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.1
UOYNTER'S WORD
Outgoing Executive Addresses
tha Nebraska Lawmakers.
CONDITION Of Tllf STATE FINANCES.
Hlaln liintltittluiK mill Ciiiniiiiiii HrlmnW
Carefully I.ooUcd Atliir. -ltctiiin-Iti.'luliltlnlK
Mllde. - SllKi;rlH
"4 l.onstH iittotntl 'oimiitlon.
To tlic Senators nnil Representatives
nf tho Twenty-seventh Session of the
Leglslutuie of Nebraska. Gentlemen:
Complying with the provisions of the
constitution of the state of Nebraska,
1 place before you a summary of the
operations of tho various department's
..f n..i. .i...i.... t. i.i i i
Ji muii- inn nip, me mm liit-illillllll, aim
offer for your consideration some sub-
gestlons n to what I deem the needs !
of the state
Too much of our legislation Is built
upon the ,lvc and i.ike plan a ays-
"!.. ,? , rJI.,?. "Dd J" T
VUU IIULWVIMI IL'KIHI'llUrH, I.UK'lTOl- I
ing la notorious in almost every logls- I
latlve hall, and all the way up to the
nalloiuil halls of congress. The lobby
e.xorts undue Induencc. As .i result
of these things we have a mass of Ill-
conslder-d laws, the meaning of which
Is ob.ioure, many contradictory, and
when submitted to the test of consti
tutional interpretation, utterly full
unil Iicmii! null and void. Wo need
fewer rather than more laws. The
leglslntots who will repeal a large
number of laws now upon our law
books which arc and have been for
years dead letters, nnd will strip oth
ers of titleless verbiage which tends to
ifwcure their meaning, and :lothe
tlicm In language so plain that the
wayfaring man, though a simpleton.
need not err therein, and In the en
icimci.c. ... t. o ,ew nee.ie. laws .rame ,
them mi plain and direct that thero (
can be no room for any quibbling as ,
to their nioanliif:, would earn fm
themselves memorial tablets from
their grateful fellow citizens.
Many laws passed by the legislature
would fait of enactment If the oter.t
nnd taxpayers of the state had the
opportunity of expressing themselves
upon tholr desirability before the
went Into effect. If every law unit to
pass me test ot popular approval me
IIIIUIII..T of statutes would be inuc.i ,
n:iller than t Is mow, and the en-
i uruiiiciii. ill iiirnu iipi'ditt'ii wiiuiii ii:
hii easy task. Purely partisan mcas
ores would be unknown, and the oc
cupation of the lobbyist would be at
tin end. I believe it would be to the
great benefit of the tate l? nil ucti
of the legislature, except emergency
legislation for tho mab'tenanee of pub
lic business and Institution", were sub
milled to the ratification of tho peopli.
FINANCIAL.
The state treasurer reports n bal
ance on hand nt the closo of business
November 3d. 1900. of $(lir..018.34. The
bonded indebtedness of the state has
been entirely paid and a balnncn In
ffte slnlcliiK fund of $ofi.1G5.23. This
von should transfer to tho cenernl '
fuud and authorlzo the treasurer to Ing nearly as many cases us were
credit any further moneys coming In- Hied. ...
to that fund to the general fund. No Tho conslitullon of tho state deter
further lew for the sinking fund has mines the number of supreme Judges,
been made.' but some buck taxes upon I so that that number must remain as
that fund will be collected from year i at present until tho constitution shall
to year. Our lloatlng Indebtedness rep- be amended Increasing the number,
resented bv state warrants Is $1,727.- , To my mind It s.-oihk desirable that a
F.09.72. The school fund has invested .constitutional amendment should bo
In $l,HJ.-i,7ii2.12 of this amount, whlcn i submitted to tho olectors Increasing
has practically put the state upon a the number of supremo Judges to nt
cash basis so far as the purchase of ) least five. Pending tho time, however,
supplies and the maintenance of out , when such amendment shall have been
state Institutions nre concerned. The adopted nnd bo effective. I would sug
Intercst arising from theso war- ueit that your honorable body om
rants goes into the temporary school I power the supremo court to call to Its
fund, and is distributed again to tin , -Hi! any number of district Judges In
.foximycro through tho school fund np- the stale, not less thnn ten. With t bis
portlonmont. The treasurer very just-1 assistance the couit would be enabled
Iv remarks that a thorough revision to clear the docket In n reasonable
of tho revenue laws should be made I time, and having It once clear, and
or an amaiitlmant authorizing a lcy ' with nn increase the number of judges
f c....n.. -i ...iiio for Mm vnnnr.nl fnmi It would be enabled to keep It 80. At
instead of live (5) mills, since the pres
ent levy does not keep up with tho ap
propriations, thereby Increasing, rnth
tr than reducing, our floating Indebt
edness. To my mind a Just assess
ment Is much more preferable than nn
increased lew. Our present levy of
five (C) mills would bo all siilllclctit
If our assessment was what it should
be. The state's educational funds are
Invested In the securities designated
;ky tho constitution to tho amount of
"54.303,544.0:1. Each year finds It more
oililcult to secure investment, lor iue"
fiinilw In the securities reaulrcd by the
-.:. v . - . .. .1
constitution Tho constitution should
be amended allowing a larger scope
for Investment of tho state's educa
tional fund?.
I concur In tho recommendntlon of
the treasurer, reducing the Interest
upon stato warants to three (3) per
cent. This will onnblo the treasurer
to secure practical ly all of these war
rants for the school fund Investment
Tlio present condition of the stnte's
finances, ns compnred wltn oven so ro -
cent data as four years ago, must ijii
a source of congratulation to the cltl
?xuh of Nobrasku. Should this con
ill'tlon continue, your best efforts must
be used and your wisdom devise ways
nnd means to keep tho appropriations
within the limit of the levy permitted
by law.
ELECTION OK UNjTRD STATES
One of the most Important duties
which you havo to perform Is tho
election or two senators to represent
v.i.....0l.,. i.. m, .,.. nf the United
Vn n7 Vi ninnrlnnci. of our own
tttoiea, i no oxpenuiice ui """,: L.i f mnn f wlileli the Htnto
state, as well ns that of other sta es, Is a .ly f n ion of . ' J ,l "J
dfflco more representative, if the poo- '', OK KIUST NEHRASKA.
'L,1KX M S'K'J: ' dues' S.I ;;rHve.n,'s F anc.sSPl
inken up 5 U. minds' of .he n.em-
hum illalriiKtixl with tllfl tOO OftCtl lllllg
ortiwu 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 tlio
olcctlon of sonutoiH by direct vote ot
im iw.nnii niiier states havo very
.... . ..,..-. -"-., . . ,.i,..n(p
Jf U,o nianSr Kec'tlon'of UnitSS
States sonntors. A number of states
JiHVc passed resolutions upon this sub
.loft by their legislatures.
STATE OFFICERS AND INSTITU
TIONS. The state olllcers ami the heads of
tho various public institutions hnvn
proFcnted full and exhaustive reports
of the business management of the
state and the needs of the departments
for the next blennlum These reports
show the groat cam and business abil
ity with which the affairs of tho stato
have been managed, nnd their recom
mendations should receive n careful
consideration from you.
For your guidance In making appro
priations for the next blennlum for
the several Institutions of the state. I
have had prepared and herewith sub
mit a table showing the 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:
THIS LAUOR 11UREAU.
The work done by the labor bureau
for the past blennlum ns shown by
fi, ,.,.,., ,. ,.,,,,. .i......i. ...,. i t
L rent nf, ,. fn n S ' 1 2 nt
", nt Uo " "'"J fc . W ?,. l
n oiuici I III .UIUMlllliUU 111 lilllUI
and industrial statistics, the unique
way of showing by a map of the coun
ties Mir kllrtttlld ftrniltint utilnmiitir tillit
l-comei to the state therefrom,
.l .........I.. t .. .. . 1. .
ZT ;Kl VS '
resources before homo seekers. Tho
money expended In the work of tho
labor bureau has certainly been a
lrttf Miotfttnlitn liiit.L.iti.Kitii ffin lwi
; . ' ""'""
RELIEF FOR THE SUPREME
COURT.
There nre now pending In tho su
preme court of our state hcvonteen
bundled and nine cases, and notwith
standing the best efforts of tho court,
the number constantly Increnses rath
er than decreases. If no now cases
should lie liled and the court should
make the same progress in adjudica
tion they have been able to make In
the past, it would reiiulro more than
thiee yenrs to clear the court docket.
As a matter of fact, under these con
, (, ,, cmlrt is reRari,.
, ,, , , , , cs mirlo(,
,. . nnna . ,., nUfli.inir .. very
Indefinite resurrection. An increase
in the number of judges at once sug
gests itself as the most ratlonnl way
with which to meet this cllfrteulty. No
one can dispute tbut an early deter
mination of honest litigation is de
sirable. If the number of judges worn
increased the woik of tho couit could
bo brought forward and litigants could
,,.. -.,. .. ,ii,,linRl,,i nr ,,romDtlv.
T, com,IUou W,cn ow exists Is not
now Af) lf;ir ,iapU a i89:i lhcro wertJ
1.285 cases pending.
The legislature or 180.". created a su
preme court commission, permitting
the supremo Judges to select three
commissioners taking effect March,
18!':s. This was Intended us n tempo
raiy relief to the court, and was to
continue for the term of thieo years.
Tho legislature of 1895 extended tho
term nn nildlllounl three years, so
that It would cense by limitation
.Mficb, 1899. At that time it ceased
to exist, and nfter Its six yours work
there were pending before the court
t,43t cases, or an Increase of VJ cases,
showing that with tho assistance of
the commission the court had Kept
almost even in us work, nnjuiucai-
present many of tho district Judges
In th state are not occupied to ox
cceil one-hulf of their time. Their
entlro time belongs to tho state. I
can seo nothing unreasonable In ask
ing that their unoccupied tlnio be
used by the statu in relief of the su
preme court.
NEBRASKA NATIONAL GUARD.
The Nebraska national guard was
wholly disorganized by the Spaulsh
Amerlcan war. When I camo into
olllce the Second Nebraska volunteer
i . . .... -i i i.. ....i.. ....
regtmeni, which whh hxtwi) num.- u
nf tho Second Nebraska national
imnril. hnd recently been mustered
out of tho service of the United States
, and was being re-organlzed. The re
organiatlon was continued under my
administration as rapidly as possible.
When the First Nebraska volunteers,
most of the members of which hnd
' .....!.. I.n1r.i,irinl In tllO Kflllnillll
IIJIIIII'1 IJ IM-wrv-' " '-
guard, returned from the Philippines,
and wero mustered out of tho service
j 0f the United States. Immediately the
. I work of reorganization m me run
regiment, in. jn. u., wuh ium hii. "
the reorganization of this regiment
preference was given, first, to mem
bers of the First Nebraska voluntcors;
second, to members of Second and
. .. ., r ...... .... fn
Third Nebraska volunteers, unit tneti
, t former members of tho Nebraska
national guard. In this wny qulto a
; y- W
' Is "WJS
. In the bi ,1;nAn,"S
i guard as v ro"""'"' "SJ" Q
two regiments of Infantiy, a .troop ot
' cavalry, and a battery oi arimopj
It
I doternUned. If P- e hat t mom
hpis sliou li! lie remrneii to ineir
homca without cost to them. I thought
this would bo a lilting tribute to them,
as showing tho appreciation of our
utnte for tholr bravety nnd devotion
to soldier duty. 1 first endeavored to
get special rates from the railway
lines. This I was utterly unable to
to. I then eiiucavoicu hi kcv hid ran-
wny companies to bring the n8Bnt
do. I then endeavored to got mo ran
homo nnd file their bill with the nudl
tor ns a claim ngnlnst the stato, to
bo paid by your honorable body. They
refused to do this. I then endeavored
to smire n loan from the banking In
terests of the stato. Foiling In chin 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 the esteem In which It
wns held by our people.
The amounts contributed nre a loan
to the Btcte of Nebraska, nnd provision
for ltc payment should be mndc by
you In nn early appropriation. The
amount contrll tiled wns $40,312,715. Of
this $3(5,3ir.ir was required to pay
the expenses of tho return of the regi
ment. Of the excess $3 971.00 was ie
turneii tr Individual donors. The list
of those who subscribed to this fund
Is a part of tho files of the executive
olllco.
REVENUE AND TAXATION.
The Inequalities In our revenue sys
tem must be npparent to any one who
has examined it. A general rovlslon
of tlio entire law upon the subject is
necessary. Numerous attempts have
been made lit the past to accomplish
Biich revision, but the short tinio oc
cupied In n legislative session, tho
vast amount of work to he accom
plished, and tho .magnitude nnd diffi
culty of the task, have prevented Its
consummation. It seems to tun that
a competent commission authorized
to procuro the revenue laws of the
different states In tho union, and from
them formulate for our state a new
revenue law to be submitted for the
ratification of the next session of tho
legislature, would procure for ns n
revenue law which would be Just and
equitable. This seems n long time to
nwalt n revision of our revenue sys
tem, but past experience has shown
tis the great difficulty attending the
fnsk, nnd It seems to me a more care
ful nnd satisfactory revision could be
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 attention
of the legislators in our stato probably
more thnn any other. As enrly as 1876
this was n prominent Issue upon which
members of the legislature were elect
ed. Tho people demanded relief from
what they thought oppressive rates
of froight and passenger tariff. Each
succeeding legislature adjourned
without any measure being passed un
til 18Sr when tho members elected al
most entirely upon this Issue made the
most determined effort to redeem pre
election pledges. Tho first maximum
into bill wns prepared and strenuous
eflorts made to Incorporate It Into the
laws of our state. This measure mot
with defeat, but a compromise meas
ure was at last ngreed upon by which
Nebraska had her first railway com
mission established. It was a make
shift to avoid the provisions of tlio
constitution, and a sop thrown out to
quiet the demands of tho people. Ah
u member of the legislature of 1885 I
voted against the measure, giving tho
following us my reason:
"I would recommend tho submission
to tho olectors an amendment to our
constitution providing for tho election
of a railway commission. Ponding the
tlmo when such amendment could be
ratified by the voters of the state, I
would recommend tho enactment by
your honorable body of n maximum
rate upon the commodities in carload
lots, such as salt, coal, grain, live
stock and lumber. It acoms to me nt
this tlmo that these two measures are
all that can be done in the matter of
icgulntlon of transportation charges.
PURE FOOD LAW.
Tho legislature nt Its Just session
etincted a law known ns the pure food
law, designating the governor of tho
state, food commissioner, with author
ity to appoint a deputy food commis
sioner. Actliif, under this lnw 1 ap
pointed Mr F. H. Ilibbntd of Irvlng
toti deputy food commissioner, who
proceeded to organize tho department
and enforce the provisions or tho uct.
The law provided for the collection of
fees and licenses from certain lines of
business, and the expenses of the de
partment to he paid out. of such col
lection. When the salary vouchers of
tho deputy und clerk of the department
were presented they wore refused by
the auditor upon tho ground thnt no
appropriation, as provided by the con
stitution, hnd been made by the leg
islature The cuse having been sub
mitted to the supremo court, thnt
tribunal decided that the legislature
had failed to make specific appropria
tion, consequently tho salaries could
not bo paid. As a result tho work of
tho department has been ranch bnm
pered. Tho law Is ouo which met with
general favor with the peoplo and was
especially appreciated ami desired by
tho dairy Interests or tho state.
1 would recommend an Increase In
the scope of tlio present law, extend
ing to tho suppression of the manufac
ture and sale of all kinds of adulter
ated food products within the state.
Thero has benn collected In fees nnd
licenses by the department the sum
of $3,280, which has nil been turned
into the state treasury. 1 herewith
Binnbit you an Itemized statement of
the xpenses of the department. I
recommend that un appropriation bo
inndo to meet these expenses, ns con
templated by tho law itself, drawn
uioii the fund which fees and licenses
has produced now In the state treas
ury. LIVE STOCK REGULATIONS.
During my term of office thero have
been numerous calls upon this depart
ment relative to the suppression nnd
control of contagious diseases among
live atock. Thnt tho llvo stock Indus
try is of pnratnount importance In the
ntnte nil will admit, nnd It seems to
me but good business judgment thnt
adequate Inws should lie made for th.i
protection of this Industry from the
rnvuges of contagious animal diseas
es. The laws wo now havo nre cum
bersome, and If enforced with suffic
ient appropriation to make them effec
tive, would prove a great burden upon
the taxpayers or the state, for this
reason no appropriation for live stock
protection was made by the Inst ses
sion of the legislature.
The law as now constituted pro
vides that animals with contagious
disease may bo killed by tho agents
of tho state, nnd the value of animals
so killed paid to tho owners of such
nnlmnls. This would many times bo
tho Bource of Imposition upon tlio
state, nnd even though honestly ntl
mlnlstered, would entail n larger ex
pense than tho stato could nfford to
pay. I would recommend, therefore,
the repcoi of the present law and tho
enactment of n lnw providing for a
stnto veterinarian, with power to rec
ommend quarantine regulations when
In his Judgment occasion demnnded,
and directing tho proper officer to en
force his recommeiiilntlnus.
STATE nOARO OF AGRICULTURE.
Tho stnto board of agriculture Is de
serving of most liberal treatment at
your bands. No one power has done
more for tlio advancement of the agri
cultural Interests of tho state. Tho
work the board bns done In advertis
ing tho state and thereby IniluclnR
Immigration has been of great value.
The Inst legislative session established,
n pciiunncnt home for the board at
the Capltnl City.
1 would therefore recommend thnt
the state provide suitable grounds and
buildings for state fair purposes nnd
annual appropriation sufficient to nt
least pay the expenses for tho main
tenance of tho stnto board, thereby al
lowing the levcnue nrlslng from the
annual state falM to be used for tho
collection of Matlstlcs and Informa
tion, and the distribution of the same
nnd the Increase In payment of prem
iums. CONVICT LAROR.
The problem of employment for
tho convicts In our stato peni
tentiary Is one which should
recclvo your carerul consideration,
Humanity demands thut theso who
nre Incarcerated In state prisons
should bo kept busy. Jtmtlco to hon
est labor forbids that the work of con
victs should be brought into competi
tion with Its effort. The contract sys
tem employed In so many states wher
eby prlKou-mndc 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. He is not only taxed to
support the criminal in the peniten
tiary, but must Bell his lnbor for un
remunerntlvciprlced to enable him to
competo with the criminal labor.
it sceins to me It should be the pol
icy of our state bo far as we may bo
alilo to prevent tills competition by
f'lrnlnhlng einpl' vnont lo convicts
which In no wny Interferes with hon
est labor. The- manufacture of goods
needed by the state for the words of
tho state In our various eleemosynary
Institutions would be legitimate woik
for convicts.
STATE NORMAL SCHOOL.
The Inrgely Incrensed attendance nt
tho state normal school makes It Im
perative that some Increase In the fa
cilities Bhottld be provided by you. The
assembly room thero has a capacity
for seating five hundred. Tho atten
dance during the term Inst pnssed was
far In excecs of thut uunibei, with the
probability of yet further Incrense
during the present term. There has
been constnnlly recurring before each
legislature for n number of yenrs past,
the question of building additional
normnl schools In the stnte. I need
not point out to you that the creation
of m ntl'i'Moiml hUiool oj schools
would create additional expense for
tlio management of the same. Each
school would require officers and con
veniences for tho conduct of the busi
ness of the school. These are prac
tically tho same for either a large or
small school. To create new schools
would require a duplltntlon of these
necessities, and a corresponding in
crense In outlay. An Increase In li
brary facilities, laboratory facilities
and other necessities of a school al
ready equipped would bo trivial ua
compared with the building nnd equip
ment of nn entire now school.
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION.
As Indicated In what has gone be
fore In this message, thoro are In my
opinion a number of amendments
needed to our stnte constitution. Tho
experience wo havo had In times past
with constitutional amendments has
not been satisfactory, it seems to mo
vou should make provisions for tho
calling of a constitutional convention
to formulnto for our stato a constitu
tion fitted to our present development,
and making provision for our future
growth. Should this be done mnny of
the problems which now present them
selves would be solved.
Retiring from tho highest ofilco In
the gift of the peoplo of our state, I
congratulate you ns tho chosen repre
sentatives of the most progrcrslve and
best educated constituency In our
country. I congratulate you upon the
splendid financial condition of our
state. The past blennlum has wit
nessed tho payment of our entire bond
ed Indebtedness. It has witnessed tho
reduction of the rato of Interest upon
our flouting Indebtedness to 4 per cent,
and our stnto warrants at that low
rate of Interest selling nt a premium
of 1 per cent, showing tlio confidence
of our own people, ns well ns cnpltul
lutti or other stato In the ability of
our state to pay Its obligations, and
the Integrity of tho management of
our finnnclul affairs.
I conKinttilate you upon tho economy
and huslnebs ability with which the
public Institutions of our state have
been managed during the paBt blen
nlum, as shown In the reports here
with submitted, not less upon tho ex
cellent earn given the unfortunate
wards of tho state. Our eleemosynary
Institutions are tlio equal of any sistor
Btato In the union. They reflect the
progress and advanced civilization of
the state. The demands of civiliza
tion require tho most scrupulous cure
of tboso whom misfortune make tho
wards of the state. Justice to the tux
payers requires this care to be given
In a wny creating as little burden aa
may be. Tho requirements of both
havo been fully met during tho past
blennlum.
I trust thnt your duties In making
now lawn und amending old ones, nnd
In the repeal of those you deem dotrf
mentnl or unnecessary, mny bo pleasi
nnt nnd all your work for tho good of
tho peoplo and the advancement of
the welfare of our state.
I wish to return my sincere thankH
to tho people cf Nebraska for the con
fidence they reposed In me, und the
uniform courtesy nlways shown mo
nnd tho mnny kind nnd complimentary
words nnd letters commondatory of
my administration rccolved from so
many cltlzntiB of tho 'state. In nil my
acts I havo had beyond all other con
siderations the welfare and best In
tercEts of tho stnte. For whatever mis
takes I may have mado I ask charit
able Uonloncy. Tho administration hh
a whole I submit to thu honest judg
ment of an intelligent people.
W. A. POYNTER,
Governor.
Executive Chamber, Lincoln, Nob.
January 3, 1901.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Now Governor Speaks to Now
Legislature
MESSAGE SHORT AND BUSINESSLIKE
(irrrtu Mntnbrrit Ilriirtlly mill KtprPMri
111 Itcrotiiiiii-iuliitlon nil In Wlmt
Will lir llrnt for tlic Klnlp In
Hip Wity nf l.rKllittln.
To the Senntors nnd Representa
tives, Twenty-seventh Session of tho
Legisluturc ot Nebrnskn:
As your chief executive I herewith
submit for your consideration tho fol
lowing recommendations:
lly tho constitution, us adopted In
1875, provision wus made for six
Judges of the district court, which
number, the legislature In the exer
cise of Its constitutional authority, has
Increased to twenty-eight, nt n cost
to tho Btnte of about $115,000 per an
num. It Is generally conceded by
members of the legnl profession that
a muterlnl reduction In the number
of district Judges can bo mado without
affecting tho adjudicating capacity or
tho efficiency of the Judicial branch
of tho government.
Thero are nearly ono thousand seven
hundred cases ready for trlol bcfoie
the supreme court, nnd It Is estlmnted
that It will requlro about eight years
bofore any new action can be prose
cuted to Judgment. It Is well known
that persons aiming nt tho ndjudlca
tlon of equitable clnlms nre being
mndo the prey of unscrupulous nnd Ir
responsible rontestnnts by reason of
the delay Incident to tho congested
condition of tho supremo court docket,
thus ontnlllng unnecessary nnniBiiip
nnd loss upon legitimate clnlmunts,
at the same time discouraging Invest
ment of capital, and making It diffi
cult for tho honest borrower to obtnln
lonns. This Is nn abuse of Justice
which Impairs tho credit of both the
stnto nnd the individual, nnd which
nolthor tho Btnte nor the Individual can
nfford to license Innumerable cases
now pending beforo tho supreme nnd
district courts would be dismissed If
n speedy trial could bo had, nnd
'knowledge nf the fact would no doubt
greatly restrain lltlgnnts In the fu
tme. T therefore recommend, with
a view to temporary relief, thnt nn
act be passed empowering the su
premo court to appoint referees whoso
duty It shnll be to assist said court,
and whose tenure of office Bhull bo
for tho lmmodlate blennlum.
I nlso recommend the submission to
tho votorB of the state of n proposi
tion to bo nmend the constitution ns to
empower tho legislature, tinder proper
4-estrtctlons, to provide for Bitch nn
increase In the number of Judges of
tho Btiprcmo court ns shall Insure per
manent relief.
Tho Inws of Nebrnskn need amend
ment In many essential particulars,
nnd should bo codified. I recommend
tho creation of n commission of sult
ablo persons, lenrned in the lnw, to
submit for the consideration of the
next legislature, n codification or our
lawB, and suggestions of chnngeii
whero necessary, and to nlso prepuro
a revenue measure providing for an
equltnblo taxation of all proporty
throughout tho stnto.
Section 2G of nitlclo 5 of the consti
tution should bo so amended that the
legislature Bhnll linve authority to
create a Btato "board of control for the
management of our state Institutions,
nnd I therefore recommend tho sub
mission of an nniendment nf thnt pur
port to tho people without unneces
sary delay.
Your attention Is directed to tho
pan-American exposition which Is to
bo held at Huffnlo. N. Y., this year.
A rentonablo appropriation to be used
for advertising the resources of our
stnto will meet with my approval.
Nebraska should be properly repre
sented at the exposition to bo hold In
St. Louis In 1903. nnd a liberal ap
propriation should be mndc for thnt
purpose.
Your uttcntlon Is hereby directed
to tho inadequacy of the law' applying
to tho crimes of kidnapping nnd cl'"d
stealing. I would recommend tic
law bo so amended ns to make
nupplng or child stealing a felony
punishable by Imprisonment In the
penitentiary for n period of not less
than five nor mora thun thirty years,
thut the age limit be removed, nnd
thnt the unlawful or forcible holding
In captivity or any porson at a place
other than tho natural or lawful do-
mlcllo or nhodo of ald person Biinr.
constitute a crime of kidnapping. I
also recommend that nn appropriation
be made, to bo plnccd at the disposal
of tho chief executlvo of the stato, for
use by him In apprehondlng such
crlminnlB pr repressing this Bort of
crime.
The state has several enses 'pending
In the courts against sureties on ofll
clnl bonds. The prosecution of these
ca308 bns been attended with grent
expense, nnd has continued for sovernl
yearn. In tho lntorlm, some of tho
sureties have died, many bnvo be
come Insolvent, and tho chnnces for
ultimate recovery on the bonds seem
to bo growing lees. It Is tho excep
tion, and not the rule, that personal
bonds have been satisfactory. Private
corporations deem It for tholr Interest
to buy surety company bonds for
their employes. Our present Btnte
treasurer finds It Impossible to fur
nish a satisfactory porsonnl bond
without subjecting himself to terms
nnd conditions which bnvo proven to
be annoying nnd disastrous to others
who have held tho same position, and
ho has beon obliged, as wns his pre
decessor, to purchase n surety bond nt
n cost Incommonsurnto with his snl
nry. I submit that tho law should
permit corporate surety bonds to tin
given In all cases where n bond Is re
quired, and should provide that any
public officer may bo compelled to fur
nish a corporate Biirety bond, the cost
thoreof to bo defrayed by tho stato or
municipality for whose benefit such
bond is required.
Tho game, song nnd othor Insectiv
orous birds are tho property of tho
Btnto and nro being ruthlessly slaught
ered. I thereforo recommend that the
laws for tho protection of these birds
bo bo revised ns to prohibit tholr ex
portation from tho Btnto, and to pro
vido for a stnto gntno warden whoso
duty It shnll bo to seo that violators
of tho law nro duly prosecuted.
Tho executive mansion should ha
either Bold, or un appropriation mido
for Its proper maintenance, it should
bo cared for na nny other public prop
erty. Another matter to which your nt
tentlou 1b called is tlio boundary lino
between tho stntes of Nebraska and
Iown. Tho original Intention un
doubtedly was that tho center of tho
chnnnel of tho Missouri river should
form the boundary lino betweon theso
two Btntes. Owing, howover, to
changes In tho river bed, thu channel
In tunny places has been so changed
thnt Nebraska territory lies east of
the said river, Iowa territory lies went
of the river, whllo In some Instances
the question of Jurisdiction Is lu doubt
and dispute. This Btato of affair
leads to a condition of Inwlcssuesa,
especially In tho disputed territory,
which should not exist. It Is recom
mended that a boundary commission
bo provided for by Joint resolution of
tho two houses to act with a like com
mission from our sister rtnto of Iowa,
that shall havo power, with tho con
Bent of tho federal government, to es
tablish n permanent boundary lino be
tween tho two stntes.
Your attention will be called to tho
advisability of establishing n stato cir
culating or so-called travelling library
which In other states has provoti to
bo a grent success.
The century Just closed hns been Im
mortatlzed for nil ages to comn by
tho gnllant achievements on laud and
sea of the Amcrlcnu soldier nnd inn
rlno, nnd by tho patriotic sacrifices of
our Amerlcnn women. Lot us, thnn,
In this, tho first yenr of a now century,
show our appreciation of their deeds
of valor and lovo for country and hu
manity, by appropriating a liberal mint
of money to erect a fitting monument
to the memory of our heroic dead.
Committees should bo appointed at
once to visit our various Btato Insti
tutions, with Instructions to make nn
early report of their needs, so that thn
legislature may have ample opportun
ity to net Intelligently In tho matter
of appropriations.
In conclusion, I wish to stnto that
every net of yours or mine, should bo
governed by that snmo honesty of
purpose, and business tact nnd caro,
us though our stnte nnd her Institu
tions wero our own personal belong
ings. (Signed)
CHARLES II. DIETRICH.
"A Novel I'attUon.
A correspondent ot a Botithorn
paper writes ot nn odd petition. It
was drawn up In the year 1734 by 16
young women of South Carolina, and
waB nddrcsscd to the governor. The
petition stated ' thnt, whereas th
widows of tho colony captured .all the
matrimonial prizes, his oxcolloncy's pe
titioners did humbly pray that all
bachelors should be prohibited from
marrying widows from that time forth.
Water Hnppljr for Tkmplco.
English engineers nro making sur
veys and plana ot Tamplco and tho
surrounding country with a view of
supplying the town with drinking wa
ter and a complete system ot bowit
ngc. Should these works be carried
out there will bo an excellent opening
for the sain of plumbing supplies. At
present there Is no plumbing estab
lishment In the port.
fluted Meiloo Twenty-Four Venn.
When tho presld tlal term closod
on Nov. 30 General Porflrlo Diaz
had controlled tho affairs ot tho
Mexican republic for a period ot twenty-four
yours, and under his wise, ben
eficent and energetic rule ho has seen
Mexico rise from a condition of Indus
trial, commercial and political prostra
tion and disturbance to a position
which places It In an eminent niche
among nations of the world.
Klecirle Kir Kueloea Koonomloal.
The chief fire engineer of tho Now
Orleans, La., department has figured
out that tho relative running cost as
between a three-horse hitch englno of
the first class and an electric power
engine Is )G0 a month for the former
and )27 for the same period for thn
Utter. These figures show a clear gain
of $33 por month and (400 per annum
In round figures for tho electric power
euclna.
llelr to Italian Throne.
It must be confessed that the new
heir to the Italian throno Is quite us
Interesting as the new occupant ot
that throne nnd his chances of becom
ing king of Italy are good. The duke
is a cousin of King Emmanuel III. He
Is tho father of two sons, whereas tho
new king, who wus married four yonrs
ago, has no children. Whllo the king
Is frail and dlBlikes physical exertion,
tho duke is devoted to sport und Is one
of the best horsemen In Ituly.
Milk Attract! I)lia Germ.
Place a Jug of milk near fish for a
few hours and there will be a fishy
flavor about It. In this same way that
milk Is su&cepttble to odors, so It at
tracts disease germs; diphtheria, tp
phoid fever, etc., are often contracted
in this manner. This is not always
due to carelessness, for theso bacilli
aro In the very air wo breathe. Tho
only truo safeguard when contusions
disease Is about to sterltlzo th milk.
Com Stubble CuU Throat.
L. T. Davis, a farmer living nenr
West Union, W. Va., had bis throat
cut by a corn stubble mid almost bled
to death before asalstance reached him. .
While hauling fodder he fell from hht,
wagon, his throat striking the sharp
pointed stubblo, A tearing gash was .
tho result.
Wllliln KOO Mile or I'ole.
Dr. G. E. Ilorchgrevlnk has made a
grent advance Into the coldor Vand,
more perilous Antarctic regions, carry-'
ing the line ot exploration to wlt,hla
S00 miles ot tho south polo. ' ;
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