Of the State University he uttered the following:

The report of the Board of Regents of the State University makes a particularly gratifying showing. The growth of the University during the last biennial period has been phenomenal. The attendance has more than doubled, the present enrollment being 957. This registration represents twenty states besides Nebraska and sixty-four Nebraska counties. The close connection of the University with the public school system is shown by the fact that 387 pupils come from high schools and 315 from public schools. The advanced standing of the University and its strong hold upon all who are seeking the best facilities for higher education is manifested by the fact that 125 of the students came from other colleges and universities, largely within this State. That it is ministering in a helpful way to the great mass of the people of the State and not to any preferred class is shown by the fact that 243 of its students are children of farmers while the remainder are scattered with a large degree of equality among every occupation known in the State.

He gave the following facts:

I have the honor to report the granting by me of thirteen pardons, twelve commutations and five remittances of fines. The different sums of money received by me and paid into the State Treasury, as evidenced by receipts on file, amount to $14,166.80.

Speaking of the Adjutant General's office he said:

A demand was made for the return of this money ($1,440.86) which demand was complied with.

On the subject of the Nebraska Relief Commission:

Relief was afforded in about ten counties which had suffered from the drouth of the season of 1890. Provisions were supplied to an average of 8,000 families averaging five in a family, from four to six weeks. Great good was done, and many discouraged settlers were thus enabled to hold their homes, and have since been rewarded with good crops. Though the last legislature had appropriated $25,000 for the National Guard, Gov. Boyd asked but $10,000 for an equal length of time, two years; and recommended that artillery and cavalry be mustered out, and "that the strength of the companies be increased to conform with the new tactics, and that each company have a maximum of 100 enlisted men."

On the subject of extortions, he stated:

I think there is a demand for the regulation of rates charged by the express companies within this State, to the end that charges unreasonably high may be reduced to a reasonable cost. There is no justification of the high rates at present exacted by the express companies of this State.

He had the following on insane convicts:

I would further call your attention to the advisability of a law which would authorize the executive to parole convicts who become insane in the prison for transfer to an asylum. Under existing conditions, to transfer an insane convict to an asylum, the governor must issue a pardon and an insanity board must then pass upon the unfortunate person. Should the prisoner, however, become cured of his insanity, he cannot be returned to the state prison, a defect in the law which should be remedied.

Two important recommendations related to libraries and to the State Historical Society.

I believe that the law relating to the establishment of public libraries should be amended so as to extend like privileges to each school district in the State, as I think the establishment of free libraries in conjunction with the public schools would be a wise and judicious thing.

The State Historical Society calls upon the legislature for an increase of the amount appropriated allotted to it, asking for $7,500 for the ensuing two years. I believe this desirable and therefore recommend it.

Recurring to his veto of a railroad freight bill in the session of 1892, he said:

I am still of the opinion that a reasonable reduction in freight rates should be made, but from year to year conditions vary so much that an inflexible rate on all schedule articles would be liable to work injustice, and, in my judgment should not be established by statute, except, perhaps, upon staple commodities, such as grain, live stock, coal, lumber, and like commodities in car-load lots. The adjustment of rates should, I believe, be left to a commission composed of men capable of dealing intelligently with the question and affording means to thoroughly inform themselves as to the merits of each separate case brought before them for adjustment.

In view of the fact, that an appropriation of $50,000 would fail to present the state's capabilities and demands, in an adequate manner, in the World's Fair at Chicago, an equal additional appropriation was recommended.

The warehouse bill of last session, now a law, received hearty commendation, with such additions suggested as would give it greater efficiency. The new election law known as the Australian System, and the Michigan mode of choosing presidential electors, by congressional districts, came in for approval, on the basis of successful experiment, and needed only certain specific additions to bring them up to the governor's standard of democratic excellence.

In his official term, having navigated a stormy sea, his excellency hailed a quiet port with an honest concession:

There are many agreeable things connected with the Governor's office, but at the same time, I may say, it is with a feeling of pleasure and rejoicing that I relinquish unto my successor the duties, cares and responsibilities pertaining thereto.

GOVERNOR LORENZO CROUNSE.

1893-1895.

Governor Lorenzo Crounse delivered his inaugural January 13, 1893, in which he congratulated the legislature upon state prosperity, as contrasted with the drouth of two years before; affirmed the fact of Nebraskans being a plain, toiling people, averse to "extravagance which begets extravagance"; and expressed the positive opinion that "the appropriations made by the last legislature" were $750,000 too high, and that $50,000 more could be saved by the legislature dispensing with unnecessary employees; that the management of state institutions should be so thorough that guilty officials, if in existence, should be exposed; that "corporations not only have no right to unjustly take millions, but they should not be allowed to take an unjust dollar from the people," and yet "their property deserves the same consideration as that accorded to any other," and while the Populist party had control of the legislature and he would have preferred one in harmony with his own views, still it was their duty "to advance the welfare and glory of the State in which we all have such a just pride."

It was at this session of the legislature that Judge William V. Allen, Populist, was elected United States Senator for a term of six years.

MESSAGE, JANUARY 3, 1895.

Two years after the delivery of his inaugural, he was compelled to review a period of great financial depression and failure of crops in the western part of the State, causing him to revive the relief commission of 1891, and giving an opportunity of thanking the people of Oregon and others for substantial aid, and the railroads for free transportation for donated supplies. Said he: "My idea is that the several counties should care for their own needy." He believed this would produce economy and