NEGenWeb Project
Resource Center
On-Line Library 

148

NEBRASKA BLUE BOOK, 1920

LEGISLATIVE EXPENSES, PARTY DOMINATING AND NUMBER OF DAY IN SESSION--1877-1919

			Party in	Party in	No. or Ses-
Year	Expenses		Control of House	Control of Senate	sion Days
1877	$31,869.01		Republican	Republican	45
1879	42,423.96		Republican	Republican	50
1981	47,243.19		Republican	Republican	54
1883	71,050.63		Republican	Republican	56
1885	84,874.68		Republican-	Republican	59
1887	166,607.02		Republican	Republican	87
1889	174,280.10		Republican	Republican	89
1891	143,833.35		Populist and Democratic	Democratic	89
1893	119,363,77		Populist and Democratic	Populist and Democratic	96
1895	113,330.72		Republican	Republican	95
1897	102,083.30		Populist and Democratic	Populist and Democratic	95
1899	98,957.68		Republican	Republican.	88
1901	126,855.45		Republican	Republican	87
1903	103,941.35		Republican.	Republican	90
1905	89,196.75		Republican	Republican	86
1907	94,199.31		Republican	Republican	94
1909	94,038.35		Democratic	Democratic	88
1911	104,968.31		Democratic	Democratic	93
1913	170,000.00		Democratic	Republican	99
1915	132,500.00		Democratic	Democratic	71
1917	152.150.00		Democratic	Republican	86
1919	142,500.00		Republican	Republican	68

---

     From 1877 to the present time, both houses were in the control of one party, with the exception of the session of 1913. Session expenses have increased and decreased under both parties so it is impossible to say that either party has been responsible for excess expenses.

NEBRASKA BLUE BOOK, 1920

149

APPROPRIATIONS FOR EXPENSES OF LEGISLATURE. 1867-1921

	Salaries of	Incidental Ex-
Years	Members, Officers	penses, Printing,	Total
	and Employes	Stationery, Post
		age, etc.
1867-68	20,190.001	$3,016.73	$23,206.73
1869-70	19,130.00	4,150.00	23,280.00
1871-72	21,434.96	7,638.40	29,073.36
1873-74	23,674.90	12,894.79	36,569.69
1875-76	13,941.20	10,298.24	24,239.44
1877-79	23,170.70	8,698.31	31,869.01
1879-81	27.112.10	15,311.86	42,423.96
1881-83	28,780.00	18,463.19	47,243.19
1883-85	36,242.30	34,808.33	71,050.63
1885-87	44,999.60	39,875.08	84,874.68
1887-89	90,016.30	76,590.72	166,607.02
1889-91	104,053.72	70,226.38	174,280.10
1891-93	90,393.65	53,439.70	143,833.35
1803-95	76,827.23	42,536.54	119,363.77
1895-97	81,110.50	32,220.22	113,330.72
1897-99	81,235.45	20,847.85	102,083.30
1899-01	76,041.30	22,916.38	98,967.68
1901-03	82,722.40	44,133.05	126,855.45
1903-05	81,164.90	22,776.45	103,941.35
1905-07	75,469.00	13,727.75	89,196.75
1907-09	76,162.40	18,036.91	94,190.31
1909-11	76,192.62	17,845.73	94,038,35
1911-13	82,485.40	22,482.91	104,968.31
1913-15	145,000.00	25,500.003	170,500.00
1915-17	110,000.00	22,500.004	132,500.00
1917-19	108,750.00	43,400.005	152,150.00
1918 (special session)	12,800.00	6,110.20	18,910.20
1919-21	112,500.00	30,000.00	142,500.00
1919 (special sessions)	21,200.00	2,000.00	23,200.00
Total	1,842,800.63	742,445.72	2,585,246.35

---

     ¹$2,800 of this amount chargeable to 1866.
     ²Prior to session of 1877 the members received a per diem of $3. A constitutional amendment adopted in 1886 increased the per diem to $5, the president of the senate receiving $10 per diem. A further amendment adopted November, 1912, increased the salary of the members to $600, for each regular session, the president of the senate to receive twice the salary of a senator. An amendment adopted September 21, 1920, raised the salary of members to $800 for each regular session.
     ³Includes $500 for expenses of joint committee on legislative procedure.
     ⁴Includes $2,500 for salaries of senate employes and incidental expenses.
     ⁵Includes $5,600 senate expenses and salaries, $12,800 house salaries, and expenses, and $5,000 for joint committee to investigate Capital National Bank failure.

---

EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT

	Salary
Governor--Samuel R. McKelvie	$7,6001
Private Secretary--Lewis W. Horne	2,000
Recording Clerk--J. H. Presson	1,400
Stenographer--Gladys Redmond	1,200

HISTORY.

     Territorial governors were appointed by the president.

     Francis Burt, first territorial governor, arrived in Nebraska on October 16, 1854. David Butler, first governor of the state, entered upon his duties February

---

     ¹Salary fixed by constitutional amendment effective January 1, 1921.

150

NEBRASKA BLUE BOOK, 1920

20, 1867. The salary of territorial governors was $2,000, and that of state governors $1.000, until the constitution of 1875 fixed the salary at $2,500. The constitution of 1920 fixes the governor's salary at, $7,500 until otherwise provided by law. Beginning with 1889 the state paid the rent of a residence for the governor until 1899, except during the incumbency of Governor Crounse, who refused to accept the additional payments. In 1899 the legislature appropriated $15,000 for the purchase and furnishing of an executive mansion. Of this sum $21,385.30 was expended. Succeeding legislatures, with few exceptions, have made appropriations for the maintenance and repair of the mansion and the extension of the ground surrounding it. The supreme court has held that the constitutional provision that state officers shall receive no compensation in addition to their salaries is not violated by the maintenance of a residence for the governor, but several governors have refused to accept funds for maintenance. (State Y. Sheldon, 78 Neb. 552.)
DUTIES AND POWERS OF THE GOVERNOR (PARTIAL LIST)).

     The governor is required to

  1. Efficiently and economically administer State affairs.
  2. Prepare the budget of the state expenses and present to the legislature.
  3. Give Information by message to the legislature.
  4. Render account of all moneys received and disbursed by him.
  5. Appoint certain officers as required by the constitution and statutes, and fill vacancies in state offices.
  6. Serve as commander-in-chief of the militia.
  7. Sign or veto bills passed by the legislature.
  8. Call elections to fill vacancies in office of representatives in congress.
  9. Certify public accountants and notaries.
10. Approve requisitions for the return of accused persons to other states and countries.
11. With the superintendent of public instruction, manage escheated lauds.
12. Have custody of state lauds and property not otherwise disposed of by law.
13. With treasurer and auditor, direct investment of surplus funds.
14. Order election of officers in new counties.
15. Designate places of publication for proposed constitutional amendments, and proclaim such amendments when passed.

MEMBERSHIP ON VARIOUS BOARDS.

Member of, and chairman--
      board of educational lauds and funds.
      board of assessment and equalization.
      board of canvassers.
      depository bonds board
      state historical society executive board (by historical society constitution)
      vocational education board.
      voting machine commission.

NEBRASKA BLUE BOOK, 1920

151

APPROPRIATIONS, EXECUTIVE OFFICE, 1867-1921.

					Number of	Contingent and				Enforce-	Total
Years	Governor	Private	Chief	Other	Officers and	Traveling	Office	Executive	De-	ment
		Secretary	Clerk	Employes	Employes	Expenses	Supplies	Mansion	ficiency	of Law
1867-68	$2,250	$2,250	..........	..........	...........	..........	$625.00	..........	..........	..........	$5,125.00
1869-70	2,000	2,000	..........	..........		..........	2,250.00	..........	..........	..........	6,250.00
1871-72	2,000	2,400	..........	..........	2	..........	1,200.00	..........	..........	..........	5,600.00
1873-74	2,000	3,600	..........	..........	2	..........	6,050.00	..........	..........	..........	11,650.00
1875-76	2,000	4,000	..........	..........	..........	..........	5,050.00	..........	..........	..........	11,050.00
1877-79	5,625	3,825	..........	..........	2	..........	3,318.75	..........	..........	..........	12,768.75
1879 -81	5,000	3,000	..........	..........	3	..........	2,400.00	..........	..........	..........	10,400.00
1881-83	5,000	3,000	..........	..........	3	..........	2,400.00	..........	..........	..........	10,400.00
1883-85	5,000	3,200	..........	..........	3	..........	2,000.00	..........	..........	..........	10,200.00
1885-87	5,000	3,200	..........	..........	3	..........	6,500.00	..........	..........	..........	14,700.00
1887-89	5,000	3,400	..........	..........	3	..........	6,000.00	..........	..........	..........	14,400.00
1889-91	5,000	3,400	..........	..........	3	5,000	2,000.00	$2,000.00	..........	..........	17,400.00
1891-93	5,000	4,000	$ 2,000	$5,150	6	2,000	2,100.00	2,000.00	..........	..........	22,250.00
1893-95	5,000	4,000	2,000	4,400	6	............	1,800.00	..........	..........	..........	17,200 .00
1895-97	5,000	4,000	2,000	4,400	6	400	1,300.00	1,500.00	..........	..........	18,600.00
1897-99	5,000	4,000	2,400	4,200	6	400	1,200.00	1,500.00	$843.22	$5,0001	24,543.22
1899-01	5,000	4,000	3,000	4,200	6	600	1,700.00	21,385.302	152.35	5,0001	45,037.65
1901-03	5,000	4,000	3,000	3,480	6	200	1,375.00	3,000.00	..........	5,0001	25,055.00
1903-06	5,000	4,000	3,000	4,080	6	200	1,300.00	2,500.00	..........	5,0001	25,080.00
1895-07	5,000	4,000	3,000	4,080	6	200	1,300.00	3,600.00	..........	..........	21,180.00
1907-09	5,000	4,000	3,000	4,080	6	1,700	4,500.00	7,680.00	..........	..........	29,960.00
1909-11	5,000	4,000	3,000	4,080	6	1,200	3,755.00	5,225.00	14.25	..........	26,274.25
1911-13	5,000	4,000	3,000	4,080	6	1,500	2,000.00	5,500.00	..........	..........	25,080.00
1913-15	5,000	4,000	3,000	4,080	6	500	2,000.00	..........	..........	..........	18,580.00
1915-17	5,000	4,000	3,000	4,080	6	500	2,000.00	3,000.00	..........	..........	21,580.00
1917-19	5,000	4,000	3,000	4,800	6	500	2,000.00	3,500.00	..........	50,0004	72,800.00
1919-21	5,000	4,000	3,000	7,2005	..........	3,300	3,300.00	1,000.00	858.70	100, 000	127,358.70
Totals	$120,875	$97,275	$41,400	$65,670 (sic)	..........	$18,200	$71,423.75	$63,390.30	$1.868.52	$170,000	$649,078.57

---

     ¹ $5,000 special fund for civil and criminal prosecutions by attorney general.
     ² Purchase of executive mansion, $25,000 appropriated, $21,385.30 spent.
     ³ For extension of grounds.
     ⁴ For enforcement of liquor law.
     ⁵ Including $2,000 for extra help.
     ⁶ Including $25,000 for enforcement of liquor law.

© 2001 for the NEGenWeb Project by Pam Rietsch, Ted & Carole Miller