The Columbus journal., 1881-01-12
Lincoln correspondence.
LINCOLN, Jan. z, 1881


Monday Of last week, aud ever since
the mill has been grinding. The
Commercial hotel is the headquar-
ters of the crowd aud has been very
fitly called "the ant-hill," and tine
smoke house." from the restless, aud
seemingly aimless movements OF the
human insects, and from the smoke
of their torment, which ascends con-
tinually. There seems to be less of
drinking among the throng, this
time but the cigars have to suffer,
in consequence.
The organization of the houses,
appointment of committees, etc., OF
course you get from the dailies. The
Inter-Ocedn'S article will give those
who read il a fair idea OF the per-
sonnel Of the legislature, but no pen
can give an adequate idea OF what is
known in Nebraska as 1.-The third
house." otherwise, "the lobby" or
borrowing a phrase from national
politics - simply for the phrase
itselD, the visiting statesmen" l
believe that the present Legislature
will be found 10 be less under the
influence Of the lobby than is usu-
ally the case, though the air is liter
ally filled with all sorts of rumors
on all sorts of subjects, and members
are spoken OF by lobbyists as though
they were so many cattle to be
bought and sold, or so many hogs 10
be driven to the market. They take
it for granted that every man has a
set price, and can be swayed by i'm
proper motives-the offer of money,
the promise of some lucrative office,
or something OF the sort. All that
represents the people in this seeth-
ing caldron of individual and COR
porate interests, is the far-off recol-
lection that the member has of home,
friends and people, and whatever OF
integrity and public spirit he hap
pens naturally to possess and ex-
ercise.
The meeting of two hundred far
mers i'm this city Wednesday last, in
convention as a farmers alliance, has
had a good influence on members.
The idea uppermOst with them is
legislation on railroad and kindred
subjects, under the constitution.
They purpose circulating petitions,
and personally appealing to the
members of their several districts,
in behalf of farmers interests-after
doing their best in this way, they
express a determination to closely
watch the result, and mark the men
who forget their interests.
The election of Shedd as speaker
of the house may be taken as an
index of the temper of that body on
the railroad issue, because the other
two candidates (but notably Church
Howe) were regarded as railroad
candidates. The strenuous fight,
however, on the part of the rail-
roads, was made in the senate, upon
the adoption of rules of 1879, for the
government of the senate of 1881
one of these gave the authority OF
appointment to the Lieut.. Governor,
+. &. earns. A motion to amend
this, by giving the appointment, to
the senate, was lost.
For several good reasons, the sem
atOrs in favor of railroad legislation
do not consider this a test of
strength; however, their constitu-
ents will regard il in a different
light. until further action convinces
them otherwise. l would not wish
to be classified as a political prophet,
but i venture TO express the opinion
that when the due time comes the
majority in the senate, in favor OF
monopoly rule, will be small, il,
indeed, il be anything, and all men,
bers will be put on the record.
learn that Senator Turner of the
l4th district expressed the follow
ing views on this subject don't
pretend to give his language: at is
the correct rule for a legislator to
determine each question before him
upon its merits. The committees of
the senate are its organs, because it
is through these or by these that the
legislative functions are exercised.
Considered as an entirety, the COM
mittees should be of like mind with
the senate. 1t might very readily
happen that the Lieut.. Governor
would not represent the will of the
senate, but the contrary. The Lieut..
Governor cannot, under the consti-
tuition vote upon q law, and is there
fore not responsible, i'm any sense, to
the people, as a law maker. Why,
then, should he name the commit
tees-the most important act in the
organization of the senate? 1t is
not a question of mere personal like
or dislike for him whom the consti-
tuition makes the presiding officer,
but it is Questson as to whether
the senate should abrogate an in-
herent right, and establish or con-
tinue bad precedent. The princi-
pie would be the same no matter
who occupied the chair"
WAMPUN.