554 



NEBRASKA. 



Justice, George B. Lake; Associate Justices, 

 Araasa Cobb and Samuel Maxwell. 



Legislative Session. The Legislature, contain- 

 ing 15 Republicans, 11 Democrats, 6 Anti-Mo- 

 nopolists, and one Greenbacker in the Senate, 

 and 55 Republicans, 26 Democrats, 16 Anti- 

 Monopolists, and 3 Independents in the House, 

 convened on the 2d of January, and adjourned 

 on the 26th of February. . On the 4th of Jan- 

 uary, Gov. Dawes delivered his inaugural ad- 

 dress, from which the following are extracts : 



There is an evil of considerable magnitude which 

 of late years has prevailed in many localities of our 

 State, to the great injury of large numbers of our peo- 

 ple. I refer particularly to the sale of fraudulent pat- 

 ent rights and of stock in fictitious corporations, by 

 which unsuspecting persons have been induced to 

 make worthless purchases, and give in payment their 

 negotiable promissory notes, which, by a transfer to 

 innocent holders, they were finally compelled to pay. 

 There seems to be a well-tbunded doubt in the minds 

 of many whether, in the present condition of our 

 criminal law, such fraudulent practices can be reached 

 and punished. I would, therefore, respectfully sug- 

 gest the propriety of incorporating into the law a suit- 

 able provision remedying this defect. 



Article XI of the Constitution, sections numbered 

 four and seven, reads as follows : 



" SECTION 4. Eailways heretofore constructed, or 

 that may hereafter be constructed in this State, are 

 hereby declared public highways, and shall be free to 

 all persons for the transportation of their persons 

 and property thereon, under such regulations as may 

 be prescribed by law. And the Legislature may from 

 time to time pass laws establishing reasonable maxi- 

 mum rates of charges for the transportation of passen- 

 gers and freights on the different railroads in this 

 State. The liability of railroad corporations as com- 

 mon carriers shall never be limited. 



"SECTION 7. The Legislature shall pass laws to 

 correct abuses and prevent unjust discrimination and 

 extortion in all charges of express, telegraph, and rail- 

 road companies in this State, and enforce such laws 

 by adequate penalties to the extent, if necessary for 

 that purpose, of forfeiture of their property and fran- 



/iViJcaa " 



These citations are made for the reason that I wish, 

 to bring before your minds the fact that by virtue of 

 these provisions the people have reserved to them- 

 selves absolute power in all matters pertaining to the 

 correction of abuses, extortions, or unjust discrimina- 

 tion on the part of railroads or other corporations. 



On the 31st of January, Charles F. Mander- 

 son (Republican), on the seventeenth joint bal- 

 lot, was chosen United States Senator. The 

 vote was as follows : 



C. F. Manderson, 75 ; J. H. Stickel, 20 ; James E. 

 Boyd, 17 ; J. S. Morton, 14 ; C. H. Brown, 5 ; A. 

 H. Conner, 1 ; D. M. Nettleton, 1. Total, 133. 



Among the acts of the session were t 



Joint resolution to Congress praying for the abolish- 

 ment of tolls on the railroad-bridges spanning tbe 

 Missouri. 



Authorizing counties to issue bonds for refunding 

 their bonded indebtedness, and provide for register- 

 ing and certifying the same, and for levying a tax to 

 pay interest and principal thereof. 



To provide additional remedies for enforcement of 

 judgments and orders for alimony and maintenance. 



Amending section 4, chapter 55, compiled statutes, 

 by adding the following : " Persons who can show 

 documentary evidence that they have passed a satis- 

 factory examination before medical boards of other 

 States created for the purpose of such examination, 

 and all surgeons or assistant surgeons who were com- 



missioned and served as such in the late war of the 

 rebellion." 



Joint resolution to Congress requesting such legis- 

 lation as will compel railroad companies to take out 

 patents and pay taxes on lands granted them by the 

 national Government. 



For the security of guests and lodgers in hotels 

 against injury by fire. 



Apportioning the State into ten judicial districts. 



Prohibiting the uttering of false pedigrees of stock. 



To protect butter and cheese manufacturers. 



Requiring county treasurers to publish a tabulated 

 statement of the affairs of the office in June, 1883, 

 and January, 1884, and semi-annually thereafter. 



For the incorporation of churches, parishes, and re- 

 ligious societies. 



Amends section 11, chapter 50, compiled statutes, 

 " Liquors." The amendment is the old section with 

 the following added : " Provided, that any person or 

 persons shall be allowed to sell wine made from 

 grapes grown or raised by said person or persons on 

 land belonging to or occupied by said person or per- 

 sons in the State of Nebraska, the same to be sold in 

 quantities not less than one gallon, without procuring 

 the license provided for in this chapter." 



Prohibiting extortion and discrimination in the 

 transmission of telegraph dispatches. 



Amending the Constitution in regard to the Legisla- 

 ture. Members will remain in office two years, and 

 receive a salary of $300, and ten cents mileage both 

 ways. Eegular sessions to continue sixty days. No 

 bills to be introduced after the fortieth day, except in 

 response to a special message from the Governor. 



Prohibiting the fraudulent transfer of propertv. 



To prevent beginning of round-up of cattle till after 

 the 15th day of May. 



To protect the health of female employes, by com- 

 pelling employers to provide chairs for their female 



for the protection of inmates of the Hospital for the 

 Insane ; providing that every inmate shall be allowed 

 to write one letter a week and have it posted without 

 censorship of officers. 



Appropriating $50,000 for the erection of a new 

 building, and for repairs and improvements of the 

 Nebraska State Eeform School. One-fourth-mill tax 

 to raise money. 



Capitol appropriation bill ; provides for taking 

 down the old building, and makes a half-mill tax. 



Prohibiting the importation, selling, or running at 

 large of domestic animals afflicted with any conta- 

 gious disease. 



Several bills for the regulation of railroads 

 were introduced, but none was passed. 



Party Conventions. The Democratic State 

 Convention met in Omaha, on the 29th of Au- 

 gust. James W. Savage, of Douglas county, 

 was nominated for Justice of the Supreme 

 Court; and J. M. Wool worth, of Douglas, E. 

 R. Daniels, of Madison, and G. W. Johnston, 

 of Fillmore, for Regents of the University. 



The platform declares against protective tar- 

 iff, against prohibitory liquor laws, against en- 

 croachments of corporate capital, and against 

 free passes. 



The Republican State Convention met in 

 Lincoln, on the 26th of September. The fol- 

 lowing is the ticket nominated: For Judge of 

 the Supreme Court, M. B. Reese, of Saunders 

 county; for Regents of the University (long 

 term), Milton J. Hull, of Clay, and John T. 

 Mallalieu, of Buffalo ; for Regents of the Uni- 

 versity (short term), Jesse M. Hiatt, of Harlan, 

 and Ed. P. Holmes, of Pierce. 



The platform declares for protective tariff, 



