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.