THE BEE; OMAHA. FRIDAY, JANUARY 5, 1917.
Governor Neville Asks Many New Laws;
Thirteen Measures to Enforce Prohibition;
Suggests Sweeping Changes in Elections
r
Neville's Points
Governor Neville recommends
for the enforcement of prohibition:
Public welfare department to as
sist in prosecutions.
Strict regulation of drug stores.
Exclusion from state of beverages
of inferior quality or containing
harmful ingredients; additional
chemists needed in this work.
Drinking ciubs to be prohibited.
Penalty for sale to fall on land
lords as well as on tenants.
Drastic penalties for boot-legging.
Common carriers to make monthly
reports of liquor handled.
Municipalities to be given power
to make law effective.
Plants manufacturing beverages to
be strictly regulated.
Ample appropriation to enforce
prohibition amendment.
Greater power for governor over
local officers.
Other recommendations by Gov
ernor leville are:
Establishment of publicity bureau.
State and national officers to be
nominated by petition; county
officers at primary.
Quadriennial elections, state and
national alternating.
School officers on nonpartisan bal
lot. Encouragement for irrigation.
Commission without pay to build
state house piecemeal.
Support for National Guard.
Continuance of supreme court com
mission. Consolidation of hotel and food de
partments. Good roads, with state body to ad
vise county authorities.
Amendment of workmen's compen
sation law.
Development of water power.
Economy in expenditures.
Governor Neville began his mes
sage to lthe legislature by calling at
tention to the fact that the people
had adopted a prohibitory amend
ment to the constitution, and now
looked to the democrats to provide
the necessary laws to eniorce the
amendment. He'.iadc the assertion
that "the greater part of the moral
and economic reforms enacted into
law in the last twenty years have been
fathered by democratic legislators,
passed by democratic legislatures, and
have been for the most part signed by
democratic governors. Following
this he went on:
"We must honestly, conscientiously
and intelligently endeavor to prohibit
the sale and manufacture of intoxicat
ing liquor within -the state after the
amendment becomes effective. We
are not in any sense exercising the
functions of a physician towards a
patient. The prohibitory amendment
in no way assails the right ot an m-
dividual to purchase intoxicating
liquors for his -personal use from
sources outside the state, and that
right should not be abridged, except
to the extent nccejsary to carry out
the provisions of the amendment pro
hibiting the illegal sale of liquor
within the state. Any legislation nec
essary to carry out the letter, and
spirit of the prohibitory amendment
should be enacted. In approaching
this problem, we can safely assume
that the oeoole who voted for the
amendment will approve the expcndi-
ture of such sums as may be neces- j
sary to put into effect and continue I
in effect their decree. I
Duty of the Governor.
"In the words of the constitution,'
'the supreme executive power of the
state shall be vested in the governor,
who shall take care that the laws be
faithfully executed.' I
"It is clearly intended that the chief
executive shall have power to de-1
mand law enforcement by loyal au- j
thorities. The Sackett law is intended
to give the governor the power to re
move officials for failure to enforce the
laws of the state, but the delays in
cident to such removal render it prac
tically valueless. It is doubtful
whether the Sackett law could be
amended so that it would be an ef
fective instrument for law enforce
ment, but legislation can be enacted
that will materially aid the governor
in enforcing the law.
New Departments Needed.
"How to make prohibition a fact
in Nebraska is. indeed a problem and
toward its solution the following
legislation should be enacted:
"First A public welfare department
should be created, and the governor
be empowered to appoint a deputy
and such assistant deputies as may
be necessary. The salaries attached
should be sufficiently large to attract
honest, fearless and capable men, and
such additional funds as are necessary
for the operation of the department
should be provided, in order that it
may perform the functions for which
it is created. The principal duties ol
this department would be to gather
information of law violations, help in
prosecutions and assist generally in
making the nrohihitorv amendment
tffective. It would also provide an ex-1
cellent means of determining whether !
or not local officials were doing their i
full duty in the matter of law en-'
forcement.
"Second The legal department of i
the state should have authority at the
direction of the chief executive to per
sonally, or by representative, aid lo
cal authorities in conducting prosecu
tions; to bring and conduct such
prosecutions in the name of the state
if desirable and to maintain a special
prosecutor where necessary.
Sale and Shipment o" Liquors.
"Third The sale of intoxicating
e...t:r,c chntilrl h strirtlv reow. I
lated and a state permit issued to
such institutions, permitting such
sale for medicinal, mechanical, scien
tific and sacramental purposes only.
and prohibiting the sale of same for I
beverage purposes, in tne aDsencei
of a state permit the possession of
a government permit to sell intoxi
cating liquors should be considered
prima facie evidence of the unlawful
sale of such liquors.
"Fourth The shipment into the
dtate of liquors for beverage purposes
containing wood alcohol or. other
harmful ingredients and being of such
low grade and inferior quality as to
nlate in jeopardy the health, men
tality or sight of the consumer should
be prohibited. The enforcement of
ksuch a law will fall upon the rure
jVood department, and, judging by
the experience of other prohibition
states, additional chemists will be
necessary to successfully cope with
this phase of the problem. ,
No Place for Clubs.
"Fifth If the spirit, as well as the
letter of the prohibitory amcndmKJ
is to be carried out, drinking clubs
and similar institutions, wherein the
members' interest in the common
liquor supply is represented by chips,
cards, tickets and other methods of
a like nature, or where the so-called
locker system is used, must be pro
hibited. "Sixth The penalty for the sale of
intoxicating liquors for beverage pur
poses from, or the manufacture of
same in buildings within the state
should fall upon the landlord as well
as upon the tenant, as is done under
the Albert law in cases where build
ings are rented for immoral pur
poses. "Seventh Police magistrates should
be given full jurisdiction over cases
arising out of violations of the liquor
laws.
"Eighth A fine, which would
merely be, a tax upon the profits of
the industry, will not suffice to dis
courage bootlegging. Drastic penal
ties wilybe necessary. A fine or jail
sentence should be provided as a
penalty for the first offense. A
graduated penalty of increasing se
verity, consisting of jail sentence and
fine, should be provided for each suc
ceeding offense.
Peddlers and Agents Prohibited.
"Ninth Contracting within the
state for the delivery of intoxicating
liquors from sources without the
state, by representatives of breweries,
Total
Premium
Interest ,
Total
J. C.
J. W.
R. E.
j'!
distilleries and similar institutions is
clearly in violation of the Jcttcr of the
amendment and penalties should be
fixed for such illegal sale.
"Tenth Common carriers should
file monthly with the county clerk a
record of all shipments delivered in
each county, and no delivery should
be made to any person other than
the party to whom shipment is con
signed. "Eleventh Legislation should be
enacted enabling municipalities to
take such steps by ordinance or other
wise, as they may deem necessary, to"
make effective the prohibitory amend
ment in their respective communi
ties. "Twelfth Breweries and like insti
tutions which may be converted into
plants for the manufacture of nonm
toxicating beverages should he strict
ly regulated, as should distilleries and
like institutions manufacturing alco
hol for mechanical and scientific pur
poses. "Thirteenth It is of the utmost im
portance that a sufficient sum he ap
propriated to insure that the au
thorities be not hampered by a lack
of funds in making the prohibitory
laws effective."
Publicity Bureau Needed.
Governor Neville advocates the es
tablishment of a publicity bureau, to
be maintained by the state, to ac
quaint the outside world with facts
concerning Nebraska and to assist in
the organization .of farm loan asso
ciations. Changes in Election Laws.
The' primary election law needs
amendment and the governor sug
gests as to require for all state and
national offices that candidates be
fore the primary present to the secre
tary of state petitions signed by at
Fifteenth Annual Statement
Guarantee Fund Life Association
Omaha,. Nebraska
ASSETS
First Mortgage Farm Loans
Municipal Bonds. , .'
Cash in Banks and Treasury
Accrued Interest.
........... . .
INCOME
and Other Refelpta From Pollcy
, , , , , , , , , , , , ,
$1,238,254.05
GROWTH BY YEARS
Reserve, Surplus and Mortuary Funds
1902... $2,974.68
1903 $8,210.88
1904 $13,471.36
1905... .$21,949.47
1906 $33,931.93
1907 $60,597.01
1908 $105,748.90
1909 $160,885.69
1910 $225,145.15
"1911 $375,013.50
1912. ..,..$607,992.65
1913 $763,728.03
1914 .$1,079,068.87
1915 $1,380,767.06
1916 $1,931,925.48
Above funds invested according to law in First! Mortgage
Farm Loans and Municipal Bonds.
Buffington, President L. A. Williams, Vice-President
Hughes, Secretary-Treasurer J. S. Helgren, Cashier
Langdon, Assistant Secretary L.E. Gillespie, Auditor
least I per cent of the, total vote cast
for such office at the last general elec
tion, such signatures representing
voters in at least two-thirds of the
counties. For county offices, includ
ing legislature and county judge, the
primary system to prevail as at pres
ent. Candidates seeking nomination
from two parties failing to receive the
nomination of the major party cannot
go on the ticket as candidates of the
minor party unless the votes so cast
were greater than the candidate re
ceived from the major party. No
candidate whose name appeared on
the primary ballot should be per
mitted to file for office by petition.
Starter Ballot.
For the shorter ballot, and to avoid
changing elective to appointive of
ficers, Governor Neville suggests that
at the 1918 election all- officers be
elected for four years. This would
make state and national elections al
ternate, and would materially shorten
the ballot in presidential years. He
would further shorten the ballot by
omitting the names of the presidential
electors, having these chosen by party
conventions, to serve in case of the
presidential candidates of their re
spective party receiving a plurality.
For the Schools.
He also recommends that university
regents, state and county superin
tendents and all other elective school
officers be put on a nonpartisan basis.
Also that "appropriations should be
made for the development, mainte
nance and the support of all educa
tional institutions, including rural high
schools and consolidated schools,
which have been authorized by pre
vious legislation."
Irrigation Needs.
Irrigation gets attention in the sug
gestion that "there should be the
greatest possible co-operation be
tween the State Board of Irrigation.
Highways and Drainage, and the
United Mates Reclamation service.
This can be done by "authorizing the
state engineer to employ two men to
gauge and measure the North l'latte
river from the Wyoming line to Elm
creek, thereby assisting the reclama
tion officials in determining the loss
and gain from seepage and evapora
$1,670,929.35
153,300.00
102,202.23
30,991.03
. $1,957,422.61
s
- Holders,
, , , , , . , ,
.$1,135,091.54
, 103,162.51
We certify to the correctness
Omaha, Neb., January 2, 1917.
OFFICERS
tion during the different periods
throughout the irrigation season."
New State House Plans.
For the solution of the state house
problem he recommends that a build
ing commission, to serve without pay,
he created. This commission to de
cided upon a definite plan, and then
proceed to build piecemeal. The cost
to be met by a tax extending over a
number of years. The "slightly in
creased cost of building piecemeal
would be more than offset bv the rc-
Iduced cost of building material when
prices return to normal.
National Guard Support,
The National Guard is warmly
praised for its response to the call of
the president, and the legislature is
urged to "give thoughtful consider
ation to the recommendations of the
state's military department and enact
such legislation as may he necessary
to maintain the guard in a reasonable
state of efficiency."
It is recommended that the supreme
court commission be continued, and
that hotel commission be consolidated
with the pure food and drug drpart-"!
ment.
Good Roads Measures.
- Good roads are favored by Gov
ernor Neville, but "any plan adopted
should he inaugurated on a conserva
tive scale. There must be some
responsible state body through which
the good roads fund would be dis
tributed. This body should co-operate
with the county authorities and
act in an advisory capacity with refer
ence to road making. The cost of
such road construction should be
borne equally by the counties and by
the federal government. In instances
where the roads constructed connect
county seats, thereby facilitating inter-county
travel, and being of gen
eral as well as local benefit, state aid
should be given, the cost being borne
one-third by the county, one-third by
the state and one-third by the federal
government. Where feasible, con
vict labor should be utilized in the
construction of roads."
Workmen's Compensation.
The workmen's compensation law
should be amended to make the relief
adequate in certain cases, and to
guard the injured employe against in
-LIABILITIES
Death Losses Proven and Unpaid., None
Death Losses Reported (Proofs Not Filed) $ 30,000.00
Liability Under Installment Policies Terminated by Death 85,054.94
Taxes on Premiums Accrued. (Estimated) 20,000.00
Miscellaneous Office Expense (Estimated) . 5,000.00
Total ' '.$ 140,054.94
Balance to Protect Contract 1,817,367.67
Total ,.$1,957,422.61
DISBURSEMENTS '
Death Losses. , 268,074.33
Commissions and Fees to Agents 226,215.61
Salaries to Officers, Directors and Employes 58,147,53
Medical Examinations 25,909.00
Inspection of NewRisks 14,627.74
Department Fees and Taxes ., . . . 22,456.50
All Other Disbursements (Rent, Postage, Office Equip
ment, Etc.) ', 53,256.79
Total $ 668,687.50
Excess Income Over All Disbursements 569,566.55
Total ". '. .$1,238,254.05
RESULTS FOR 1916 , .
Securities Deposited With Nebraska Insurance Depart
ment to Protect Policy-Holders ( $1,824,229.35
Mortgage Loans Due and Unpaid None
Interest on Loans Due and Unpaid None
Average Rate of Interest Earned on Invested Funds.. 6.14
Reserve, Surplus and Mortuary Funds Held Solely for
Payment of Losses $1,931,925.48
Increase in Reserve, Surplus and Mortuary Funds during
1916 551,158.42
Losses Paid Since Organization 1,090,048.58
Mortality Cost, Year 1916, for Each $1,000.00 of Insur
ance in Force (Mean Amount) 4.53
Expected Mortality, 1916, (American Experience Table) 832,000.00
Actual Mortality, 1916 336,000.00
Percentage of Actual to Expected Mortality 40.39
New Insurance Gained, January 1 to December 31, 1916. $9,672,000.00
Insurance in Force 79,062,000.00'
Designated Depository . Banks 3,207
of the foregoing statement.
L. E. GILLESPIE, Auditor.
JNO. W. BARTH, Actuary.
solvency of the employer. Develop
ment of water power is recommended,
and the legislature is advised to be
economical in expenditure of public
funds.
Ben Keegan No Lunger Has
Charge of City , Prisoners
At the request of City Commis
sioner .lardine, "' n Keegan resigned
as watchman at the city workhouse.
Mr. lardine made this statement:
"Mr. Keegan has been allowing pris
oners to escape, even after 1 warned
him on December' 11. On December
15 he let nine men get away. On a
day of last week three men escaped.
THE
JEST
SMOKING TOBACCO
TWE fren'ship
that's hardest
to gain, usually
lasts the longest.
The harder it is
to please yo' to
bacco taste, the
longer you tvill
stick to Velvet.
want
1 II IfllSMOOm
Edward M. Martin, Vice-President
John W. Barth, Actuary
Dr. A. C. Stokes, Medical Director
I would say that nearly seventy-five
i - L l I -ll....,4 in rr...
nave necn rcicascu or iiuw. ,
away by Keegan. He even went so
far as to get a physician to examine
some of these men and then released
them himself on this physician's
statement."
Council Orders Te Poel
To Probe Saloon Bonds
The city council directed Assistant
City Attorney Te Poel to examine all
personal surety bonds offered by ap
plicants for saloon licenses. Several
statements of liability have been re
jected on account of bondsmen not
owning property claimed.
A STRONG
tobacco
may have lots
of flavor, but
vou can't smoke
as much of it a3 you
want A mild tobacco
often has only ( its
mildness to recom
mend it
VELVET combines
mildness and flavor in
such a wav vou can i
smoke all you want, and
all you smoke.