Omaha daily bee., 1889-03-01
BILLINGS MAKES AN EXPOSE.
He Shows How Ridiculous He Can
Be at Times.
HOT SHOT AND CHOLERA VIRUS.
Two Inventions Calculated to Earn
Everlasting Notoricty for the Me-
braska Hog Exterminator-
The House and Senate.
The Hot Shot EXnlnhcd

BEE THE encounter between Governor
Thayer and Prof. Billings last night was un-
expected but spirited, and was immensely
entertaining to the audience. Regent G. H.
Gere had had personal interviews the day
before with members Of the investigating
committee, and talked soothingly, Prof.
Billings had asked one or two to hold ex-
Chancellor Manatt down, and was invited to
be present TO defend himself. The doughty
professor feared he might in moment OF
passion ''swat Manatt on the snout," but he
came. 1t had been urged on Governor
Thayer that his official dignity and integrity
had been assaulted by Prof. Billings in his
shot shot, letter 20 Morrisscy, and it was
suggested that he might get satisfaction be
fore the committee. He too, came. Among
the others present were Acting Chancellor
Bessey and Secretary Dates, of the uni
versity
Ex-Chancellor Manatt was expected to
DC present and tell what he knew
about the hog cholera experiments of Bill
inps He was sick, and in the absence of q
witness to examine, the committee, at the
suggestion of Senator Sutherland, invited
Governor Thayer to make statement with
reference to Billings charges.
= Governor Thayer-I find this letter in the
Omaha Republican of this morning, and also
read it in The BEE week ago.
''PATHo-BIoLoGICAL LABORATORY, STATE
UNIVERSITY, Feb. %, 1SS9-To Frank Il.
Morrissey, World.-My Dear Sir: L have
been reading with interest your exposure OF
the faillngs Of the poor imbecile we have to
call governor. / am desirous of seeing you
very much, as / can probably supply you
with as much hot shot rs any one, and show
you the way of exposing the most unprinci-
pied steal and demoralZed department in the
state for which Thayer is directly response
BILE. can come to Omaha some time next
week. but my time Is very valuable, and must
have an appointment. This is personal.
Yours very truly, FRANK S. BlLLlSGs."
1.-THE BEES copy was dated, think, In
September or October of last year, at which
time MIR. Morrssey was writing democratic
articles for Joint debate in the Omaha
World. [The date as published in The BEE
and appearing in the original letter, now IN
Senator SutherlandS possession, was 923-
1888. Twill say that two years ago it be.
came my duty to appoint four members of
the Omaha fire and police commission.
Frank II. Morrissey was ut first anxious to
be appointed commissioner, then changed
his mind and supported u relative for the
place. understand that the purpose was to
secure board that would control the sa-
looms and gambling houses of Omaha for po-
litical uses. i declined to appoint MIR. Nor
rissey's candidate, and he has pursued me
ever since. / did not want to dignity this
thing with special message to the legisla-
ture and request for a committee TO invest
igate the charges, but it occurred to me 1t
would be good thing If this committee
would call on Mr.. Billings to tell all he
knows about any steal in which am I'M
plicated."
Prof Billings (being invited to explain) y
My remarks should not be taken rs political
am employed TO investigate into the dis
eases of animals. My letter had reference
to the state veterinary and the live stock
commission. Before Governor Thayer came
into Office proclamation was issued by his
predecessor prohibiting the Importation OF
cattle from Cook county, Illinois, against
which the whole west was quarrantned on
account of pleuro-pneumonia. Alot OF cattle
were brought into Nebraska without the re-
quired certificate of health. The commits
sion broke the law by ordering the admission
of those cattle / published an article on
this unlawful action, because l thought it
my duty as one charged with the live stock
interests of Nebraska. Governor Thayer
was indignant and sent for me. After our
conversation he complimented me and said
understood my business. This occurred in
1887 We had a state veterinarian called
Gerth, for whom have done much because
he was very dear to me on account OF his
association with my dead boy. dis
home was at Newark, N. j., and 1t was
through my influence that he came to Ne
braska. AT the request of his father took
him into my family and tried to teach him
something.
Senator Sutherand-Mr Chairman, 1 OBJ
ject to this biography. If Prof Billings has
Billings-Well, then, it is known fact
that the live stock commissioners have been
travelling on passes and have at the same
time been charging the state with their rail
road fare. My knowledge is from Gerth,
who said he was making good thing out of
it. TIE commissioners hold that in order to
secure indemnity for giandered horses notice
of the disease must come first from the
owner, who must also take precautions to
prevent the spreading of the disease. The
commissioners were called to Arapahoe to
examine ten or twelve diseased horses, but
allowed the owner to dispense them. The
. neghbors made fuss and he got the ami
mails back. The next year the commis-
sim killed them and paid the man $500. The
law was broken and the yiolatOr rewarded.
Sutherland Gnterruption) object TO this
detailed catalogue of the doings of the live
stock commissioners. 1t has no relation TO
the matter at issue.
Billings (warmly)-My charge is that the
commission have not executed the law They
have left horses with glanders. know that
payment has not been allowed under any
other government.
Senator Funck-Will you state briefly why
you charge Governor Thayer with stealing.
rhayer (sharply)-And what Frank II.
Morrisey has to do with mei
Bi.lings--I feel that the live stock com
missioners are the agents of the governor.
and it IS direct robbery to carry on business
in this way.
Funck-Did you notify the governors
Billings with dignity)-l wrote the COVER
nor that would like to see him. He denied
me an interview. presume he had reasons.
Funck-Do you think the governor knew
the commissioners were riding on passess
Billings-I don't know whether he did OF
not.
Funck-How is the governor responsible
for the things you charge against the com
mlssionl
Billings He should have appointed COM
petent men.
Funck could he have known they
were incompetent.
Billngs-He knew Gerth was incompe-
tent. lie had the testimony of a lot of Saline
county farmers.
Funck-Why did you recommend Gerth
Billings (unabashed) d)-My recommends
tion was queer. Gerth had what you call q
political pull at Washington and wanted a
government place. | told him If he would
do the field work in his experiments faith
fully and send me the results ! would make
the autopsy and write his report. ! ought
not TO have done IL, but 1 loved the fellow
for my dead boys sake. will never again
do such thing for friendship
Thayer-Mr. Gerth was appointed by Gov
ernor Dawes, and did not know him when
came here. l found he had been highly
recommended by eastern authorities and had
no reason to think him incompetent He was
graduate of learned Institutions IN the
United States and Germany.
Billings SHARPLY, interruptlngl par
dou-not of Germany