. . . . . .
.t. .
i AFFAIRS OF STATE.
| f Governor Thayer's Message Delivered
I' Jtaforo tho Tiro Houses.
f
| , Sn contlojn nnd Itooointiiondntlons
fc KcsardliiK ITliitCci'M of Importance.
* - '
it * 7/ic llailtsay l'roblem JilBcimxah
cr Following is tho message of Governor
f Tlm3'erf delivered to the two houses be-
k fore taking tlic oath of office for a sec
ond term :
Gentlemen ol tbo Senate and Houso of
; Representatives : Under tho blessings of
divine providence you nro permitted to
meet in tho Twenty-first session of tho
legislature of tlio state of Nebraska. It is
a subject o ! congratulation that you incot
under such favorablo nuspiccu. During
tho year that is drawing to a close , general
health and prosperity have provailcd. Tho
labors of tho husbandman havo been fol-
• lowed with bountiful crops ; and on every
side there are evidences of general content
ment and satisfaction. The excitement of
our national quadrennial election has
censed , to bo succeeded wo may safely as
sume by a healthy confidence in perma
nent public policies , which shall guard ami
foster American industries and American
labor. Under tho influences of fixed sys-
l temn , it is reasonable to anticipate a new
\ impetus to bo given to tho various branch
es of business pursuits , to bo followed by
a degree of improvement in all material in
terests not hitherto readied.
The constitution makes it tho duty of
tho executive at tho opening of each bien
nial session of the legislature to furnish a
statement of the condition of our public
affairs , and to recommend tho adoption
of such measures as , in his judgment , will
\ best subservo the interests of tho state and
promote tho public welfare.
f' FINANCES.
? Your attention is invited to tho reports
of tho treasurer of the state and of tho
1 auditor of public accounts , which will give
you a clear idea of the financial affairs of
J the commonwealth. The treasurer is tho
J general receiver and diaburser of all tho
s - .public funds , while tho auditor is the gen-
jr eral accountant of tho state. Tho reports
„ of tltese officers contain complete and most
X valuable information in regard to the
, ' financial affairs of tho state , which arc , of
' ' * • . course , of deepest fnlorest to all the poople.
It will bo your duty to give to them an
' r exhaustive examination. I believe tho
f financial condition of the state to be highly
j satisfactory.
[ C nnponT op inn STATE truasurer.
W- Balance in tho treasury No-
f vember :50 : , 18SG 5 9-14,352 7G
S' Receipts December 1 , 1SSG ,
fe to November 30 , 18SS 4,23Gr 28 94
Total receipts 5,180,881 70
Disbursements December 1 ,
t 1S8G , to November 30 ,
. - 1888 4,2'14,5S2 89
at , Balance in the treasury No
li ; ' vember 30 , 1SS8 93G.289 72
p" Receipts during the fiscal
at term to November 30 ,
% • 1888 4,23G,52S 94
R- , State tax received from
f&r countieH 2,287,093 43
gf Revenue from land and oth-
R- er sources 1,6S1,13G 45
p Transfers rrom other funds. . 2G8.299 0G
% Disbursements during the
fe same time 4.244,582 98
jf Legislative appropriations ,
6 warrants redeemed 2,280,906 55
L , School -apportionment
g ; warrants redeemed 1,090G25 18
pr - ' Bonds purchased and mis-
i& ! cellaneous G04 692 19
W Transferred to other funds. . 2GS.299 05
! § Disburssmeuts greater than
W . receipts ; 8,054 04
if ; Balance in treasury No
li - , vember 30,1886 944,352 76
li Balance in treasury Novem-
Y ber 30 , 1888 93G.29S 72
| BALANCES NOVEMBER 30 , 1S8S.
'
1' of the various funds on hand in the office
a of tho state treasurer :
jj' General $ G,444 25
Sinking 181.GS1 41
School , permanent 270GG3 79
- • " School , temporary .202,079 58
( University , permanent 7,198 14
University , temporary 50,129 Go
Agriculture college endow-
, - inent 9,504 52
I Penitentiary
| State bonds -
Z > - Insane hospital 127.43G G2
ft * Normal building
j- Normal endowment G.235 G5
i Normal interest 734 51
| Normal librarv 1,624 32
L State library 4,100 00
g- University library 1,385 00
i' State funding.
Capitol building 1.455 G7
bs. . Reform school building n
p * Institute Tor feeble minded57 57
* ' Live stock indemnity 1.003 10
Saline land lease
! Saline laud stock yard 1,150 39
Saline 3,228 34
( js Interest charged county
I treasuries
*
j " Capitol sale of state lots 18G 17
] , , / Total § 936,298 72
[ T _ / REVENUE AND TAXATION. J
i The assessed valuation of the taxable
'i property of the state in 1887 was SI60- *
a 506,266.25 , being an increase of $16,573 , - I
i 695.74 as compared with the assessment *
\ . of 1886. t
| r • The assessment of 1888 gave the value
J | of the property of thesta'e for the purfi
| poses of taxation as $176,012,820.45.
f giving a total increase for two years of c
j $32,080,249.94. The rate of interest for r.
J state purposes for the year 1S87 was 8 % Q
j mills , and for the year 1888 7)4 ) mills on *
.1 each dollar valuation , and there has been c
| collected during that time the sum of $2c
{ 286,931.29 , distributed as follows : ?
General fund $1,427,923 44 *
t Sinking fund J G8.355 06 I
] School hind 2S0.972 58 I
j5 University fund 110,179 74
} • Penitentiary fund 634 50 v
I State bond fund 46 4S °
\ Capitol building fund 180.794 92 d
j Reform school building fund. 36,294 52 e
f Normal building fund 71 58 "
] Institute for feeble minded S
i % . , fund 35.584 32 *
! Live stock indemnitv fund. . 46,024 19 • c
4 v
I ' Total $2,2S6.931 39 *
*
• Tho levy of 1887 will yield the following e
\ amount : J
"
I General fund , 4 9-10 mills. . $ 793,434 85 t
I - Sinking fund , 4-8 milks 90.896 55 v
1- School fund. 1 mill 160,500 26 1
I % University fund. % mill 60,189 72 I
f- Capital fund , 6-8 mill 120,379 44 c
Reform school fund , % mill. . 20,063 24 \
Institute for feeble-minded *
fund , K mill 20,003 24 r
Livestock indemnity fund , fi
, 2-8 mill 40,126 48 *
g
' Total $1,305,659 78 s
f Tho levy of 1888 will yield the following
t
amounts : *
General fund , 4 and 95-100 F
Sinking fund , 1-6 mill * r. . 27,596 49
SchooWund , 4-5 mill . . A140.601' 84 T
.University tand9 % mill % 66,001 80 r
Capitolfand , 6-8 mill 132,00960 *
Rerorm Bchool fund , % mill. . 22,004 60 n
Institute feoble-minded fund , "
' 73 mill. . . . . . * • * . . • • • . . • • • • . • • • . . . • . • 22t001 60
7 live stock indemnity lund , B
: Kmill 44,003 20 n
- _ t
• Total $1,325,887 79 °
' ' - Appropriations asked lor the operating *
i ; expenses of the state government to March s
r ' 81,1891 , and foradditionalimprovements
W + as estimated by tho head ol respective dev
jft partments , or tho state auditor , nnd by P
\k \ the heads of public institutions , uro as P
ft follows : r
' . 21st D
jfe * Legislative expenses.
W session $180,000 00 ?
Governor's office 18,800 00 a
Adiutant general 63,200 00 c
'Commissioner of labor. 4,200 00 c
Secretary of state 19,100 00
.jAuditor of public accounts 81,100 00 J
S .Treasurer. . . . . . . . . . . . 12,600 00
'I '
* ,
I"
15-
Superintendent of public in
struction , 18,325 00
Attorney general 12,500 00
Commissioner of public
lands and buildings 30,050 09
Bonrd of public lands and
buildings 05,840 00
Board of educational lands
and funds 8,326 00
Board of purchase and sup
plies 300 00
Supremocourt 40,910 00
State library 10.000 00
District court 102,319 70
Normal school 65.100 00
Penitentiary 127,728-00
Hospital for insane , Lin
coln 823.900 00
Hospital for insane , Nor
folk 170,901 42
Asylum for insane , Hast
ings 147,050 00
Industrial school 215,398 00
Institute for blind 43,000 00
Institute for deaf and dumb 73,150 00
Home for friendless 50,500 00
Industrisl homo 53,449 00
Soldiers' and sailors' homo 189,500 00
Institute for feeble minded 146,882 95
Live stock sanitary com
mission 85,700 00
State board of transporta
tion 19,450 00
Fish commission 10,000 00
State board of pharmacy. . . 704 50
State university 225,000 00
iliecellaneous 240,050 00
Total $2,890,294 00
Hems in detail will be found in the re
port of tho auditor.
This , as compared with the estimates of
two years ago. is an increase of $840-
725.84. This increase is easily accounted
for when we ronbidcr the growth of the
state , new institutions , etc. , etc.
These estimates cover the furnishing and
tho running expenses for the next two
years of tho new institutions created by
the legislature or two years ago , and for
the new buildings asked for.
DESIRE OP COUNTIES TO ESCAPE STATE TAXA
TION ONE FOND FOR COUNTY AND STATE.
Under our present laws governing assess
ment of property for taxation , in my opin
ion , there is just cause for complaint , and
in a majority of casea tho trouble arises
with the desire on the part of tho counties
to escape as nearly as possible taxation
for state purposes. The auditor , whoso
duty by law is to make such recommenda
tion ns he may see fit for securing unifor
mity and efficiency in tho levying and col
lecting of taxes , has recommended that the
law be so amended that instead of levying
a state tax to be extended upon the tax
list of a county a certain sum obtained by
proportion after an equalization of prop
erty values has been made by the stato
board of assessment be certified to the dif
ferent counties and paid in the state treas
ury in quarterly payments.
That for the support of both county and
state there bo but one fund. This recom
mendation , it seems to me , is a step in the
right direction to simplify the work and
entirely do away with the strifo to escape
taxation. The assessed valuation of all
property in the state for the year 1888 was
. $170,012.65 , while , if property had been
assessed in its true value , this amount
would have been ten times as large.
The auditor is his report shons a large
incrense of insurance business in liis office ,
and recommends an additional deputy to
take charge of that business. In my opin
ion tho recommendation is a good one , and
I trust the same will meet with your ap
proval.
rUBLIC LANDS AND BUILDINGS.
The report of the commissioner of public
lands and buildings furnishes a largo
amount of valuable information in regard
to the different institutions and properties
of the state , especially in regard to the
school lands and funds. The tabulated
statement shows that the number of acres
granted and confirmed to the state for edu
cational purposes is 2,834,398 acres ;
162,051.66 have been deeded , leaving a
balance of 2.722.336.34 acres , title to
which is yet vested in the state. There are
now under contract of sale 639,454.10
acres , and under lease contract 1,427-
460.19 acres , and 654.431.99 acres that
have not yet been leased or sold. The in
crease in the permanent school fund in the
last two years has been about 13 4-5 per
cent. , There is now vested in United States
securities i and registered county bonds the
sums i of $1,807,142.35 ; unpaid principle
on > sales , $4,432,04S.51 , and cash on hand
in i the treasury , $293,602.10 , making a
grand i total of the permanent fund of
$053,279.96.
Pursuant to an act of the legislature ap
proved ] March 31 , 1SS7 , the board of edu
cational < land" ordered a reappraisement
of ' the unsold educational lands in about
thirty ' counties. From the returns
received ] a marked increase in value
is shown , being more than double that of
former 1 appraisement.
ATTORNEY GENERAL'S DEPARTMENT.
The report of this officer furnishes a
statement , of the business transacted in
his department during the past two years.
Sixty cases have beed heard before the su
preme J court in which the state appeared
as plaintiff of defendant.
The attorney general in his report ' sug
gests j that I call the attention of the legis
lature to the great injury that would re
sult \ to the people of Nebraska should tho
bill , now pending in congress become a law ,
( ' meaning the bill providing for an exten
sion of time of the payment of the debt
now due the government from the Union
Pacific railway company ) , and to ask that
our senators and representatives in con
gress be i-equested to oppose such bill. I
He furthermore says : "The only fair |
method of solving this great Union Pacific
problem is to declare the road insolvent
and to order the road sold for rash , and
then the state could control it. "
After discussing the matter further , he
says : "I have challenged your ( my ) at-
tention to the above facts for the purpose
of having you ( me ) inaugurate Bomo.
metood to determine this much vexed
question , and if through our executive and
legislative ' departments , our congressmen
can be made to act in behalf of the stato
of Nebraska , the day is not far distant
when the whole railroad problem will be ,
settled in this state , the samo as in Ohio ,
Pennsylvania , New York and other states. "
It will thus be seen that the attorney gen-
eral asks me to inaugurate a method by
which this whole vexed question can be
determined , while he has just previously
declared the sale of the road by thejiov-
eminent to the highest bidder for cash to
bo the only fair method of solving this
great Union Pacific problem. I am frank
t' admit that I am not equal to the task
of adjudicating this controversy which has
vexed the statesmanship of congress and
the country for several years. It may be
easily settled on paper it may be readily
disposed of by the dash of the pen it may
be laid to rest by a simple assertion , but
when it comes to a practical permanent ad- .
justment of the matter , it is more than
probable that very grave difficulties may
confront those who attempt the settle- :
ment. What becomes of the first mortgage f
bonds ? Who liquidates the first indebtedj
ness ? It must be borne in mind that the
government holds only the second lien
upon the road and its franchises. If the j
government should pay off , or should as- . ,
sume the prior indebtednss , it would un- \
doubtedly find itself fat more involved
than before , for this indebtedness , both \
principal nnd interest , must now amount .
to more than $50,000,000. j
I submit this to your honorable body ,
with out .favorable recommendation on my j
part , for * the reason , that I am not clear ,
that the extrememensure proposed by him ,
are the ones to afford the necessary relief ;
but on the contrary I fear more disastrous
consequences to the government if they (
should be adopted. My own jadgment is '
adverse to such a recommendation. Fur- "
thermore , congress has the supreme and
only control of the whole subject , nnd at ]
this very time that body has it under con
sideration. (
In the discussion of this question , I di- ]
vest myself of nil partiality , friendship , . 1
prejudice and hostility , seeking neither api
plause or evading condemnation. But i
while declining to concur in tli se recom1 ; 1
mendations to you , upon which , however , i
you are freo to act according to your wis- " 1
doin , I distinctly assert that the Union Pa1 1
cific railway and every other railway and 1
corporation doing business in this state 1
must bo subject to tho constitution and i
laws of this stato. No corporation can riso (
above the jurisdiction of tho state in 1
mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
Uch it transacts business. The Union
Pacific cannot claim that it is a foreign
corporation chartered by congress and
therefore exempt from tho operations of
state laws , nnd yet claim the right of emi
nent domain in tho state and tho protec
tion of stato laws.
This view is sustained by the decision of
the supremo court of tho United States in
volumoS , Otto's reports , page 619. Rail
road company vs. Penniston , which says
"that tho company is not a moto creature
of the United States , but that while it
owes duties to the government , the per
formance of which may in a proper case bo
enforced , it is still a private corporation
the same ns other railroad companies ,
and , like thorn , subject to tho laws of tax
ation and the other laws of tho state in
which tho road lies , so far as they do not
destroy its usefulness as an instrumont
for government purposes. " Sustained by
this decision I am utterly averse to any
action of ours which shall concede the ab
sence of jurisdiction on the part of the
state.
That policy should be adopted and vig
orously pursued in connection with this
road which will best promote and protect
tho rights and interests of the government
and the people The kind of settlement
the Union Pacific makes docs not interest
tho people of Nebraska nearly as much us
( the question of lower and reasonable rates.
I In tho bill now before congress , known
as the Pacific railroad funding bill ( for ex
tending the time ol payment ) , to which
reference has already been made , there is a
provision subjecting tho company to tho
power of tho states through which its road
runs in respect of state legislation and
control , affirming the decision above
quoted. And yet our interposition is
Bought to aid in defeating that measure.
In regard to our delegation in congress I
have this to say , that I have always found
its members ready and anxious to carry
out the will of their constituents.
In regard to all railroads in this state ,
this principle , this right , must be asserted
and maintained , namely , that no higher
schedulo of rates shall exist in Nebraska
than prevails in Kansas or Iowa , or other
states. The board of transportation now
possesses full power. If. however , any
thing is wanting it should be given them.
The members of tho board should be
chosen by the people. I recommend tho
adoption of a constitutional amendment
providing for tho election of tho members
of the board , threo in number , by a direct
vote of tho people.
The governor devotes considerablespace
to the national guards and in closing says :
The military power must ever be incom
plete subjection to the civil power. It can
only be called into requisition as an aid
and support of the civil authorities. When
that is subverted and overthrown , then
this reserve force ol Btate must be em
ployed to reinstate and support the civil
authority and to protect life and prop
erty. "It may be called out , " says tho
constitution nnd statutes , "to execute tho
laws , suppress insurrection , riot , and re
pel invasion. " Such emergencies have
arisen in all the states. Within a yeartho
governor of the stateof Kansas wasobliged
to put into the field two regiments of state
troops to put down an actual war between
the adherents of two rival county seats , in
which several persons had been slain. The
governor of Wisconsin was compelled two
years ago to have to recourse to the na
tional guard of the state to suppress an
anarchistic insurrection. What has oc
curred may occur again. It cannot be de
nied that a spirit of anarchy ex ' sts in
many of our cities. It finds a lodgement
in this state. There is a nest of anarchists
in Omaha. It is only kept in subjection
by wholesome fear of the law and the
power of the Btate to enforce it. It is fed
by domogogueism. It is matured by thoso
who caro naught for the public good ; gov
erned by no correct principles , they flour
ish best in times of excitement , for their
.purpose is to create strifp , incite disorder ,
inflame the passions and prejudices of the
unreasoning and thus weaken the safe
guards of society , Those who create and
excite mobs are opposed to the existence
of any power to suppress them. They
\iOuld be best satisfied were the restraints
of law and order to be overthrown. These
men are the pests of society. Some one
has tersely written that "if the demagogues
were hung there would be no anarchists to
hang. "
STATE UNIVERSITY.
The annual report of tho regents of the
state university shows rapid advancement
in that institution. There aro now 1S6
students in the collegiate department , 126
in the preparatory department and 94 in
the school of fine arts. The library con
tains 11,000 volumes.
PUBLIC EDUCATION.
In no commonwealth in our union is
there a more general interest in education
than in our Btate. Thercport of the state
superintendent of public instruction shows
the schools to be in a very prosperous con
dition. The total amount contributed for
public education during the year just
closed reached the sum of $4,057,274,66 ,
an increase of $934,659,84 over the
amount of the previous year. The value
of school propertr is reported $5,123,179
for 1888. $4,779,116.22 for 1887. and *
$3S21,317 for 1886. The-total attend
ance of pupils has increased from 194,621
in 1887 to 215,389 in 1888. One of tho
moat striking features in the rapid growth
in our educational system is the marvel
ous increase in our town and city graded
schools. In 1S86 there were 188 graded
and partially graded and city and town
schools. In 1S8S 243 such schools are
regularly reported to the state superin-
tendent. These reports should receive
careful study , showing as they do for tho
first time the education afforded , the con-
dition of finances , and the cost per capita
of education in the cities and towns. The
schools in the rural districts are making
commendable progress. A united effort is
being made to bring a large per cent of all
children < into schools and then give them a
systematic i course of instruction. There
were 73 per cent of the entire number of
school i children in the state actually at
tending school in 18S8. 1887 , 70 percent
attended. : Seventy-five counties held
teachers' normal institutesduring the sum-
mer of 1888. These institutes were at-
tended by 6,488 teachers , who received
training and instructions from the best
school-men i to establish a higher profes-
sional i standing among teachers , that the
schools j and pupils may receive correspond-
ing i benefits. The condition of our permai
nent school fund is as follows :
Cash < on hand Nov. 30 , 'S8. . $ 270,663 79
U. 1 S. bonds 15,000 00
Couny < bonds 1,377,200 00
State ! funding bonds 326,267 35 ,
Claims < in attorney general's
hands 5,389 75
Balance due on notes from
sale of school lands 3.953,203 41
<
STATE NORMAL SCHOOL AT PERU. (
No public institution of the state is more 1
deserving , of the fostering care of the legis
lature ] than the state normal school loca
ted j at Peru. Four years ago it was found <
necessary to enlarge materially the normal :
school building in order to meet a rapidly i
increasing j attendance , and to give such
facilities j for the education and the training
of , teachers as were demanded by the growf
ing importance of our schools. The aggre- <
gate attendance for the last two years was 1
645. There were graduated for tho ele
mentary , and advanced department 111
teachers , nearly all of whom are now en- <
gaged as instructors in the schools of tho :
state. The attendance for 1887 was 458 ,
and for 1888 , 492. There are 310 students <
jn4he normal classes the present term , be- <
sides forty in the training classes whose e
names do not appear in the catalogue. ' _
STATE LIBRARY.
The report of the state librarian shows
28,810 volumes on hand. An appropria- \
tion is asked to , furnish the library quarc
ters in the capitol building. i
BUREAU OP LABOR. t
The deputy commissioner of labor prei
sents a comprehensive and exhaustive re- t
port on the various subjects relating to
tho aim and purposes for which the bureau t
was established. His report dismisses tho
following subjects : Rise and progress of
the bureau of labor ; labor organizations ; '
views ol laboring men ; Btrikes ; nrbitra1 1
tion ; manual training ; compulsory educat
tion ; farmers' opinions on needed legisla1 1
tion ; prison labor statistics ; farms , area , t
tenure and value of crops ; comparative c
value of farm products , of manufacturing 1
establishments ; railroad reports ; wages ; c
farmers' reports and statistics. It is to v
bo hoped that tho extensivo researches
inndo by tho deputy commissioner on
theso subjects urill prove of much benefit in
so shaping legislation as to advunco the
interests of tho laboring .classes wherever
legislation is needed.
ARHITRATION.
Conflicts still arise between employer
and omploye. In my judgment tho estab
lishment of a board of arbitration is the
most practicable plan for the sottloment
of these difficulties and which would bo
fair and just to the interests of botli par
ties. I therefore recommend tho establish
ment of such a board.
soldiers' home.
Tho Soldiers' home was completod for
tho reception of inmates on tho 1st * of
July last , and it now has fifty-two.
The report of tho commandant presents
the operation of the homo thus far. It is
made a homo in reality , where old soldiers
can live in tranquility. Liberal appropri
ations will bo needed to enlargo tho ca
pacity of the institution and make it
commensurate with the demands that
will bo made upon it. I trust you will
deal with it in a liberal spirit. Congress
enacted s law at its last session providing
for the payment to each stato which has a
soldiers'home $190 a year for each in
mate of that home. This will add largely
in payment for tho running expenses of
the institution.
NEBRASKA HOSPITAL FOR THE INSANE.
The report of the superintendent of the
Nebraska hospital for tho insane will
show that there were present December 1.
1886 , 374 patients , 227 males and 147
females ; that there have been admitted
421 during tho two years , 224 mihs and
107 females , that there have been dis
charged 403.
NORFOLK ASYLUM FOR THE INSANE.
The report of the superintendent fur
nishes a completo history of the affairs of
this institution , which was completed and
opened for the admission of patients on
the 15th day of February , 1888. The to
tal number of patients under treatment
since tho opening of the hospital has been
149. During the year there have been 52
new cases admitted in the Norfolk asylum
district.
The superintendents of these institu
tions , the Lincoln and Norfolk asylums ,
have done all that possibly could bo done
to meet the constantly increasingdemands
made upon them to provide for additional
patients. And I can say for tho satisfac
tion of relativoB and friends of inmates
that everything which kindness and intel
ligence , devoted caro and attention , could
do for their comfort , has been done.
ASYLUM FOR INCURABLES AT HASTINGS.
This building is fast approaching com
pletion , but an appropriation will be nec
essary for fitting it for the reception of pa-
tionts. As to tho amount necessary refer
ence is made to the estimates.
INDUSTRIAL nOME AT MILFORD.
This building is nearly ready for use but
an aopropriation will be necessary to fur
nish it and prepare it for occupancy.
INSTITUTE FOR THE DEAF AND DUMB.
The institute for tho deaf and dumb , lo
cated at Omaha , during the l.ast two years
has made good progress in the work for
which it was organized and is sustained.
There have been 150 children cared for
and instructed during this period.
INSTITUTE FOR THE BLIND AT NEBRASKA CITY.
There have been admitted to the blind
institute during tho biennial term ending
Nov. 30 , 1888 , thirty-one blind children ,
who havo for the first time enjoyed tho ad
vantages of the institution , and the total
enrollment had reached fifty-six. The
number present at this date is forty-one.
The work in the several departments haB
steadily progressed and in a satisfactory
manner.
NEBRASKA INSTITUTE FOR FEEBLE-MINDED
YOUTH.
The report of the superintendent of the
institute for feeble-minded exhibits the con
dition nnd need of the institution. It was
opened for the reception of inmates May
25 , 1887 , rapidly filling up , until the full
capacity of the building was reached.
There are now 143 applications for admis
sion. The building just completed and
ready to occupy will accommodate seventy-
two boys. This will not increase the ca
pacity of that institution to that extent ,
howev the increased number will
-r , as re
quire more room in the present buildings
for dining-rooms , schools , etc. Thus it
will be seen that the two buildings already
orected will not be sufficient to accommo
date those for whom applications have
been made up to this time. The number
of inmates at present is seventy. The
school department has been organized but
little more than a year.
STATE INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL AT KEARNEY.
The irif-titution known as the state re
form school until the session of the legisla
ture of 1887 , is in a prosperous and
healthy condition. There are now in at
tendance 61 girls and 184 boys , a total
enrollment of 245. The present attend-
ance shows a net increase of 109 over that
of two years ago.
HOME FOR THE FRIENDLESS.
The report of the institution shows that
there aro-llG inmates'asag ainst 72 irtDe-
cember. 18S6 , 875 having been admitted
and 331 discharged.
NEBRASKA PENITENTIARY.
Tho report of the warden of the peniten-
tiary with tho accompanying statistics
presents ] with minute details the affairs
and operations of that institution. There
have 1 been received into the penitentiary
since i it has been established 1.465 con-
victs. Number of those who have been
discharged < or pardoned 1,118.
Number } of deaths 9
Leaving in prison November 30,1SS8..338
Number 1 in prison December 1 , 1SSG 32S
Showing an increase of ten in two years.
Number ] received by commitment dur-
ing these same two years ending No-
vember 30,1888 316
Tho number discharged in the same f
time under the good time act 269
Important changes and improvements
have 1 been made since the last biennial re-
port. ] A two-story brick building. 72x300
feet i , has been erected and is now fully oci
cupied by work shops , laundry , bath
rooms , etc. This building adds largely to i
the 1 capacity of the working departments
of the prison. Other improvements have
been ] made which have resulted in increas
ing i efficiency , comfort and security. Meas-
ures should be taken to give a better sysj
tern 1 of sewerage to the prison. {
LIVE STOCK SANITARY COMMISSION.
The work of the live stock sanitary comt
mission has been quietly and steadily car1 1
ried on during tho two years last past , and t
the results therefrom as embodied in the <
report , recently submitted , show a benefit j
to j tho farmers and stock raisers of Ne1 1
braska ] not easily calculated. The law (
creating this board lias proved an excellent j
one in its general purposes and adaptabili-
ty to practical work. i
OIL INSPECTION. 1
Tho report of the state oil inspector *
covers a period of seventeen months. The }
number of barrels of oil and gasoline in- '
spected was 149.202 barrels. Total fees *
collected. ( $14,920. *
Salaries Tor inspector and deputies for '
six months ending December 31 , 1SS7 , *
$4,5S7.27. Turned ov r to the state i
treasurer January 1. 1SSS , S761.03. <
Salaries of inspector and deputies from '
January 1 , 3 8SS. to December 1 , 1S8S , *
SS.90S.18. Balance on hand December 1 , e
1888 , $723.82. t
The work has been done by tho inspec-
tor and deputies located in different parts J
of the state. The law is being regularly c
enforced and is giving general satisfaction , t
The office is self supporting. *
BOARD OP TRANSPORTATION.S
The report of the board of transportaj j
tion shows that at the time of the taking j
effect of the law creating the boaid of v
transportation , July 1 , 1S87 , there were ,
three cases pending before the board of f
railroad commissioners. Since that date
thirty form.tl complaints have been filed c
with the board , making a total of thirty
three considered since its creation uud
r
until June 30. 1S8S. Jj
December " 0 , 38SS , fivo of these cases
c
were still pending anil undetermined : four v
had been dismissed ; four had been with-
drawn by the complainants , and twenty
had been deciJed in favor or the complain
ant , and the order of the bonrd in each
case has been carried into effect. There a
have been nearly twice as many informal b
complaints made in tho lorm of letters , n
which havo been considered by tho board o
I.
mmmmmmmmmmmmmm
. . . . . , ' . . . . , " , , . !
- i. „ - * w7S" mi\ • • • > • ' ' ! ' > - > ' i > WW
. /
nnd whorovor the bonrd has had jurisdlc.
tion ol the subject matter , it has succeeded
in securing a satisfactory adjustment of
tho differences.
RAILROAD FREIGHT RATES.
While railroads nro a necessity to the
people , tho people nro a necessity to tho
railroads. Tho relations they sustain to
each other must bo mutual nnd should bo
so ndjustcd that tho interests of both
would bo promoted and protected. TIiobo
who invest their means in railroad prop
erty have a right to expect a fair return on
their investment. Those who labor havo
tho samo right to expect a fair reward for
their labor , which is their capital invested.
Railroads should bo adjust their tariffs of
charges that farmers , grazers , manufac
turers , merchants and nil who ship over
thorn can do so and recoivo a remunera
tive profit from their business.
Tho power of the legislature to establish
and enforce reasonable charges on the part
of common carriers has been fully estab
lished by a decision of tho supremo court.
And the power must be exercised in all
cases whore the public aro subjected to ex
tortionate charges. Tho rights of tho peo
ple must bo protected. The power that
creates is greater than that which is
created. Tho people create and their pow
er is supreme , and they speak through tho
legislature to tho agencies which have been
created for exercising their will.
ASSESSMENT AND TAXATION.
Your earnest attention is invited to tho
necessity for a revision and amendment of
present lawB regarding assessment nnd tax
ation. That great injustice and inequality
prevails under our present system is too
apparent to require argument to induce
conviction. Furthermore , it gives rise to
n falso impression and does great injustice
to the state. Upon the face , it is made to
appear that Nebraska sustains the highest
taxation of any state in the union save
Nevada , which is utterly untrue. Tho
statement is thoroughlydeceptivc and per
nicious , and it results from our exceedingly
low rate of assessment. Property in Ne
braska is assessed at a lowr valuation
than in any of tho states. To provo tho
truth of this assertion in regnrd to four
states , for instance , the following table is
presented of the assessment value of tho
principle kinds of property in Minnesota ,
Kansas , Iowa and Nebraska , which at a
glance will provo the correctness of my
statement :
Land per acre in Minnesota , $7.46 ; Kan
sas , $4.24 ; Iowa , $7.98 ; Nebraska. $3.53.
Horses in Minnesota. SG7.30 ; Kansas ,
$31.61 ; Iowa. $31.56 ; Nebraska. S19.G7.
Cattle in Minnesota , $22.21 ; Kansas ,
$9.50 ; Iowa , $10.97 ; Nebraska. S5.53.
Mules in Minnesota , $63 53 ; Iowa ,
$36.07 ; Nebraska. $23.01.
Hogs in Minnesota , $2.47 ; Kansas , $1.60 ;
Iowa , $1.91 ; Nebraska , $1.07.
These figures are taken from the official
reports of tho stato and are authentic.
You will readily observe that land , horses ,
cattle , mull's and hogs aro rated at far less
value in Nebraska than in Minnesota ,
Kansas and Iowa ; land at less than one-
half what it is in Minnesota nnd Jowji ;
horses in Minnesota aro more than three
times the value of the same animal in our
state.
This low assessed valuation explains this
apparent high rate of taxation and also
shows tho fallacy of the statement that'
Nebraska is the highest taxed state in the
union but one. The truth is the rate of
taxation here is below what it is in three
states named and in some other states.
Our tax per capita in 1SS5 upon the basis
of the population as returned by the cen
sus of 1880 was $2.47 , while the tax per
capita for the same yearupon the assessed
valuation of the three states united which
have been selected Tor comparison was , ac
cording to the aggregate amount raised by
them , $2.85 , as against $2.47 in Nebraska.
The stato census of 1885 showed our pop
ulation to be 740.G45. The amount of
taxation for the same year raised for state
purposes was $1,700,018.23. Taking the
population for that year and the amount
of tax raised as just stated , the tax per
capita was S2.3S % . Nebraska has thii3
been made to suffer from the reputa
tion of being the highest taxed state ex
cept oue , which reputation rests on
an entirely false basis This wrong
must be remedied. This false impression
must be removed. Tho rate of assessment
must be largely increased. It is a well
proven fact that a vast amount of prop
erty , both real and personalPM-apes taxa
tion. Men who maintain an unquestioned
reputation for integrity , whose word and
bond are good in alt business circles , will
deliberately cheat the assessor , and will
regard it as an evidence of shrewdness and
smartness if they succeed. They conceal
the possession of notes , certificates of
stock nnol mortgages , while the property
and little home of the toiler is seen and
known of all. and does not escape the vigi
lant eye of tho assessor. The inequalities
in the valuation of property are too
glaring not to be noticed , and the evil
should bo remedied. The law should be
equal , in all its bearings alike upon the
poor and the rich. What is the objection
to rating all property , real and personal ,
according to a fair cash value and requir
ing the owners to give a list of their prop
erty i under oath ? The levy would then be
upon all alike , and would be at a very low
rate. Or you can , if in your wisdom it
seems > best , provide by law that only half
of ' it be subject to taxation. But what
ever ' action you take , I respectfully urge
that it shall result in removing the in
equalities ' and injustice inflicted under our
present j system of assessment and taxa
tion. ' In my inaugural address two years
ago , I said : "Let all taxable property ,
real j and personal , be appraised at its full ,
fair , actual value. " I again urge this with
renewed emphasis.
TAXATION OF CORPORATIONS.
All parties , whether citizens or corpora
tions t , must bear their equal proportion of
the i expenses of the government. Parties
holding 1 mortgages , bonds , certificates of
stock , and so forth , should bo taxed.
Corporations of every description , invest
ment companies , loan companies , or cor
porations of whatever designation , must
be governed by , and subjected to , thesame
rules and regulations and requirements
which are applied to private citizens. This
rule should be inexorable in regard to
them. 1
OMAnA roLicrc commission.
Provision was inserted in the Omaha
charter at the last session of the legisla
ture which imposed the duty upon thegov-
ernor of appointing four commissioners of
fire | and police , two to be selected from
each of the two great political parties.
Understanding from this clause that the
commission and police department of that
city should be non-partisan , I selected four
gentlemen , two well known democrats and
two well known republicans , not on ac-
count of their noisy activity in partisan
politics , nor as a reward for any particu
lar service that they had rendered their
respective parties , but from their well
known probity and uprightness of charac
ter , and whose leputation during their
long residence there was such th.it it would
inspire the people with the fullest confi-
dence in their administration. From
the moment that they entered upon the
duties of their offices they were confronted
by a violent opposition from the worst
elements of that city and from the city ]
council. Various obstacles were thrown
in ihcir way to prevent the execution of :
their duties. The compensation for their
services was denied them and the pay of ]
the policemen appointed by them was also '
refused. It waa long and bitter struggle <
as : to whether the law should be enforced <
or the control of the city turned over to 1
the lawless and the vicious. The. consti
tutionality of the provision requiring the
governor to appoint these commissioners
was raised before the supreme court , and
it was sustained by thac tribunal. Dur
ing the continuance of the trouble to ]
which allusion has been made tho com- j
missioners and the mayor persevered in '
the execution of the law with a determina-
tion and firmness which deserve3 great i
commendation. ' 1
As a result they have the satisfaction i
of given to Omaha by far the best and i
most efficient police force and police gov- \
crnment which the city has ever had , and j
which possesses the confidence of all the r
decent elements of society. '
STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 1
The secretary of the State historical ]
society reports that the second volume has j
been issued by the society , containing
much matter relating to the early history
of the state. The third volume , it is ext
I- /
"
-
HI . . .I , ii mill ! I Will WWW W 1 *
I
pected , will bo publlsed In tho sprln * ol
1889.
There nro now in tho librarv of this ns.
sociatlon 2,021 volumps.
NEW COUNTIES.
During tho last two years fl e now coun
ties havo been organized , namely , Box
Butte. Thomas , Grant , Porkins and Rock
counties. Four more will complete their
organization on tho 15th of this month ,
nnniely. Banner , Deuel , Scotts Bluffs and
Kimball. Tholast fourwero orgnnizod out
ol Cheyonno county.
NEW STATE BUILDINGS ERECTED DURING TnE
LAST TWO YEARS.
Tho following is a statement of tho stnto
buildings erocted by virtue of the appro
priations mado by tho last legislature , and
the cost of onch :
Asylum for incurablo insnno at
Hastings , cost $ G3,900
Industrial homo at Milford 13,700
Soldiers' and sailors' home at
Grand Island 20,400
Institute for deaf and dumb at
Omaha brick build
, a one-story
ing to be used for kitchen , din
ing room , storage and play room. 10,000
Industrial school at Kearney , two
family buildings and a building
for laundry , also a cooking and
outhouses 29,975
Hospital for insane atNorfolktwo
wings to main building , a build
ing lor boiler house , enginehouso
and laundry , and a building for
kitchen , bakery and chapel , and
a frame barn , tho coBt , including
thesteamheatingnndmnchinery. 84,292
Homo for the friendless , a building
for a boiler house , laundry and
bake shop 5G21
Penitentiary , a building for Bhops ,
laundry , bath rooms and elm pel. 39,200
Feeblo minded institute at Beat
rice , a two-story brick building
with a stone basement 18,218
Institute for blind , main building ,
also building for boiler house ,
laundry and coal house 30,700
Grant memorial hall 19,100
Industrial college building ( Ne
braska hall ) 14,000
INSURANCE OF STATE PROPERTY.
The aggregate cost of tho public build
ings ownod bj' tho state is nearly $2,500-
000 ; upon this property it has an insur
ance of $1,021,050. The amount appro
priated by the last legislature ( $25,000) )
was not sufficient to place insurance upon
the two wings ( just completed ) of tho Nor
folk asylum and upon tho asylum for in
curables at Hastings ( just completed ) nnd
to meet renewals of policies expiring be
tween December 1 , 1888 , and tho 1st of
April , 1889. Tho other stato buildings
aro insured in reasonable amounts. Tho
law requires tho governor to keep all stato
buildings properly insured. In ordor to
meet the demands for tho next two years
an appropriation of $33,004.62 will bo
necessary , and an emergency clause should
bo attached.
STATE BANKING INSTITUTIONS.
Recent occurrences havo drawn atten-
tion to the condition ol state banks and
banking institutions. Irespectlully recomj
mend tho enactment ol legislation which
shall provide for frequent examination of
these institutions and which shall securo
protection to depositors and stockholders.
trusts.
If wisdom and statesmanship can devise
legislation which shall suppress and destroy
a gigantic evil which has grown up in these
later days under tho name of trusts , where-
by the strong oppress and destroy tho
weak , I pray you to exercise that wisdom
and statesmanship and blot out the great
wrong.
PINKERTON MEN.
I recommend the enactment of a law proj
hibiting the introduction of a body of
Pinkcrton men , so called , into the state ,
or any other body of men not residents of
the state , for the purpose of police and
protection duty.
DEEP WATER HARBOR.
The subject of a deep harbor on the
Texas coast has recently received much at-
tention in the trans-Mississippi region.
The establishment of such a harbor into
which ships of the heaviest draft could
come without obstruction would remove
tho most serious obstacle to commercial
traffic over the Gulf ol Mexico , and
would open a new and competitive route
to the sea.
I advise that you forward a memorial
to congress asking it to lend a helping
hand tc the accomplishment ol this im
portant purpose.
ECONOMY.
Rigid economy must bo observed in alli
disbursements of the public funds , and
appropriations should be made only witli
adue regard to the public interests.
In considering applications for an in
crease of force in the different departments
and the estimates for appropriations for
the ensuing two years the large increase of I
business must be taken into account. It
must be borne in mind that the population
of Nebraska has doubled in six to eight
years. What was sufficient four years ago
is not sufficient to-day.
*
The doubling up of population doubles
the demand for benevolent , charitable , in- ]
dustrial and reformatory institutions.
These must be established. They belong j
to our advancing civilization.
Gentlemen , I cherish the hope and faith
that your labors during the present oes- I
sion will promote the public interests and \
advance tho public welfare.
John M. Thayer.
X
A Remnrkablo Alloy. f
The chief peculiarities of manganese J
steel , which has for a considerable time
been subjected to English experiment , 1
are its great hardness and toughness , e
the effect upon it of water quenching , t
and its resistance of magnetic influence. a
The hardness of the cast material is
greatest when the manganese is in the q
proportion of about 5 per cent , and least
at 10 per cent , becoming gradually e
greater as this percentage is exceeded. B
When hardest the material cannot be S
worked in a lathe , though it seems soft jj
when tested by hammering ; and at the
softest it requires fifteen or twenty
times as long for working as ordinary
steel. Instead of being hardened by
plunging when hot into water , this steel .
is toughened in an extraordinary decree , "
and perhaps slightly softed. Suitably ei
tempered , it can be drawn into wire cat
pable of sustaining more than 100 tons j
per square in. It i < J a poor conductor D
of . heat and of electricity , and is pracg
ticallj * unaffected by the magnet. Ships - ,
built from it would cause no deviation "
of ( the compass. fi
AVorld-KnclIali. °
The great advantage claimed by Dr.
A. Manville Bell for English as the mii- C
versal language is the simplicity of its n
grammar ! , which makes English imTJ
measurably : superior to eveiy form of h
artificial i language as well as to other q
national ] tongnes. The various moods
and tenses , declensions and conjuga- _
tions j , which burden other grammars „
have practically no existence for us.
Dr. Bell advocates further simplificat
tion. 1 however , by removing grammat-
ical irregularities using ' 'childs" int : (
stead of "children , " "gooder" instead
of "better , " etc. , adopting a more or
derly spelling and improving the alpha
bet so as to give a letter for each sound.
.tioviiis Town * . p
The common method of showing the a
slow changes of level of the land is by
C : (
recording at intervals ihe height of
marks on sea coasts as compared with " 3
the surface line of the ocean. A more 01 )
striking exhibition of the instability of o
the eternal hills has been observed in
the Jura mountains , where villages that 01 )
were invisible to each other at the beG
ginning of the century , or even thirty tl :
or forty years ago , have come into view q
through the movement of the groundri
The roofs appear lirst , then the upper 0
parts of the walls , as in the villages of * *
Doucier and Marigny , near Lake ChaP
lain. Even within ten or fifteen yeais T
important changes have been noted. a
8
William D. Howells , the novelist , will
spend the winter in Washington ,
i
iJ
rru.me
*
Hlsinarried.
It is often remarked tlmfc firsfcmar- - t
ringes nro not tho lmppiesb. Such i
may bo truo , as tho magnetic infiu- \
onco is a necessary clement in domes- j
tic bliss , whether accompanying first j"
or later partnors. Thoro muybere- ij
peated weddings sanctioned by law II
and priestly blessing , but thoro can jj
bo but ono marriage. Men and worn- , |
on marry for divers reasons some- ,
times without considering whether '
tho chosen ono fulfills thoir require- ,
ments or othorwise , and consequent
ly remideless disappointments equal- t
ly as ludicrous as lamentable aro tho
results. Mai-ringo is a voyage whero j
tho embarkation is sometimes better
than tho sail. !
The strong-minded females , tho '
men-women , aro not tho beat loved , !
nor is it tho efibminato coxcombs
that women doto on. Men like worn- I
only women , and tho 'feminine heart j
dearly loves that gentle pet restrain
ed power of manly men.
If the first matrimonial vonturo
hns been a success woo to to tho sec- 1
ond edition , even if the fetters are
forged in gold , nnd jeweled with
hope. Mammon may bo desired ,
fought for and bought with youth '
and beauty , but it never fully satis
fies and promotes happiness. It is ,
love that gilds the poor man's hovel \
nnd makes the palace a home. Some- '
times it comesin the flush of youth and
lives forever. Again , after several
unions it appears later in lifo as un
sullied inpurity as tho earlier cmo. '
tion.
tion.Dante
Dante was said to bo inconsolablo
after , the death of Beatriee , although
his friends gave him another wife ,
thinking the newpnssionmightcauso
him to forget the old. Similar is tho
case of an Eastern divine who lost a
much-loved wife some years ago by
consumption. ' While very ill betook
her I to California , hoping she would
regain | her health , llowever , she
died ( , and with almost her last words ,
requested her husband when all was
over • to take her body back to the
East for final burial. Tho request
was ' granted , and tho remains were
temporarily I buried in California , as
the j minister was without a church
and very poor.
Toward the end of the second year
he J met a widow of wealth who exhib
ited I her preference for him by decided
signs. He proposed to her and they
were } shortly after married. Immedi
ately going East on a wedding jour
ney the bride's money to defray ex-
penses. ]
< The clergyman , unknown to his
young spouse , had his first wife's re
] mains disinterred and shipped on
the -j samo train with themselves.
Just before reaching Albany the
groom signified his desire to stop (
over there for a day , to which the '
bride ] consented. After he had es
corted her to a hotel he vanished and
was absent for hours. At night when
he ] returned his face wore a melan-
(
choly , doleful expression , and he car
ried a small parcel nnder one arm.
"Why , Theoplius , where havo you ij
been ] ? exclaimed the bride , "and j
what have you in this paper ? " j
"I've been to the cemetery , " an
swered the sad-visaged husband de- ' i
jectedly. ]
The bride's face expressed deepest .
amazement , and with an unexpected 'J
movement of her pretty form she re-
lieved the unwilling minister of his
package and immediately unfolded
the WTappings. '
"Mercy ! " she ejaculated , as her
eyes fell upon a tarnish silver coffin
Elate. "What is this ? Have you
\ een grave-digging ? "
"She slowly read the inscription
on the plate "Sacred to the memory
of Mary , the only wife , now and
through eternity , of Theopolius
Parr. " "The only wife ? " sherepeated ,
with an angry toes of her head. "Id
like to know what I am then ? "
"The instrument of a Divine
Providence , " he said , as if in a dream ,
while hi3 lean fingers trembled ner- {
vously. "There can be but one mar- , .
riage. She is the wife and you are
my consort , " and lie fell into a de
jected ( silence.
Mrs. Theopolius No. 2 thought her
husband a trifle insane , but now aft
er years of wedded life she knows bet
ter and realizes there are more envi
able fates than that of a second wife ,
especially as every time she places
Theopolius' linen in his bureau draw
er she comes face to face with that
suggestive coffin plate and a pair of
small , well-worn slippers , sacred
mementos of Mrs. Theopclius No. 1.
1
The Largest Land-Holder , ,
Wilson Waddingham , the largest
land-holder in the United States , and
estimated to be worth § 3,000,000 ,
has for his summer residence a fine
house with spacious grounds at
Savin Pkock , just outside of Phila-
3elphia's cityline. His house is the
Bnest dwelling in the State , and cost
aver500,000. It is occupied by
bis family and was eight years in
onstruction. ( Mr. Waddingham
made his money in the cattle- •
raising business , and spends most of j
lis time in visiting his large ranches
me of which he recently pun based
u New Mexico , consisting of 12,500
icres. He is believed to own over t
2,000,000 . acres of grazing lands.
Be has also large investments in
jrofitable real estate m several West- r
ern cities.
i a aim j
Millions of Sheep.
The numbers of sheep kept by the f
rincipal : sheep nations of the world
ire : almost past enumeration. It is
omputed that in Russia there are at r-
east 50,000,000in Germany 24,000 , -
)00 , in France 25,000,000 , while ; 1
Spain has 22,000,000 , Hungary 14 , - M
)00,000. Turkev 10,000,000 and * M
5reat Britain , 22.000,000. In Africa ' 1
he Algerians raise 10,000,000. and
ape Colony produces 11,000.000.
Jruguav , in South America , has over M
20,000,000 , while the Argentine Ke-
mblichas more than 70,000,000.
rhe number in Australia is estimated.
it 75,000,000 , and in the United 1
States there are at least 40,000.000.
I