Loup City Northwestern.
VOL. XVIII. LOUP CITY. SHERMAN COUNTY. NEBRASKA. FRIDAV, JANUARY II. 1901. NUMBER 9.
POTTO WORD
Outgoing Executive Addresses
the Nebraska Lawmakers.
CONDITION Of THE STATE FINANCES.
State Institution* and Common School*
Carefully Cooked After. — Recom
mendations .Made SuggCMl*
Constitutional Convent ion.
To the Senators and Representatives
of the T\v< nty-seventh Session of the
Legislature of Nebraska.—Gentlemen:
Complying with the provisions of the
constitution of the state of Nebraska,
I place before you a summary of the
operations of the various departments
of state during the past biennium, and
offer for your consideration some sug
gestions as to what 1 deem the needs
of the state.
f desire ‘o congratulate you as the
chosen representatives of a most prog
ressive and intelligent constituency. It
is a notable honor to bp chosen the
representative in any capacity of a
people such, as comprise the citizenship
oi »ur state. Doubtless many difficult
proolems will present themselves for
yom solution. I'pon the wisdom with
which you deal with them will de
pend, in a large measure, the con
tinued advancement and welfare of
Nebraska.
loo much or our legislation is duui
upon the give arul ,ake plan—a sys
tem "of you help me and I'll help
you" between legislators. Log-roll
ing i3 notorious in almost every legis
lative hall, and all the way up to the
national halls of congress. The lobby
exerts undoe Influence. As a result
of these things we have a mass of 111
conslder ;d laws, the meaning of which
is obscure, many contradictory, and
when submitted to the test of consti
tutional interpretation, utterly fail
and become null and void. We need
fewer rather than more laws. The
legislators who will repeal a large
number of laws now upon our law
hooks which are a^-' have been for
years dead letters, and will strip oth
ers of useless verbiage which tends to
obscure their meaning, and clothe
them in language so plain that the
"wayfaring man, though r simpleton,
ne-id not err therein,” ai d lit the en
artr .-J* of the few needed laws frame
them se. plain and direct that there
can be no room for any quibbling as
to their meaning, would earn for
themselves memo nil tablets from
their grateful fellow citizens.
Many laws passed by the legislature
would fall of enactment if the voters
and taxpayers of the state had the
opportunity of expressing themselves
upon their desirability before they
went into effect. If every law had to
pass the test of popular approval the
number of statutes would be much
snial>er than it Is mow, and the en
forcement of these approved would he
an easy task. Purely partisan meas
ures would he unknown, and the oc
cupation of the lobbyist would be at
an end. I believe it would be to the
great benefit of the Kate i! all acts
of the legislature, except emergency
legislation for the maintenance of pub
lic business and institution4-, were sub
mitted to the ratification of the people.
FINANCIAL.
i ne state treasurer reports a Bal
ance on hand at the close of business
November 30. 1900, of $G15,018.34. The
bonded indebtedness of the state has
been entirely paid and a balance in
the sinking fund of $50,165.23. This
you should transfer to the general
fund and authorize the treasurer to
credit any further moneys coming in
to that fund to the general fund. No
further levy for the sinking fund has
been made, but some back, taxes upon
that fund will be collected from year
to year. Our floating indebtedness rep
resented by state warrants is $1,727,
509.72. The school fund has invested
in $1,105,762.12 of this amount, which
has practically put the state upon a
cash basis so far as the purchase of
supplies and the maintenance of our
state Institutions are concerned. The
interest arising from these war
rants goes into the temporary school
fund, and is distributed again to thv
taxpayers through the school fund ap
portionment. The treasurer very just
ly remarks th«" a thorough revision
of the revenue laws should be made,
or an amendment authorizing a levy
of seven (71 mills for the general fund -
instead of five (5) mills, since the pres
ent levy does not keep up with the ap
propriations. thereby increasing, rath
er than reducing, our floating indebt
edness. To my mind a just assess
ment is much more preferable than an
increased levy. Our present levy of
live (5) mills would be all sufficient
If our assessment was what it should
be. The state’s educational funds are
invested in the securities designated
by the constitution to the amount of
$4,365.544.63. Each year finds it more
difficult to secure investment for these
funds in the securities required by the
constitution The constitution should
be amended allowing a larger scope
for investment of the state's educa
tional funds.
I concur in the recommendation of
the treasurer, reducing the interest
upon state warants to three (3) per
cert,. This will enable the treasurer
to secure practically all of these war
rants for the school fund investment.
The present condition of the state’s
finances, as compared with even so re
cent date as four years ago. must be
a source of congratulation to the citi
zens of Nebraska. Should this con
dition continue, your best efforts must
be used and your wisdom devise ways
and means to keep the appronriations
within the limit of the levy permitted
by law.
ELECTION OK UNITED STATES
SENATORS.
One of the most important duties
which you have to perform is the
election of two senators to represent
Nebraska In the senate of the United
States. The experience of our own
state, as well as that of other states,
in times past, recall to us the diffi
cutly attending this duty. The selec
tion of senators would be much sim
plified, and those chosen to that high
office more representative, if the peo
ple themselves chose them by direct
vote. The time of the legislature,
which is really too short for the care
ful consideration of legislation, is
taken tip and the minds of the mem
bers distracted with the too often long
drawn out struggles in the election of
United States senators.
I would recommend that you mem
orialize congress to submit a consti
tutional amendment providing for (lie
election of senators by direct vote of
the people. Older states have very
keenly felt the necesslty*of a change
in the manner of election of United
States senators. A number of states
have passed resolutions upon this sub
ject by their legislatures. The legis
lature of the state of Pennsylvania, at
its last session passed the following
resolution without a dissenting vote.
‘ Whereas, A large number of stab
legislatures have at various times
adopted memorials and resolution in
favor of election of United States sen
ators by popular vote; and,
“Whereas, The national house of
representatives has on four separate
occasions, within recent years, adopted
resolutions in favor of this proposed
change in the method of electing Unit
ed States senators, which were not
adopted by the senate; and.
“Whereas, Article V. of the consti
tution of the United States provides
that congress, on the application of
the legislatures of two-thirds of the
several states, shall call a convention
ior proposing amemuneius, nun im
lieving there is a general desire upon
the part of th-3 citizms of the state of
Pennsylvania that the United States
senators should he elected by a direct
vote of the people: therefore, be It.
“Resolved (if the senate concur)
that the legislature of the state of
Pennsylvania favors the adoption of
an amendment to the constitution
which shall provide 'or the election of
United States senators by popular
vote, and joins with other states of
the union in respectfully requesting
that a convention be called for th«
purpose of proposing an amendment
to the constitution of the United Stat
es. as provided for in article V. of
the said constitution, which amend
ment shall provide for a change in
the present method of electing United
States senators, so that they can he
chosen in each state by a direct vote
of the people.
“Resolved, That a copy of this joint
resolution and application to congress
for the calling of a convention be sent
to the secretary of state of each of the
United States, and that a similar copy
lie sent to the president of the United
States senate and the speaker of the
house of representatives."
1 would earnestly recommend the
passage of like resolutions by your
honorable body.
STATE OFFICERS AND INSTITU
TIONS.
The state officers and the heads of
the various public institutions have
presented full and exhaustive reports
of the business management of the
state and the needs of the departments
for the next biennium. These reports
show the great care and business abil
ity with which the affairs of the state
have been managed, and their recom
mendations should receive a careful
consideration from you.
For your guidance in making appro
priations for the next biennium for
the several institutions of the state, f
have had prepared and herewith sub
mit a table showing Vlie exact cost of
maintenance of each institution in
the state for the past nine years. A
careful scrutiny of this table would
be a most correct guide in making fu
ture appropriations. I commend this
table to your careful scrutiny:
THE LABOR BUREAU.
The work done by the labor bureau
for the past biennium as shown by
the report of that department, is of
great value to the labor interests of
the state. The compilation of labor
and industrial statistics, the unique
way of showing by a map of the coun
ties the surplus product shipment and
the incomes to the state therefrom,
certainly affords one of the very best
means of placing Nebraska and her
resources before home seekers. ' The
money expended in the work of the
labor hurrau has certainly been a
very profitable investment for the
state.
KKLilKr r UK THE SUPKKME
COl7RT.
There are now pending In the su
preme court of our state seventeen
hundred and nine cases, and notwith
standing the best efforts of the court,
the number constantly increases rath
er than decreases. If no new cases
should be filed and the court should
make the same progress in adjudica
tion they have been able to make in
the past, it would require more than
three years to clear the couit docket.
As a matter of fact, under these con
ditions, the supreme court is regard
ed as the tomb in which lies buried
the Hopes of litigants awaiting a very
indefinite resurrection. An increase
in the number of judges at once sug
gests Itsolt as the most rational way
with which to meet this difficulty. No
one can dispute that an early deter
mination of honest litigation is de
sirable. If the number of judges were
increased the work of the court could
be brought forward and litigants could
have their suits disposed of promptly.
The condition which now exists is not
new. As far back as 1893 there were
1,285 cases pending.
The legislature of 189.3 created a su
preme court commission, permitting
the supreme judges to select three
commissioners taking effect March,
1893. This was intended as a tempo
ral)' relief to the court, and was to
continue for the term of three years.
The legislature of 1893 extended the
j term an additional three years, so
i that it would cease by limitation
March 1899. At that time it ceased
to exist, and after its six years work
there were p tiding before the court
1.434 rases, oi an increase of 4!* cases,
showing that with tin assistance of
the commission the court, had kept
almost even in its work, adjudicat
ing nearlv as many cases as were
filed.
The eontditulinn .if the state deter
mines the numbei of supreme judges,
so that that number must remain as
at present until the constitution shall
he amended increasing the number.
To my mind it seems desirable that, a
constitutional amendment should he
submitted to the electors increasing
the number of supreme judges to at
least five. Pending the time, however,
when such amendment shall have been
adopted and he effective. I would sug
gest that your honorable body em
power the supreme ourt to call to its
aid any number of district judges in
flic stat< . not less than ten. With tills
assistance the court would be enabled
to clear the docket in a reasonable
time. ar.d having it once clear, and
with an increase the number of judges
it would tie enabled to keep it so. At
present many of the district judges
in the state are not occupied to ex
ceed one-half of their time. Their
entire time belongs to the state. I
can see nothing unreasonable in ask
ing that their unoccupied time be
used by the state in relief of the su
preme court.
NEBRASKA NATIONAL OlAttU.
The Nebraska national guard was
wholly disorganized by the Spanish
Ameriean war. When I came into
office the Second Nebraska volunteer
regiment, wh(cn was largely made lip
of the Second Nebraska national
guard, had recently been mastered
out of the service of tlie* United States
and was being re-organized. The re.
orgamzation was continued under my
administration as rapidly as possible.
When the First Nebraska volunteers,
most of the members of which had
formerly belonged to the National
guard, returned from the Philippines,
and were mustered out of the service
of the United States, immediately the
work of reorganization of the First
regiment, N. N. Cl., was taken up. In
the reorganization of this regiment
preference was given, first, to mem
bers of the First Nebraska volunteers;
seeomi. to members of Second and
Third Nebraska volunteers, and then
to former members of the Nebraska
national guard. In this way quite a
large percentage of the members of
the present Nebraska national guard
is composed of men who saw service
in the Spanish-Ameriean war. The
guard as now constituted consists of
two regiments of infantry, a troop of
cavalry, and a battery of artillery. It
is a body of men of which the state
may justly feel proud. I approve of
the estimate made by the adjutant
general for the next biennium, and
recommend appropriations according
ly.
RETURN OF FIRST NEBRASKA.
When our gallant First Nebraska
regiment returned from the Philip
pines and arrived in San Francisco. 1
determined. If possible, that its mem
bers should be returned to their
homes without cost .o them. I thought
this would be a fitting tribute to them,
as showing the appreciation of our
state for their bravery and devotion,
to soldier duty. I first endeavored to
ge( special rates from the railway
lines. This I was utterly unable to
do. I then endeavored to get the rail
way companies to bring the regiment
home and file their hill with the audi
tor as a claim against the state, to
he paid by your honorable body. They
refused to do vhis. I then endeavored
to secure a loan from the banking in
terests ot the state. Failing in this I
appealed to the generous patriotic peo
ple of Nebraska to advance sufficient
funds. The appeal met with loyal re
sponse. More than enough was sent
in and the regiment received a- wel
come befitting tile esteem in which it
was held by our people.
The amounts contributed are a loan
to the state of Nebraska, and provision
for itr. payment should he made by
you in sn early appropriation. The
amount contril uted was $40,342.75. Of
this $36,315.45 was required to pay
the expensts of the return of the regi
ment. Of the excess $3 971.00 was r°
tnrneci t< individual donors. The list
of these who subscribed to this fund
is a pari of the files of the executive
office.
REVENUE AND TAXATION.
The inequalities in our revenue sys
tem must be apparent to any one who
has examined it. A general revision
of tlie entire law upon the subject Is
necessary. Numerous attempts have
been made In the past to accomplish
such revision, biu the short time oc
cupied in a legislative session, the
vast amount cf work to be accom
plished, and the magnitude and diffi
culty of the task, have prevented its
consummation. It seems to me that
a competent commission authorized
to procure the revenue laws of the
different states in the union, and from
them formulate for our state a new
revenue law to he submitted for the
ratification of the next scssloi* of the
legislature, would procure for us a
revenue law which would be just and
equitable. This seems a long time to
await a revision of our revenue sys
tem, but past experience has shown
us the great difficulty attending the
task, and it seems to me a more care
ful and satisfactory revision could he
secured by the method above Indi
cated than in any other way.
RAILWAY REGULATION.
The question of railway regulation
is one that has occupied the .ittention
of the legislators in our state probably
more than any other. As early as 1876
this was a prominent issue upon which
members of the legislature were elect
ed. The people demanded relief from
what they thought oppressive rates
of freight and passenger tariff. Bach
succeeding legislature adjourned
without any measure being passed un
til 1885 when Ihc members elected al
jnost entirely upon this issue made the
most determined effort to redeem pre
election pledges. The first maximum
rate bill was prepared and strenuous
efforts matte to incorporate it into the
laws of our state. Tills measure met
with defeat, tint a compromise meas
ure was at last agreed spoil by which
Nebraska had her first railway coin
mission established, it was a make
shift to avoid tile provisions of the
constitution, and a sop thrown out to
quiet the demands of tlie people. A«
a member of the legislature of !88r> I
voted against the measure, giving the
following as my reason:
I would recommend the submission
to the electors an amendment to our
constitution providing for the election
of a railway commission. Pending the
time when such amendment could be
ratified by the voters of the state. I
would recommend the enactment by
your honorabh body of a maximum
rate upon the commodities in carload
lots, such as salt, coal, grain, live
stock and lumber. It seems to me at
this time that these two measures are
all that can lie done in the matter of
regulation of transportation charges.
PURE FOOD LAW.
Tht legislature at its last session
enacted a law known as the pure food
law, designating the governor of tie'
state, food commissioner, with author
ity to appoint a deputy food commis
sioner. Acting under this law I ap
pointed Mr. F. H. Hibbard of Irving
ton deputy food commissioner, who
proceeded to organize the department
and enforce the provisions of the act.
The law provided for the eplleetion of
fees and licenses from certain lines of
business, and the expenses of the de
partment to be paid out of such col
lection. When the salary vouchers of
the deputy and clerk of the department
were presented they were refused b#v
the ruditor upon the ground tnat no
appropriation, as provided by the con
stitution. had been made by the leg
islature, The rase having been sub
mitted to the supreme court, that
tribunal decided that the legislature
had failed to make specific appropria
tion, consequently the salaries could
not be paid. As a result the work of
the department lias been much ham
pered. The law is one which met witli
general favor with the people and was
especially appreciated and desired by
the dairy interests of the state.
1 would recommend an increase in
the scope of the present law, extend
ing to the suppression of the manufac
ture and sale of all kinds of adulter
ated food products within the state.
There has hern collected in fe"s and
licenses b. the department the sum
of $3,286. which has all been turned
into the state treasury. I herewith
sumbit you an itemized statement of
the ’'xpenses of the department. I
recommend that an appropriation be
made to meet these expenses as con
templated by the law itself, drawn
upon the fund which fees and licenses
has produced now in the state treas
ury.
LIVE STOCK REGULATIONS.
Dining my term of office there have
been numerous calls upon this depart
ment relative to the suppression and
control of contagious diseases among
live stock. That the live stock indus
try is of paramount importance In the
state all will admit, and it seems to
me but good business judgment that
adequate laws should he made for the
protection of this industry from the
ravages of contagious animal diseas
es. The laws we now have are cum
bersome, and if enforced with suffic
ient appropriation to make them effec
tive, would prove a great burden upon
the taxpayers of the state. For this
reason no appropriation for live stock
protection was made by the last ses
sion of the legislature.
The law as now constituted pro
vides that animals with contagious
disease may be killed by the agents
of the state, and the value of animals
so killed paid to the owners of such
animals. This would many times be
the source of imposition upon the
state, and even though honestly ad
ministered, would entail a larger ex
pense than the state could afford to
pay. 1 would recommend, therefore,
the repeal of the present law and the
enactment of a law providing for a
state veterinarian, with power to rec
ommend quarantine regulations when
in his Judgment occasion demanded,
and directing the proper officer to en
force his recommendations.
STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE.
The state board of agriculture is de
serving of most liberal treatment at
your hands. No one power has done
more for the advancement of the agri
cultural interests of the state. The
work the board has done In advertis
ing the state and thereby inducing
immigration has been of great value.
The only aid the board has received
from the state has been a biennial ap
proprlation of $4,000, conditioned that
the entire amount should be used to
pay premiums at a state fair held by
the board. The board has been con
sidered a state institution under the
direction of law, and yet has been
compelled to improvise whatever
funds were necessary to carry on its
work. For twelve years past the state
has given the state board of agricul
ture warrants to the amount of $24,
000, the entire amount to be used only
as premiums upon exhibits at state
fairs. During that same time the state
board has paid for the same purpose
$156,000, and for the benefit of the
state altogether over and above state
aid, the total sum of $306,275.17. It
has published statistics and reports
of great value. It has maintained each
year an exposition of the products
and industries of the state. The last
session of the legislature established
a permanent home for the board at
the Capital City.
I would therefore recommend that
the state provide suitable grounds and
buildings for state fair purposes and
annual appropriation sufficient to at
b-ast pay the expenses for the main
tenance of the state board, thereby al
lowing the revenue arising from the
annual state fairs to be used for the
collection of statistics and informa
tion, and the distribution of the same
and the increase in payment of prem
iums.
CONVICT LABOR.
The problem of employment for
the convicts in our state peni
tentiary is one which should
receive your careful consideration.
Humanity demands that these who
are incarcerated In state prisons
should be kepi busy Justice to lion -
cst labor forbids that the work of con
victs should be brought into competi
tion with its effort. The contract sys
tem employed In s.o many states wher
eby prison-made goods are thrown
upon the market in direct competition
with the goods of free labor is mani
festly unjust and unfair to the honest
workman. H» is not only taxed to
support th( criminal in the peniten
tiary. but must sell his labor for un
rcmuneratlve prices to enable him to
compete with ihe criminal labor.
It seems to me it should he the pol
icy of our state so far as we may he
able to prevent this competition by
furnishing etnpi vtaent to convicts
which in no way interferes with hon
est labor. The manufacture of goods
needed by the state for the wards of
the state in our various eleemosynary
institutions would he legitimate work
for convicts.
STALK NORMAL SCHOOL.
The largely Increased attendance at
the state normal school makes it im
perative that some increase in the fa
cilities should be provided by you. The
assembly room there has a capacity
for seating five hundred. Tiie atten
dance during the term last passed was
far in excess of that number, with the
probability of yet further increase
during the present term. There lias
been constantly recurring before each
legislature for a number of years past,
the question of building additional
normal schools in the state. I need
not point out to you that the creation
of ai art^'Hoiial school r>r schools
would create additional expense for
the management of tho same. Each
school would require officers and con
veniences for the conduct of the busi
ness of the school. These are prac
tically the same for either a large or
small school. To create new schools
would require a duplication of these
necessities, and a corresponding in
crease in outlay. An increase in li
brary facilities, laboratory facilities
and other neefssities of a school al
ready equipped would be trivial as
compared with the building and equip
ment of an entire new school.
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION.
As indicated in what has gone be
fore in this message there are in my
opinion a number of amendments
needed to our state constitution. The
experience we havp had in times past
with constitutional amendments has
not been satisfactory, it seems to me
you should make provisions for the
calling of a constitutional convention
to formulate for our state a constitu
tion fitted to our present development,
and making provision for our future
growth. Should this be done many of
the problems which now present them
selves would be solved.
Retiring from the highest office in
the gift of the people of our state, I
congratulate you as the chosen repre
sentatives of the most progressive and
best educated constituency in our
country. I congratulate you upon tho
splendid financial condition of our
state. The past biennium has wit
nessed the payment of our entire bond
ed indebtedness. It has witnessed the
reduction of the rate of Interest upon
our floating indebtedness to 4 per cent,
and our state warrants at that low
rate of interest selling at a premium
of 1 per cent, showing the confidence
of our own people, as well as capital
ists or other states in the ability of
our state to pay its obligations, and
the integrity of the management of
our financial affairs.
I congratulate you upon the economy
and business ability with which the
public institutions of our state have
been managed during the past bien
nium. as 3hown in the reports here
with submitted, not less upon the ex
cellent care given the unfortunate
wards of the state. Our eleemosynary
institutions are the equal of any sister
state in the union. They reflect the
progress and advanced civilization of
the state. The demands of civiliza
tion require the most scrupulous care
of those whom misfortune make the
wards of the state. Justice to the tax
payers requires this care to be given
in a’ way creating as little burden as
may be. The requirements of both
have been fully met during the past
biennium.
1 trust that your duties in making
new laws and amending old ones, and
in the repeal of those you deem detri
mental or unnecessary, may be pleas
ant and all your work for the good of
the people and the advancement of
the welfahe of our state.
I wish to return my sincere thanks
to the people of Nebraska for the con
fidence they reposed in me, and the
uniform courtesy always shown me
and the many kind and complimentary
words and letters commendatory of
rny administration received from so
many citizens of the state. In all my
acts I have had beyond all other con
siderations tin welfare and best in
forests of the state. For whatever mis
takes I may have made I ask charit
able lieniency. The administration as
a whole 1 submit to the honest judg
ment of an intelligent people.
W. A. POYNTER.
Motion in Supreme Court for Rehearing
on Riparian Rights.
EFftCTS Of A RECENT DECISION
Slat® Military Hoard Will Rerotnmend
Adoption of a New 1 ode—A Count of
the Ca«li in the State Treatsury—Var
ious Other Matters in Nebraska.
LINCOLN, Net)., .Jau. 7. A motion
for rehearing has boon 11 led with tho
supreme court in the suit involving
the irrigation laws of the state. Four
weeks ago the supreme court held to
the old English common law in the
matter of riparian rights and thereby
undermined the irrigation of the en
tire state, the only resource of owners
of thousands and thousands of arid
acreB in western Nebraska.
Briefly stated, the court s opinion
held that a property owner along the
bank* of a stream has the right to
uae of that water undlminlshed to -
quantity and undiluted in quality, so
far as property owners further down
the stream are concerned. As the tap
ping of streams and drawing off of
water for irrigation purposes dimin
ished the quantity in the stream, all
attempts at irrigation would he un
lawful according to this interpreta
tion.
Several attorneys of the western por
tion of the state have interested
themselves in the case because of the
\ast interests involved and the wide
sweeping effect of the court's announc
ed decision of allowed to stand. They
have united in a brief in suporpt of
the motion for rehearing, and in this
they argue that there is not a single
precedent in Nebraska to support the
court's opinion.’
Mil. Jo*. May I* Dead.
FREMONT, Neb., .Jan. 7.—Mrs. Jo
soph May, wife of Joseph T. May of
this city, died after a long illness,
aged 53 years. Her maiden name
was Gately and her family were lead
ers In social and business circles in
northern Mississippi before the war.
She married Mr. May shortly after the
war and very soon after came to Fre
mont. where they have since resided.
Before prevented by illness she was
prominent in the highest social circles
of the city.
Receive 830,000 Karli.
PLATTS MOUTH, Neb., Jan. 7.—
The Misses Ella and Anna Crocker,
who resided with their uncle, L. i>.
Bennett, in this city in the ’70s, but
are now living with their uncle, W.
F. Benentt, in Chicago, have received
the cheering news that they are heirs
to $50,000 each from the estate of an
uncle, Benjamin Crocker, who had
made a fortune of $500,000 during the
early days in California
Alh n Vi*tt* the Interior,
SAN JUAN, P. R., Jan. C.—Governor
Allen, who left San Juan Thursday to
visit the towns In tlie western part
of the island, returned to the capital
today. He visited several places never
before visited by any governor of
Porto Rico. Everywhere he was most
enthusiastically received. At Tares
250 mounted citizens turned out to
piovide him with an escort.
Tin* Cate Adviiiicetl.
LINCOLN, Jan. 7.—On motion of
Attorney General Smyth the supreme
court advanced the case of the State
of Nebraska against the Omaha Na
tional trank, for hearing at the first
sitting in March. The court also
granted leave to file an amended peti
tion and an additional transcript.
Year’* Showing in Mitton.
SUTTON, Jan. 7.—During the year
Just closed Sutton has not been idle.
At a cost of several hundred dollars
the town has straightened a long bend
in School creek by digging a canal 500
feet long and eleven feet deep In order
to prevent the threatened inundation
of a pretty public park that is very
popular as a location for reunions and •
celebrations.
Hang* Hinmelf In Jail.
PLATTSMOFTH, Neb., Jan. 7.—
Charles Frelsch, an insane man about
40 years of age, committed suicide by
hanging himself in the county jail
here. Frelsch came here from Omaha
about ten days ago, and being penniless
and apparently mentally deranged,
he was sent to the poor farm. He es
caped from there Friday and came to
the city, when he was placed in jail.
A* Nebraska I.nnd Sell*.
BTTRWELL, Neb., Jan. 7.—interest
In real estate is becoming quite appar
ent. Ix>tt Fillmore has just completed
a deal whereby he gets over $4,000 for
a quarter section of land that could
have been purchased a short time ago
for $2,500. and Wooster & Clark only
recently paid $1,250 for a 40-acre
tract.
Allrc.pcl Kitlimpfri «t Heat
BEATRICE. Nel>„ Jan. 7—The kid
naping craze has struck this city. The
▼ictim is the 12-year-old stepdaughter
of one Booth, who. he claims, has been
abducted from his home by one Bill
Bowers, a local character. The police
have been unable to locate either the
abductor or the adbucted, and the af
fair Is likely to develop into a mild
sensation.
