Omaha daily bee., 1883-01-06
"By all O6ds the Most Repre-,
sentative Legislature Ever
Assembled in Lincoln"
The Desperate Attempts of the
Monops to Defeat the Ants
and "Shake" with Agee.
A Vigilaut Watch to bo Kept on
the Tricky Clerk of the
Huuss,
The RepentarU Pawnee Returns to
Ais Vomit-
THE FIRST WEEK

ftA AEsSN ~6hn'
OF The Bee.
OPENING OVERTURE.
LINCOLN, January 5.-The curtain
has been rung down upon the first act
of the political drama, that ia being
played at the state capitol Like q
Chinese play which continues from
day to day, through comedy, tragedy
aud melo drama, the biennial perfor-
nance that commenced at noon Tues
day, will extend to a period of up.
wards OF forty days. In many re-
spects the spectacle affords much in
struotion Us Well as amusement.
THE INTERIOR DECORATIONS
of the two houses excel in elegance and
luxury any hing of the kind that has
ever been seen on the political toot
boards In Nebraska. Thesenate is by
all odds tho most digni6ed Gs well as
Intelligent bcdy of men that have ever
assembled to make laws for the COM
monwealth. In fact there is pre-
ponderance Vt brain, aud very good.
Iy display of bowels among the grave
and dignifed senator's most of whom
would pull down the scales at 200
pouGds.
The house ia not only tho mopt nu-
merous lsPisletive body that has ever
convened to make laws in Nebraska,
but comes nearer representing tho ag-
gregate wish and will of the paople
than any OF it's predecessors. Unless
Appearances aro deceptive, I am safe
iu predicting chat this legislature will
AcouIT ITSELF WITH CREDIT
in the discharge of ia great truet The
m2mbors appear to DO Bobpr, iHdustri
oul snd earnest. They mean business
and will not be trj6sd with. Many
et them, or course, lack acquaintance
with their dutios, bat nearly all seem
to be disposed to eerve their oonstitu-
ents with fidelity. The speaker, Mr..
Humphreys, is man OF moro than
average ability. Prompt and decisive
in action, sPd If ! jtSge him rightly
ambitious to make reputation that
will advance him to a higher post al
no distant day.
RE STANDS PLEDGED
not only to respect the anti monopoly
sentiment, but to aid in wholesome
anti-monopoly legislation. When hif
committees are announced, we shall
see how far his action sccords with his
profession.
The greatest blunder the house has
made up to this time is the re-elec' ion
of Brad Slaughter us chief clerk.
Slaughter is dangerous man in that
responlblo position. He Ia notori'
ousIy
IN OoLLUsIoE WITH JoBBRRs
aud corporations that seek to thwarI
legislation and defeat the will OF tbs
people by trickery and fraud. These
parties made desperate effort to gel
him in under all sorts of pretexts
the main ono bting that he knows tn,
duties CT the position. The fact Ia he
knows too much, and makes bad
use of his knowledge In hand
ing bills. / am told that twc
years ago every railroad bill intro
duced into the house was immediate
ly copied and duplicates sent to Omahr
to the b. & M. and u. p. headquar
tiers, and that is not the worst by any
means. His efficiency in other re
spects is questionable. The manne
IN which he calls the roll is simply u,
insult to the house, to which no legis
lative body in any state would submit
Most of the time he calls the names 3,
rapidly that only few can answer
and nobody can tell who Ia absent o
present. When bilis are put on thei
passage, his peculiar roll call enable
r him TO defeat bills by miscount, an,
t he also carries jobs through Ia tn
! same way. AS matter of fac
3 Slaughter is not yet legally chief clerk
He only received ~ votes when tn
. records should bhow 81. But thoa
who have discovered their blunder or
3 not disposed to retrace.
TOR THE FIRST TINE
> the senate has asserted it's dignity i
| stripping the Lieutenant governor Q
5 the power to pack the committees i
, the interest of corporations and jot
Ders. Although there is a docisiy
Q anti.lnonopoly majority In the senat
r the result was only achieved by q
organized struggle. Every schem
that ingenuity could contriye ws
tried to defeat the will of the major
> ity. After the senate had appointe
it's committees the gang of monopol
. henchmen that hung around the lobh
y made dash at several Of it's men
q bers with The view u creating discor
= and division,
. THEY OFFERED SENATOR HOWELL
y Of York the privilege Uf appointir
the entire list Of committees and tan
whatever he wanted If he would on
make minority report and vote
sustain it. Mr. Howell did not nibb
At the bsi,.
i. Other senator's were roPed in by n
al capper5 iuto the rooms reHoryed f
.g corrupt work aud thoga Emporium,
y with all SORTS Of base proposals, b
y ali the schemes fGlod When u
az committees were iHa'ly reported
I, the senate ex.Goyegugr Butler, wi
:. had been
IN THROWN OVERHEARD
by the anti monops in their confe