Omaha daily bee., 1888-09-09
| JANUS-FACED OFFICIAL.
Secretary Laws Conduct Causes
Much Indignation at Lincoln.
HE GOES BACK TO THE "eANG.'
a Flop Which the People Had Little
Reason to Expect Mason
on. the Reduction
Order.
LINCOLN BUREAU OF THE OMAHA BEE, !
1929 L STREET,

lN-V L
LINCOLN, Sept. s.
The action of the board of transportation
In burying the order reducing freight rates
has been severely commented upon in all
quarters of the city. 1t is pronounced high
handed outrage. When Laws came boldly
out and stood from among the gang" rea-
sonable assurances were gwen that an order
would issue that would benefit the people of
the state. Mr.. Laws went on record
squarely for the people as against the rail
road corporations of Nebraska. He voted
for the order reducing freight rates and it
was reasonable to suppose that he would
stand by his record. His vote yesterday
favoring a resolution that tends to indeh-
nitely postpone action upon the order, and
thus thWart the dearest wishes of the people,
fell like clap of thunder from Il clear sky.
The citizens Of Lin coin, not owned body and
soul by the railroads of the state, arc almost
unanimous in saying that no sensible eXpla
nation can be made for Laws inconsistent
action. First OIL one side of the fence and
then on the other does not look well, to say
the least In the language of the Call, Laws
has gone back to the railroads." fur-
nishes, the only plausible explanation
question was agreed upon between Babcock,
Scott and Laws before the board met for ac-
tion on the reduction hearing. II was put up
to defeat a pcremptory order or an order of
there is in the matter, and further action on
the freight reduction question is postponed
until after the election in November The
outlook for the people is not cheerful, to say
the least. They will continue to pay the old
rates of eXtortion until forbearance ceases to
IA virtue.
MASON on THE REDUCTION ORDER.
"Well, judge,n said The BEE representa-
tive addressing Secretary Mason in front of
the Capital hotel last evening, what do you
think of the legality of the reduction order,
and the objections to it raised by the railroad
attorneysf'
II expressed my convictions clearly in the
opinion filed with the board. l am now
sure that my position is well taken on all
points, and especially on the founding of
facts"
"What have you to say of Munger's posi-
tionp'
"Munger's business is not mine, but on re-
Election think that he will agree with me
fully. But on the finding Of facts he con-
siders that new order, peremptory, or 9th
erwise, accompanied by findings" will serve
every purpose, and that the hearing has been
had upon which to base them. This would
not retard tho operation of the order or be a
step backward. | was satisfied that the un-
seemly resolution introduced by Secretary
Laws was coming
"What do you think of itl'
"It postpones action on the order indef-
nitely. 1t may kill it entirely, for what |
know. 1t will be months before decisive
move can be made, unless a sitting of the
board is called for reconsideration"
The following is the full text of Judge
Mason's opinion on the point in question:
The respondents in the several cases in the
matter of the order of July 5, requiring the
railroads to adopt certain formula having
answered, they cannot now object to the
service and the objection to the service should
be overruled.
The second point is that there should be a
finding Of facts served upon the railroad
company. This is not necessary. The fixing
Of rate by the board is u finding of fact
that the rate established or fixed by the
board is prima facie reasonable rate, and
The higher rate superseded by the lower rate