Omaha daily bee., 1883-01-29

A Lively Session Of the Special
Railroad Committee.
Odorous p. Mason Froths and
Fumes Against "Aggres-
sivs Agrarianiem,"
But Positively Declines to
Give the Name Of His
Client.
Attorney Laird Manages to- Sub
sist on FREQ Passes and an
Annual Rsthiner.
Merchant Humphreys Details Few
OF the Troubles OF Shippers.
SPECIAL Correspondence Of The BsH.

LINCOLN, January 26. The special
railroad committee held another meet.
ing at 8 clock this afternoon. There
were present Senators Reynolds OF
Butler, Dech of Saunders and Brown
of Clay, and Mr.. Grout Of Otoe, who,
as on former occasions, acted as chair.
man. Mr.. Galley appeared on behalf
of the committee, and Judge Mason
and Assistant b. & M. Attorney
Deweese were present 10 look after the
railroads. Senator Reynolds made a
request that
JUDGE MASON
be sworn, which being complied with,
the learned Judge was put through the
following examination:
Question. Will you state to the com.
mittee for whom you appear herel
Answer. / appear FIRST for citizen Ma.
aon.
.. Well, for any other persons3 A.
Yes, cir.
@. State, please. A. Well, If the
committee deaire to know. II a ma.
jority of this committee desire to
know, l have no objection to telling.
AT this juncture in the proceedings
considerable discussion took place,
and Senator Dsoh moved that it Is
the sense of this committee to know
for whom Judge Mason appears.
Senator Reynolds seconded the mo-
ton.
Senator Brown wanted to know
what bearing it was supposed to have.
Senator Reynolds explained that ii
Judge Mason appeared as an attorney
for some particular person. the com
mittee ought to know it. He wanted
to know If the judge vas there on
railroad business.
Senator Deoh thought IL was very
plain, that in the evidence which will
60 before the people, 1t would bs un.
derstood that Mr.. Galley appeared for
the committee for the people. be
(Mr. Galley asked particular line OF
questions, which 1t Is thought will
bring out particular evidence or
which Judge Mason appeared to BIZ
there as an attorney to ssk question:
in an opposite direotic-' apparently
to take away so much of the real ef
fscs Of tho questioning az was poAsi
BILE. Tne public would want tc
know why these questions were
asked by Judge Mason if 1t Were
not In the interest of the railroads.
If Judge Mason appeared for the rail
roads then the mmittee anc
the people should know it that they
might draw their own conclusions
Judge Mason said he did not desire tt
delay or avoid or disguise any matter
So far as his appearance there Wal
concerned up to the present time he
said three gentlemen who were exam
ined By the committee had asked hin
to appear and neither of these thre,
gentlemen had any connection will
the railroads eff" continued tn,
learned gentleman, "we have reached
the point that it is crime to appea
for a railroad in the estimation of thil
committee or any member of 1t we are
stepping very closely upon the border
OF aggressive agrarianism. (What
ever that may be-
After pointing out that he hat
elected more important facts agalns
the railroads than the gentleman VIII
appears for tho committee and in
formlng them thnt he did occasional,
try law suits aud do business TO
the b. & M. and on on
occasion even tried sui
for the q. p, he emphaticall
: added: "If was to see their inter
ests imperilled here trust am nc
so lost to sense of proprietv as t
; allow either my pride, my impulses
my hatred or my spite to overrun m
judicial propriety to interpose In thei
behalf. But up to the present tim
no member of any railroad ha
spoken to me; up to the present tim
80 far the matter Is mine. 1t look
|, to me az If the gentleman was trench
ing on private business. In othe
> words, the gentleman might as wei
ask me what me and my children es
, for breakfast, or what we expect I
. have for supper, or whether we slee
on the floor or on a feather bed.
The learned gentleman conclude
hi. speech with brilliant perora
tion.
Senator Reynolds pointed out tha
he did not wish to blscken any pei
I SOD. He was we'll aware that tn
judge had right to appear for tn
railroads, but the committee had
right to know II.
Mr.. Galley said he thought the om
mittee had right to know in wha
capacity Judge Mason appeared,
Thoreupon the judge Jumped u
and exclaimed: 81 decline absolu
tely to answer. You entertain whG
opinion you please You will get n
answer "
a hr. Galley then put the followin
question to the learned gentleman
a @ / will ask you to state, Judge
whether or not you appear at the In
stance or request Of any officer of sn
railroad company Of this state, or al
torney OF any railroad company |
this state. A, Mono of your bus
| mesa.
Mr.. JAMES LAIRD
was then called and sworn. He test