Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1883-02-28
The Purchase d Power Of Hum.
phreys Faithfully Welded
for Wealth,
While the Hash Huckster of
Douglas Sells His Soul for
the Militia Mess.
The Garfield. Psnrman and Ken
nard Steals Boldly Perpetrnted
in Daylight
The Closing Day in the Senate.

Correspondents Of The BsE.
LINCOLN, February ~, 1ss3.-The
mountain labored and brought forth
mouse. Ths legislature which closed it's
session at half past ons this morning
will be remembered chiefly for what
II has not done. Born amidst the ex-
ci.ement of q popular revolt against
corporate extortion aad tyranny, this
legislature entered upon Its active
duties full cf high sounding promises.
Its career closed with every promise
broken and every vestige of self.re.
spect lost.
When this Legislature met it ap-
peared to be an intelligent, well'be.
haved and honestly disposed body.
Within less than seven weeks 1t had
degenerated into q bowling mob.
Men who came down here with the
very best of intentions have fallen
prey to the tempter, betrayed popular
confidence and destroyed a reputation
that 1t has taken years of toll to build
up. Others have only dropped the
mask. These wolves in sleeps cloth
ing have been imposing on popular
confidence by shamming anti-mo-
nopoly to make their election sure.
Before this Legislature organized nearly
every member proclaimed himuslf a
staunch anti .monopolist. This vas
notably true of Speaker Humphrey,
who mada the most rastling antt-mo-
nopoly speech In the republican caucus
slaahfno. Minated hinz. ass.su
List Saturday this blatant reprobate
made another speech In republican
conference on railroad Liquidation and
declared himself ~ opposed to all rail-
road regulation. If tho republicans of
this State meet with disaster In the
next campaign they can lay their de-
feat at the door of Humphrey.
But this brazen tool of the monopo-
lies IL not alone to blame for the
wretohed record made by this legisla.
ture. From the outset the corrupt
elements of all parties have been In
tent only on plunder and jobbery,
and their greed has had unbridled
sway.
It was the policy of the railroad
lobby to encourage and aid every
bogus claim, every rotten Job and
every scheme for local appropriations.
For these shameless raids upon the
treasury the capitol appropriation af-
forded the nucleus. Once within
these serpentine coils of greed, men
became the willing accomplioes OF
hIghwsymen and burglars.
The MONDAY robbery of the state
treasury was only made possible by
the collusion between the capitol lobby
and the railroad lobby. And the last
day of the session with it's rush oi
business, hurried conferences and gen.
eral disorder afforded the desired op.
portunity for the perpetration of in
famies which would shame q horse
thief or q pickpceket. Established
usage, printed rules and even statu
tary law were trampled under foot by
presiding officers in both houses. Ap
propriations were recklessly voted con
trary to all precedent, and every CLAIM
and job was put through in total dis
regard of common decsncy. The ab
ject degradation to which the jobber
were reduced was forcibly illustrated
by an incident that occurred yester
day afternoon In the senate chamber
A bill in which Lancaster jebber
were Interested was put ON It's passsg,
and lacked Just one vote to make j
law. "Call Garfield in," shoute,
Brown, of Lancaster, to Tom Ken
nard. Presently Senator Garfield ap
peared. "How shall 1 vote2' ex
claimed the confused statesman fron
Douglas. "Vote aye" shouted Brow
within everybody's hearing. 81 vot
yea" shouted Garfield, amidst up
roarious hilsrity. "Who is this ma
Garfield" whispered bystander, il
an undertone. "Why, he Is the I'll
can tied to the tall of that big Lsncas
ter canine"
II fthere was anybody In that ssnat
more slavish to the monopoliss an
iobbers than Garfield, it was the pref
ident of that august body, L!eutenar
Governor Agee. As incompetent 6
he is insignificant, this man of stra'
with mush In his mouth has disguste
friend and foe alike by his wretche
pronunciation and arbitrary ruling
But he made himself immensel
useful In the closing hours by e.
pediting business In way thi
would have made q Nubian blusl
earns was Q bold bad man, but tn
fellow ID . cross between q magpie ar
an idiot. At no time was there be
ter opportunity for the passage Of
wholesome railroad law than on Il
closing day Of the session. The car
tol lobby were intensely agitAtsd ov
the possible rejection Of the soma