VOL. IV.
MATTERS OF RECORD
Becord of the Independents in the Legis
lature of 1891-A List of the
Maasures Passtid, and Their
Good jResalts.
The Demo-Republican Combine Repre
sentatives of Both Old Parties
Were Traitors to Their
Own Platforms.
The year 1890 marks the beginning
of a new era in tho history of Nebraska
politics. There was a general break
ing up of old political lines. New
issues came to the front, and a new
new political party appeared on tho
scene.
Naturally the events of such a period
are of more than ordinary interest
And especially are they of unusual in
terest at tho present t:mo when the
same three parties are in tho field each
asking that the affairs of the stato be
placed in its hands. Let tho three be
judged bv the records they made two
years ago, and the fittest bo honored,
and trusted this year.
THE INDEPENDENT RECORD.
Before entering upon a discussion of
the good results accomplished by the
independents in the in the last legisla
ture, let us take a look at the situation
as it was at the beginning of the ses
sion. Tho men elected to represent
the independents come fresh from the
farms of Nebraska They lacked ex
perience and knowledge of law; They
were poor men, yet they had pitted
against them the concentrated
capital of the country. They had to
face a combination of corrupt political
forces, such as seldom if over disgraced
the annals of a free state. All the
other departments of the stato govern
ment were in tho hands of their politi
crl enemies who hesitated at no prosti
tution of tho power these rffices gave.
They had only a very small numerical
majority to begin with. They had
Eone arrant traiwrs in their midst
The presidency of one house was in the
hands of a member of tho combine.
The speakership of the other was filled
by a man who lacked every qualifica
tion for the place. They had on their
hands a great and unwieldy election
contest. They were besieged by skill
ful lobbyists . and corrupt boodlers.
complete break down of tho movement,
Instead of this, tho results were grca
and important to " the people of No
bra3ka. In spite of all circumstance J
tho independents succeeded in enacting
almost every plank In their platform
into law. ' "
Tho, following is a brief record of tho
most important "measures . introduced
and passed by the independents:
First, Tho . Australian ballot law,
which had been defeated in the " repub
lican legislature two " years -' before
This is a measure of first importance.
It froes the laboring man from the
tyranny of his employer, interferes seri
ously with the vote-buyer's trade, and
tends to restore the purity of elections.
Second. The law authorizing tho in
corporation of mutual insurance com
panics. Under this law, a largo num
ber of county mutual companies have
been formed, and are doing a largo and
very satisfactory business; also a state
company.
These cDmpaniPs will this year save
many thousand dollars to the farmers
of Nebraska, and as the years go by tho
saving will bo immensely increased.
The farmers of the stato had wanted
such a law for a long time, but never
could secure it, because the rich old
line companies had a firm grip on the
republican party.
Third. Tho free text book law.
This is the wisest and most important
educational measuro passed in this
state for years. Us benefits aro felt in
every section ol the sta'e, and it gives
such satisfaction that no one would
think of having it repealed.
. Fourth. The repeal of tho sugar
bounty. In pissing this measure the
independents blotted out tho worst
and most pernicious piece of class leg
islation that ever disgraced our statute
books. Even the republican party
which fo'sted the bounty law on tho
peoplo four years ago, dare not now
demand its restoration.
Fifth. The bill providing for the do-
posit of public funds in banks, the in
terest to bo turned into the treasury.
This was a wise and sensible measuro.
II works a great saving to the people,
and removes a great source of political
contention. In most counties of the
state this law has been properly com
plied wi'.h. It is impossible at this
ime to stato hoTr much money has
been saved to the tax-payers under this
aw. If wo suppose that tho average
amount of funis on deposit during the
tainly a low estimate, tho interest a
4 p er cent will amount to' $90,000, and
that sum will ba saved to tho state
Next year the stato treasury will come
under tho operation of thfs . law, and
there will be another large sum saved
to tho tax-payers, that now goes to- en
rich corrupt state cofllcials,' and to
swell. republican campaign funds.
Sixth. The law requiring county
clerks t) turn fees: collected for
making out tax-lists into the treasury
instead of into their own pockets. By
this law many thousands moro have
been saved to tho tax-payers. -Seventh.
, A law requiring tho regis
tration of warrants, and another re
quiring tho state treasurer to invest
tho permanent schoal fund in s'.ato
warrants.
ThU law the present stato treasurer
has refused to oboy. Ho has thus kept
from a quarter to a half million dollars
of tho permanent school fund uninvested
for two years. If the amount averages
a quarter of a million for tho two years
(and it is undoubtedly larger) ho has
robbed tho schools of the state of $35,
000. And this he has done in violation
of law, and in order to pocket the In
terest on tho funds. ,
Seventh. Tho law requiring the
register of deeds (or county clerk where
there is no register) to keep a record
of mortgages filed and released.
Under this law tho actual condition
of tho people has been officially aseer-
ta'nod, and the prosperity shriekers
have been put lo ' confusion. It has
been shown that during the year end
ing June 1st, '92, tho total .mortgage
dtbt of the nation has increased over
eighteen million dollar?; ' ' that the
mortgage debts have increased in evCiy
county but five, and tlcat chattel mort
gages have increased faster than far.n
mortgages in 72 cut of 90 counties. ;
A number of other good la ws were
enacted, but it is not necessary to
enumerate them here. "" : '
Laws 6hould bo judged by their ef
fects. Is there a measuro in tho awove
ist that has not proven ils merit? Is
here one which does not commend.
itself to the people. Does either of the
old parlies dare demand the repeal of
a single one of these laws?
They do not, and this f act is unan
swerable proof of their merit.
But the crowning work of the inde
pendents in that legislature ; was the
passage of the Newberry bill, which
met death at the hands of a democratic
people ever won over tho railroads in
tho Nebraska legislature. If John H.
Powers had secured tho placo rof gov
ernor, to which ho was faVly elected,
that law would hve gono 'into effect,
and dur:ng these two years would have
saved millions of dollars to tho pro
ducers and consumers of Nebraska .
" Tho Independents ih that 'legislature
enacted their platform into laws.
They'pasod laws that wero practical
economical and conservative.
They legislated in' thp Interest of
tho taxpayers. :
They woro progr jfsive, but not rash
or visionary. .
They neither advocated nor passed a
single bad measure J -
In spite of inoxperionce, in spite of
treachery, la spite ot appalling , ob
stacles, they madu a shining record.
.V-;JTI1B"'EEPUI1UCAN RECORD.
And what wero the republicans do
ing all this time? Although their cam-
l-aign platform was almost identical
wiih that of tho, independents, thev
o ppesed tho very reforms i t called f o r.
They had promised a ; more stringent
usury law, 'but they i voted almost
unitedly ,; against such ' ; a i rlawy and de-
eated it. They had promised to re
duce freight rates to a level with those
n, Iowa, yet never did they fight a
measuro so desperately as . the New
berry bill; . ' -
They united "with . the" democrats to
give the governorship to a man who
was not really elected, an enemy to th .
public good, and a traitor to tho princi.
pics ot his . party. , The y , obstructed
legislation, and fought 6r lavish annww
priat'ons. ' '-' :
What portion or particle of tho re
cord made by. that onco grand old
party can an honest republican non-
template with pride or satisfaction?
THE DEMOCRATIC RECORD
I ISO nearly identical with that of f.h
republicans, that it is hardly necessary
to discuss it under a separate hpsiii
They enlered into tho combine with
he republicans and stood by it. They
hus prevented a hearing of the con
test. In matters of ; legislation t.hpV '
st;od with the corporations and banks
and against tho dcodIg. ThA
course a few notable individual exceD-
twine Irtnt. thnir AiA . r ,
democratic party. ; , , , ...
This is a record that nhirht : f k i At.: .
cu-sfd in every political mooting of tho
aiuigu. xa vaiupaign . inunder of '
tho very best kind for - tho i nQ
dents. . - - "
Next week we wi l nnhH n.