Omaha daily bee., 1888-09-16

returns made to this board fails to verify
either statement.
The Union Pacific railway enjoined this
board from fixing rates over that road. An
able brief was prepared by G. o. Whedon
and all legal technlcalities settled, and a de-
cision on that vexed question might have
been had before now had not this professor,
as he claimed, by threatening litigation on
other matters against this road, induced its
general attorney to withdraw the suit.
Yet this member complains of the action
of the majority of this board on
the recent order, because he was not permit
ted to get into court to try the identical ques-
ton raised by the injunction, and which was
taken out OF court, as was claimed, by his
efforts.
If the Union Pacific railway company was
then and is now holding from two to three
million dollars worth of property contrary to
"our constitution ana laws, " it would appear
that no consideration so tritiing as the with
drawal of a suit which ought to have been
tried, would induce an official to permit this
great corporation to enjoy uninterruptcdly
its illegal acquisitions. But he has also re-
fused to bring action against the Missouri
Pacific railway company to compel that road
to incorporate under the avs of this state,
till, as | suppose, it "got ready The action
of a railroad official in the late state conven-
ton may account for this apathy, and the
considerations may have been mutually help
full, but in no case pecuniary.
No word Of fault ought to be
found as to tho manner In
which this member has discharged the
duties Of the Office to which he was elected,
and / offer none. He has been Jealous and
faithful, His friends may regret that after
four years Of usefulness to the people he has
felt called upon to publish in the newspapers
OF the state, and tell it on the streets of Lin
coin, that he Is virtuous.
If this rate matter is urged it is very evil
dent that the highest tribunal in the state
will be called upon to decide what is q rea-
sonable rate. In the case now under consid-
Grafton 1t is a matter of doubt at least
whether the supreme court may not sustain
some of the legal technicalitlcs urged by the
railroads and dismiss the case. But there is
a case now pending before that court, and
has been so pending for more than n year,
in which all technicalities have been passed
upon by the court; a case over which this
board has no control, and one wholly under
the control of the attorney general. A de-
cislon in this long delayed case would settle
the entire question as to the reasonableness
of rates in this state, except as to the Union
Pacific railway, and congress will soon pass
! a law declaring the rate question on this road
subject to state control.
Gentlemen, capabilIty is the basis Of duty,
and conscience the measure OF its fulhlment;
and when the conduct of a majority of this
| board is beyond the comprehensionn of any
member, such member is very justly excusa-
BILE from an exhaustive effort in that direc-
ton. Very respectfully, G., l.. LAWS.
BLOODY WORK AT THE ST. CHARLES.
A bloody row commenced IN tho bar room
of the st. Charles hotel last evening about
q o'clock, between a party Of scab engineers
and some thieves and thugs, and for a time
II seemed that murder would result. Shoot
ing irons were drawn, knives tiourished and
other weapons were used with bloody re-
suits. The thugs were the aggressive parties
and commenced the row by assaulting G.. w.
| Rue, who was badly used mp, and had not
some of his friends come to his rescue he
would probably have been killed. A riot
was imminent for some time.
But the police force got wind OF
the racket and were soon at the
scene, and a running fight took place from
the ST. Charles to the Burlington depot,
where the police force succeeded in arrestine
+. McCarty, l.. j. Printy, James Kelly
Charles Martin, Mike Ryan and John Cor
man, about half of the participants of the
fray. G. w. Rue filod complaint against this
party for assault with intent to kill. and the
trial took place at 3 o'clock to-day. or the
party Kelly is q notorious crook, and he may
have to do duty at the state pen for his Gus.
sedness.
The police court has been busy all
day trying a large grist of va
grants, thieves, prostitutes, plain DRINKS
aud disorderly characters generally. About
sixty arrests have been made during the pas,
two days, and a number Of them will pass
Sunday at the expense Of the city. II will
be impossible for Judge Houston to grind on,
the grist and bestow his premiums.
ASSAULTED BY AN EDITOR.
During the week an unpleasantness arost
between Editor Reed, OF the Western Re