
Governor Cochran to keep the
prison report from the people,
Griswold predicted that it would
be made public before the end of
the campaign.
BRIEFLY STATED
Mrs. Anna McKenna returned to
her home at Sioux City, Iowa, last
Thursday.
Editor Kelly, of the Atkinson
Graphic, was in the city Tuesday
on business.
Mike Rotherham, of Ewing, was
|
looking after business matters in
the city Wednesday.
Leo Mannafelt, of Norfolk, was
looking after business matters in
this city the first of the week.
Mr. and Mrs. Dean Streeter were
at Brunswick Sunday visiting at
the home of Mr. Streeter’s mother.
S. J. Weekes made a business
trip to Omaha last Monday morn
ing, returning home Tuesday night.
Gib McCreath was down from
Atkinson last Monday visiting his
many old time friends in this city.
Mr. and Mrs. M. F. Ruzicka made
a business trip to Martin, S. D.,
last Sunday, returning home Tues
day.
P. J. McManus had the front of
the Schulz store repainted the past
week, which enchances its appear^'
ance. .,
Norm Johnson, of Burwell, was
looking after business matters and
visiting old friends in this city last
Friday.
#
Mr. and Mrs. Charles McManus
and Mary McManus went to Sioux
City Monday on a business trip, re
turning that evening.
Francis Dempsey, of North Bend,
was in the city last Thursday and
Friday visiting with his parents
and with friends here.
Miss Mary Ryan came up from
Sioux City the latter part of last
week for a short visit with rela
tives and old friends here. 1
Owen McPharlin came op from
Omaha Monday night, on business,
and for a short visit with his
mother, Mrs. J. H. McPharlin.
J^O MATTER how
^ much you earn, un
less you accumulate
some of it in bank you
will remain poor all
your life.
The
O’NEILL NATIONAL
BANK
Capital, Surplus and This Bank Carries No
Undivided Profits, Indebtedness of Officers
$125,000.00 or Stockholders.
• . • V 1; Hi.' • .
MEMBER FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE
CORPORATION
C. W, Kirkland was down from
Francis precinct Wednesday look- i
ing after business matters andir.
cidently visiting old time friends.
-;—L_ it)::
Several O’Neill residents expect
to go to Ewing this afternoon to
assist the citizens of eastern Holt
in properly celebrating' their Free
Day. > .• • i *,:
1 i ^-i-i --.. *. •, i •
Mr. and Mrs. Charles Mullen
drove to LeMars and Remsen, .Ia.,
last Sunday for a short visit, with
relatives, returning home Monday
morning.
■!-«--*-- ,,i!
Joe Rieser, of Spender, affjyed
in the city today to spend a couple
of days visiting with the Robert
Schulz family and with Miss C.lara
Blackburn.
C. R. Hough, deputy commission
er of Public Lands and Buildings,
and C. W. Lawson, both of Lin
coln, were in the city this nfiopipng
on business. |
Mr. and Mrs. R. H. Mills ,Jeft
for Broken Bow, Nebr., Wednesday
morning to spend a few days visit
ing with relatives and friends in
and around that city. ,
Bernard McCafferty came down
from Casper, Wyo., Monday morn
ing to spend a few days vis^in^'
with his mother and other rela
tives and friends here.
-'— li
Plumbers are now busy pn.the
new court house and plasterer^ are
getting ready to start plast^ing
and the new structure is beginf]ing
I to look like a real building.
Fred and Clarence Saunto re
turned Tuesday night front Sioux
City, Iowa, where they had been
attending the funeral of their
stepmother, Mrs. Abe Saunto.
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dios. New Style, New Torle,
New Features — Twin Tone
Columns and Golden Voice
Acoustical Panel bring a p^w
appreciation of fine mpsic.
8-tube A. C., $49.95—Other's
up to $89.95—6-tubte Battety,
$44.95—8-tube, $59.95.
I
•' D Passengers in the smoking
.U compartment on my train
|P were arguing about why
fj railroad business is piclr
II ingup. vi
A factory owner said it
was because of this new Free
pick-up-and-delivery of less
than carload freight. This is
door-to-door service with no
extra charge added to the
freight bill. ,
•
A traveling salesman said it
was because so many passen
ger and freight trains now run
on faster schedules.
There was a school prin
cipal in the group and he
said it was because train
travel is so much cheapet
for passengers. He said
passenger fares are at the
lowest point in history,
with substantial reductions
if you buy a round-trip
ticket—and no more sur
charge for riding in sleep
ing cars.
T •
One man, a farmer, said he
liked something he could de
pend on, that’s why he was
traveling by train. !
. il: • ...I
Another man, a newspaper .re
porter, said people were ip
favor of railroad travel be
cause it is by far the safest. He
quoted a lot of statistics from a
book called,” Live and Let Live:”
•
A banker we all know by
name said railroad tax pay*
mentsmeana lotin this state.
•
Weareproudofrailroadachieye
ments, appreciate the public’s
good will and increased patron
age, and pledge continued prog
i I
' •
WESTERN
RAILROADS
and THE PULLMAN COMPANY B