State Capitol News . . . Commercial Channels Get Serum © , - '*■ * ■.. LINCOLN — There is a new system for distribution of Salk polio serum in Nebraska. The nine-member state polio advisory committee approved the system recommended earlier by the Nebraska Medical associa tion’s house of delegates. Under the new plan, 90 percent of the vaccine allocated Nebraska by the federal government will be distributed through commer cial channels and the remainder ! through the state health depart ment. The 10 percent will be for those unable to buy the serum. Nebraska now has on hand $168,000 in federal funds for the purchase of vaccine. But it may be spent only for the 10 percent that will be handled by the department. If an appropriation before con gress is approved, Nebraska will receive another $225,000 from the federal government. The health department will check to see that Salk allocated to Nebraska is distributed and used properly. Doctors have been urged to follow the eligibility age limit of 1-10 for children and in cluding expectant mothers. * * * Post Abolished— The publicized and controversial post of state penal director is no more. The board of control which gov | erns state institutions, abolished I the position, held by Col. B. B. : Albert. The supervisory post paid $9,000 per year. Albert had held ! the job since January, 1955. It i was an advisory position. He had been the subject of much controversy. But the board emphasized it abolished the job because it felt “everything seems to be running along peaceably.” Thomas Dredla, board chair man, Penitentiary Warden Jo seph Bovey and Men’s Reforma tory Superintendent Robert Ni chols had high praise for the work performed by Albert. Albert was notified of the board’s decision by telephone. He was in Roanoke, Va., on a 60-day health leave. He had asked an extension a week before the board decided to eliminate the ! post “at the present time.” Said Albt-rt “I’m not surprised ' that they feel they can make out without a penal director.” “I feel I’ve laid the groundwork for a program if carried out prop erly will result in a fine pro gram for Nebraska,” Albert said. Dredla said he feels the super intendents are “w’ell qualified” to carry out the program which Al bert set up. He told Albert in a letter: “We are very grateful to you for your contribution to the state of Nebraska in this very im portant area of penal work, and we shall always be grateful to you for the fine program. . .” * * * Meat Plan Outlined— Gov. Victor Anderson outlined personally to Secretary of Agri culture Ezra Benson a plan to in crease meat consumption. The governor met with the sec retary in Washington last week. He told Benson the plan calls for an advertising campaign to be paid for by the livestock produc ers. Anderson also urged Benson to buy more meat for the school lunch program. Any proposal that would in crease meat consumption brings “very strong” interest from Benson, Anderson said. He said Benson offered his cooperation in spreading the advertising plan throughout the country. ■ssss-ssiiiisnf Money for the promotion plan would be raised by a voluntary check off at the stockyards of 10 t Mils for eac»: ow sold, five cents j foi each nog and half that for each sheep. Nationwide, the governor said, i the plan would raise up to ; $10,000,000. The money, he said, would be spent through advertising media of all kinds to encourage people to eat more meat. * * * Power Line Asked— The administration’s request for funds to start a federal power line to Grand Island drew praise from state power leaders. The leaders agreed the step would be a move toward meeting Nebraska’s power demands. Of ficials felt the appropriation would be approved by congress without much difficulty. Most officials called attention to the fact the line would meet the rapidly - growing need for power to pump irrigation water. Nebraska’s big need for power, during a few summer months, comes at the same time as large amounts of water are being re leased from Missouri river dams for navigation. Release of this water can be used to generate power needed >.n Nebraska, the officials said. The line proposed would carry 100,000 kilowatts of power and could be completed by the sum mer of 1958, when the need will be critical, officials said. Officials said they believe the Central Nebraska district plant proposed near Lexington will still be needed to meet normal load growth. Hospital Group Meets— The advisory state hospital council has allocated $85,000 in federal funds to the Lutheran hos pital in Omaha, to help finance a $400,000 building program. The allocation used all the money on hand which must be under contract by June 30. In other decisions, the council approved the initiation of action to close the Geneva General hos pital. The vote was unanimous. Verne Pangborn, head of the state hospital division, said Ge neva hospital officials were noti fied a year ago of improvements which would be required to re tain the institution’s license. Pangborn said satisfactory ef fort had not been made to raise funds, however. called at the capitol and a grace period was arranged, period was arranged. Pangborn said the hospital is “really an old people’s home” and that the area could be provid ed facilities at York, 25 miles to the north, and at Hastings, Hebron and Crete. The council’s main objections were that there are “inadequate facilities” for surgery and a state fire marshal’s report “deplores the building.” The Geneva hospital is the only one in Fillmore county, although the town has three physicians and four dentists. * * • Gas, Oil Records Set— Nebraska’s State Geologist E. C. Reed says gas and oil produc tion records were established in 1955 in the state. Reed said oil production in 1955 totaled 12,175,145 barrels, a 50 percent increase Over 1954. Recovery of natural gas totaled 10,289,444,000 cubic feet, up 65 percent. There were 876 test wells for gas and oil drilled, almost 70 per cent more than in 1954. About half the tests, 461, were close to producing fields. A total of 262 successful oil wells and two gas wells were drilled. Tucker Burial at Central City Interior Decorator Dies at 51 PAGE— Funeral services were held Wednesday, February 15, at the Solt chapel for William H. Tucker, 51, a resident of Cen tral City 13 years. He died at his Ciy lt3 years. He died at his home home February 12. Rev. Charles E. Funk officiated with vocal music by Mrs. John C. Hruza. She sang “The Old Rug ged Cross” and “Safe in the Arms of Jesus,” accompanied by Mrs. Elgin White at the organ. Pallbearers were Agnar Ander son, O. D. Bessey, Clarence Hum mel, William Land, Ivan Martson and Roy Parker. Interment was in Central City cemetery. The late Mr. Tucker was a son of James and Nora Tucker. He was born at Page on June 6, 1884. He was married to Florence Maria Howard September 15, 1904. Mr. Tucker had followed the vocation of interior decorating during his active life. Survivors include: Widow — Florence of Central City; sons— Howard and Warren, both of Cen tral City; daughters—Mrs. Gene vieve Babbitt of Columbus, Mrs. L. M. (Gail) Rarick of Los An geles, Calif.; Mrs. Jack (Shirley) Price of Van Nuys, Calif.; half brothers—Ray and Orie, both of Ewing, and Floyd of O’Neill; half sisters — Mrs. S. D. Murphy of Omaha, Mrs. P. B. Cooper of Ashland and Mrs. J. L. Pruden of Ewing; 11 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren. Mrs. Lindberg Reorganizes Girl Scout Troop— The O’Neill Girl Scouts have been reorganized. They had their first regular meeting Mon day, February 27, at the home of Mrs. H. L. Lindberg. The follow ing girls paid their dues: Jean Devoy, Janet Devoy, Mary Mur ray, Carmen Benze, Carol Holly, Treva Baker, Diane Graves, Georgetta Clyde, Christine Ken nell. Ruth Ann Walker, Judy Smith, Patsy Bazelman, Janet Peterson, Betty Weber, Katherine Perry, Ann Johnson, Connie Johnson. Mrs. Benze and Mrs. Ruth Johnson are leaders, with the hope of some mothers assisting. Seven of these girls are fly-ups from a Brownie