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DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WELFARE

 DUTIES AND POWERS

     1. The department of public welfare shall have general supervision and control over matters relating to public health, sanitation and the general public welfare; and shall provide for examinations; and enforce the provisions of the laws; and have supervision over all matters of quarantine and quarantine regulations.

     2. The department of public welfare shall have the right at all times to inspect the equipment and methods of teaching in all medical colleges and medical schools of the state, and shall have the power to refuse examination to the graduates of any school which, on proper notice and hearing, shall be adjudged not a medical college or medical school in good standing as defined by the laws of this state.

     3. The department of public welfare shall inquire into the whole system of public charities and methods of and practices in the correctional institutions in the state and counties and may require information and statistics from them. The Department may so inquire into the management of any state and county penal, reformatory or charitable institution. All investigations undertaken shall be directed toward the betterment of methods pertaining to the health, punish-

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BUREAU OF HEALTH

HISTORY

     The original board of health law was enacted in 1891. In 1903 the law was amended and a state health inspector provided. The governor, attorney general and superintendent of public instruction composed the board. The active work of the board was directed by a board of four secretaries, appointed by the governor, and a health inspector, subject to their instructions in the actual execution of the laws and who devoted his entire time to the work.

     The legislature of 1917 passed a law reorganizing the health department, and putting the active work in charge of a staff appointed by the governing board. In addition, the governor appointed an advisory board of four physicians whose principal duty was to conduct the examinations for licenses to practice medicine. The functions of the health department were conferred upon the department of public welfare by the civil administrative code of 1919.

DUTIES AND POWERS

     The bureau of health is required to
     1. Supervise and control all matters relating to the protection of the people from contagious, infectious and epidemic diseases.
     2. Serve as registrar of vital statistics.
     3. Operate a bacteriological laboratory.
     4. Disseminate information concerning public health.
     5. Endeavor to eradicate venereal diseases.
     6. Promote public health and sanitation.

DIVISION OF EXAMINING BOARDS

     The following examining boards have been grouped together under the authority of the department of public welfare. The fees and renewals collected from candidates for license or certification cover the expenses of the examinations.

BOARD OF MEDICAL EXAMINERS

     This board was formerly an advisory board of the state health department. It now consists of three physicians appointed by the department of public welfare. They conduct the examinations for license to practice medicine in Nebraska.

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BOARD OF PHARMACY

     This board was established in 1887. Its members were the attorney general, secretary of state, auditor, treasurer, and commissioner of public lands, and buildings. The board appointed a board of five examiners who conducted the business. Three apothecaries appointed by the department of public welfare now constitute the board, whose duty it is to examine all applicants for pharmacists' licenses.

BOARD OF NURSES

     The legislature of 1909 created this board. It now consists of three registered nurses appointed by the department of public welfare. Its sole duty is to conduct the examinations for the registration of nurses.

BOARD OF DENTISTRY'

     This board was created by the legislature of 1905. It consists of five dentists appointed by the state department of public welfare for terms of five years. It is their duty to examine and certify dentists and annually to register all dentists.

BOARD OF EMBALMERS

     The board was created in 1889. It consists of three persons appointed by the state. department of public welfare.

     This board examines and registers embalmers.

BOARD OF OSTEOPATHY

     The legislature of 1901 provided for the certification of osteopaths by the state department of health. The legislature of 1909 provided for a state board of osteopathy, consisting of the governor and five, examiners appointed by the governor for terms of five years. The .board now consists of three members appointed by the department of public welfare.

      The board examines persons desiring to practice osteopathy.

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BOARD OF OPTOMETRY

     This board was created by the legislature of 1907. It consists of three examiners appointed by the department of public welfare.

     The board examines persons desiring to practice optometry.

BOARD OF CHIROPRACTIC

     This board was created by the legislature of 1915. It consists of three members appointed by the department of public welfare.

     The board conducts examinations for license to practice chiropractic.

BOARD OF VETERINARIANS

     This board was created in 1905. Three regularly licensed veterinarians appointed by the department of public welfare conduct the examinations for licenses to practice veterinary medicine.

MATERNITY HOMES

     The department of public welfare is required to issue licenses to maternity homes and lying-in hospitals, and to revoke the same when deemed advisable.

BOARD OF CHIROPODY

     This board was established by the legislature of 1919. It consists. of three members appointed by the department of public welfare. It conducts examinations for license to practice chiropody.

BUREAU OF CHILD WELFARE

     The legislature of 1919 created this bureau in the department of public instruction, but it was afterwards transferred to the department of public welfare.

DUTIES AND POWERS

     1. To make rules for a supervised system of recreation.
     2. To lessen and prevent penal trials and punishment of children.
     3. To assist in equalizing opporunities (sic) for the children of this state.

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DIVISION OF ATHLETICS

     Created by 1921 legislature. Has full power to supervise all boxing and wrestling bouts held in Nebraska, license all clubs and participants, .and to make all rules and regulations governing bouts.

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS

DUTIES AND POWERS

     The department of public works exercises the powers and performs the duties formerly discharged by the state board of irrigation, high ways and drainage.

     The department of public works appoints a state engineer and supervises all of the state's building or construction work which is not vested in any other department and superintends the construction and maintenance of highways, bridges and other public improvements for which any money is appropriated by the state.

     The licensing of motor vehicles now devolves upon the department of public works. This was formerly the duty of the secretary of state.

PUBLICATIONS

     Rules adopted by the department.
     Biennial report. Irrigation laws.

      The duties of the following boards and commissions of the old administrative system have been taken over by the department of public works.

BUREAU OF IRRIGATION, WATER POWER AND DRAINAGE

HISTORY

     This bureau was created by statute in 1895. The governors attorney general and commissioner of public lands and buildings composed the

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DUTIES AND POWERS

The bureau is required to--
     1. Determine the rights to the use of the public waters, and generally to enforce the laws concerning water rights, highways and drainage.
     2. Appoint water commissioners.
     3. Approve plans for the construction of dams and, power plants.
     4. Supervise construction of bridges erected by state aid.
     5. Approve plans for drainage districts.

ADJUTANT GENERAL AND NATIONAL GUARD

HISTORY

     The act of February 15, 1864, created the office of adjutant general for the territory of Nebraska, with the salary of $300 per annum. The occasion was the great Sioux and Cheyenne Indian war on the Nebraska border. The territorial militia was organized under an act approved February 13, 1865. The act of the state legislature of February 15, 1869, continued the office. On March 17, 1871, the legislature abolished the office, and provided for the transfer of the archives to the custody of the secretary of state. By the act of February 28, 1881, the office was restored and has had continuous existence since that time.

     The governor appoints the adjutant general from the commissioned officers of the Nebraska National Guard. The appointee holds the position until the age of retirement at sixty-four, unless he resigns or is relieved according to law.

DUTIES AND POWERS

     The adjutant general is required to--
     1. Have control of the military department subject to the governor, whose orders he transmits.
     2. Keep records, receive and issue supplies, care for equipment and other property of the military department, and is responsible for the training and equipping of the National Guard.

PUBLICATIONS

     Biennial report.

BOARD OF EDUCATIONAL LANDS AND FUNDS

     Meets second Tuesday of each month.

     The constitution of 1875 (article VII, section 1) designated the governor, secretary of state, treasurer, attorney general and commissioner of public lands and buildings to constitute a board for the

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BOARD OF EXAMINERS OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS

     George W. Marsh, Auditor.
     Henry Moeller.
     John M. Gilchrist.

     The legislature of 1909 created this board, consisting of the auditor and two certified public accountants appointed by the governor for terms of two years. Candidates for public accountants' certificates are examined by the board, and upon satisfactorily passing the examinations are certified to the governor, who issues the proper credentials. The examination questions are those furnished by the national association of certified public accountants. The fees collected have covered the expenses of holding the examinations.

DEPOSITORY BONDS BOARD

     This board consists of the governor, secretary of state and attorney general. Its function is to approve the depository bonds of banks in which state funds are deposited, except such banks as are by statute exempted from furnishing such a bond. It was created by an act approved April 8, 1891.

BOARD OF EQUALIZATION AND ASSESSMENT

     Meets for assessment first Monday in May. Meets for equalization third Monday in July. Adam McMullen, Governor. Charles W. Pool, Secretary of State. C. D. Robinson, Treasurer. George W. Marsh, Auditor.

HISTORY

     The territorial auditor in 1855 determined the amount to be raised by each county for territorial tax. In 1857 the legislature adopted the revenue code of Iowa for Nebraska territory. This code provided for a census board which was to exercise the functions of a board of equalization. In 1858 the legislature provided that the territorial auditor and treasurer should constitute the territorial board of equal-

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     A constitutional amendment adopted in September, 1920, substituted a tax commissioner for the commissioner of public lands and buildings in the personnel of the board. The tax commissioner is appointed by the governor with the consent of the senate, and has jurisdiction over the administration of all the revenue laws of -the state, subject to review by the board of equalization.

DUTIES AND POWERS

     The board of equalization and assessment
     1. Must equalize the assessments of property in the several counties, and has power to raise or lower the assessed valuation of any county.
     2. Shall determine the amount of all taxes required for state purposes and the rate of taxation upon all property in the state necessary to raise the same, and make the levy of such taxes.

     The tax commissioner
     1. Shall provide a uniform method of keeping all books relating to taxation in the several counties, and shall send to county clerks all blanks necessary to the operation of the assessment laws.
     2. Shall have general direction and control of the county assessors.

PENITENTIARY MEDICAL BOARD

     B. A. Finkle, M. D., Physician at Penitentiary.
     D. G. Griffiths, M. D., Superintendent, Lincoln Hospital for the Insane.
     E. W. Rowe, M. D., State Board of Medical Examiners.

     This board is composed of the physician at the penitentiary, the superintendent of the Lincoln hospital for the insane, and one of the examiners of the state department of health.

     It is required to examine convicts whose sanity is questioned and to certify its findings to the governor.

BOARD OF CANVASSERS

     Meets second Tuesday in September and the fourth Monday in December.

HISTORY

     An act approved March 16, 1855, required the territorial secretary, with two other territorial officers, to canvass the vote on territorial 

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     An act approved February 15, 1864, provided that qualified electors of the territory in the actual military service of the United States or, of this territory should be entitled to' exercise the right of suffrage while absent from home. The governor, secretary and auditor of the, territory were to canvass this vote and perform such other duties relating to the canvass as might be required under existing, provisions oflaw. The revised statutes of 1866 add the vote on territorial librarian ,to the list of those canvassed. An act of October 28, 1868, provided for canvassing the vote on presidential electors. An act approved February 15, 1869, required the president of the senate to canvass the vote for member of congress, governor, secretary of state, auditor and treasurer. This act was extended in 1873 to include votes on attorney general, superintendent of public instruction, justices of the supreme court and district attorney. An act approved February 17, 1877, provided that the vote on executive officers should be canvassed by the legislature in joint session, and the vote on other than executive officers should be canvassed by a canvassing board composed of the governor, auditor, treasurer, secretary of state and attorney general. This act of March 1, 1879, required that the vote on governor, lieutenant governor, members -of congress, secretary of state, auditor, treasurer, superintendent of public instruction, attorney general, commissioner of public lands and buildings and district attorneys, and votes expressing choice for United States senator should be canvassed by the legislature, while votes cast for presidential electors, judges of the supreme and district courts and regents of the university should be canvassed by the canvassing board. An act of 1917 eliminates all but. votes for president and vice-president from the work of the canvassing board. According to this act the presidential electors are appointed, not elected.

STATE RACING COMMISSION

     The legislature of 1921 passed an act "to promote the horse breeding industry in Nebraska; to provide for the establishment of breeders' and racing associations." Three members of the commission are appointed by the governor for six-year. terms at the expiration of the

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     The commission has power to "prescribe the rules and regulations and conditions under which trotting and running race meetings. shall be conducted in this state, except such meetings as are conducted by the state board of agriculture, or any county board of agriculture, or any fair association holding only one such meeting per year and for a period not exceeding six days for such meeting."

STATE PARK BOARD

     Adam McMullen, Governor.
     Prof. C. C. Wiggans, Chairman Department of Horticulture, Secretary.

     The legislature of 1921 created a state park board in the department of public works. The board consisted of the governor, secretary of the department, and six members appointed by the governor to serve for terms of six years each.

     The legislature of 1923 amended the law by attaching the board to the department of horticulture of the University of Nebraska. The chairman of the department of horticulture is secretary of the board.

     The state formally accepted the gift of Arbor Lodge from the heirs of J. Sterling Morton and an appropriation of $10,000 for the maintenance of Morton Park was granted.

     The legislature of 1921 created a state park of 640 acres on educational lands owned by the state in Dawes county. In. 1923, by joint resolution, the legislature authorized the acceptance of the gift of sixty acres of land in Custer county, to be known as Victoria Springs Park.

DUTIES AND POWERS

     The park board
     1. Has charge and supervision of all lands and areas owned, or acquired by the state, and used for parks, parkways, boulevards, forest reserves, or set aside for the protection of animal or bird life or by reason of their natural beauty, scientific interest or historic association.
     2. May acquire and hold in trust lands or bequests of money or personal property in furtherance of the purposes of the board.

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