Omaha daily bee., 1889-02-10

existing in Iowa and the necessary compari-
son between rates there and here. The tes-
timony of a dozen shippers of Iowa and a
like number of Nebraska will do the work
The schedule of rates is really enough, but
a little oral testimony will do no harm. 1t
will only make matters the stronger. A dose
of medicine from the supreme court will set
things on fire in no time, and you mark my
words, the board of transportation will sing
q different tune. The producers and ship
pers have been robbed long enough"
TEMPEST IN A TEAPOT.
Somebody's imagination has been let loose
too freely, and the encounter between Hon.
w. f. Bechel of Omaha, ana Senator Church
Howe has been grossly distorted and exag-
gerated. Some OF the newspaper reports are
ridIculously absurd. The incident has not
caused ripple of excitement here. In fact,
your correspondent has not heard 1t once
mentioned except in response to his inquiries.
The affair grew out OF the senate debate on
the bill to put the liquor licensing
the fire and police commissioners.
One report, made at long range and on
hearsay, reads:
Just what the first of MIR, Howe's Grafton
but it is quite certain that the words cow
ard, political traitor bribery trick
ster,' and other similar mellifuous express
sions were freely INDUCED in"
No such terms were used on the floor Of
the senate. The BEES report of the pro-
ceedings states:
''Senator Howe arraigned the present
license system in Omaha. Why, when you
see such patriots as Pat Ford and Bechel In
the city council, what stronger argument for
n better governmentP He SAID the Sunday
law was not observed in Omaha; that the
mayor had tried to enforce it, but failed"
That was the only mention made Of Bech-
els name, fact that can be fully sustained
and the remainder OF the speech reflected
upon MIR. Bechel no more than upon any
other member of the Omaha city council
Lieutenant Governor Meikleiohn Is put in
the unenviable attitude of ameudlesome tale
for confirmation of a report of Howe's
talk that had already reached him
Mr.. Meiklejohn says he explained that no
such remark was made while he was in the
chair, and it must have been done while the
senate was in committee Of the whole. MIR.
Bechel is represented as sallying forth upon
Howe's trail, and the encounter is reported
as occurring in the lobby OF the capitol AS
matter of fact the meeting was in the office
Of the Windsor hatel IN the evening and
quite accidental Both gentlemen were at
the hotel to attend the Loyal Legion banquet
| Most OF the guests were in the parlor up
stairs. Bechel was chatting in group
| of gentlemen, two or three of them from
| Omaha. Howe came down stairs to ask one
| of the latter about the expiration of the
| terms of the fire and police commissioners of
| Omaha. The gentleman could not give the
the desired information, and turned to Mr..
DCCHCi iuI ihch iOllOWcu tuc oAuuuliBC
| Of compliments which the published reports
| have highly coloreu and exaggerated. The
| talk occupied only minute or two. when
| Representative Sweet advised the gentlemen
| not TO make scene that would reflect upon
the Loyal Legion. Howe turned on
| his heel and went up stairs. This
| is the account of an Omaha gentle
men who was one of the group. The story
| seems TO have gathered raciness unto itself
| during its flight TO Omaha. There was no
| bellicose demonstration. The affair caused
| no sensation. The sum and substance of the
| incident is this;
Mr.. Bechel accused the gentleman from Ne
| maha of taking cowardly advantage in at
| lacking him on the floor of the senate and
| blamed himself for having supported the sena-
| tor In his congressional race Mr.. Howe stated
| that II cost one hundred dollars TO get the
support OF the gentleman from Omaha. Mr..
| Bechel denied the charge Indignantly. Mr..
| Howe said he had saved the endorsed check
| ana could show IT, About that time the gen.
| tlemen separated and now there is a great
| big wall of coolness between them. II was q
| tempest In teapot, but some one has mag
nlied II into sensational tornado.
WILL DE INVESTIGATED.
The committee appointed TO investigate
the asylum explosion will commence it's
work on Monday or Tuesday, and will be
| spector. II is understood that the investiga-
| tion Is instigatel because the coroner, under
| the advice OF Superintendent Knapp, de-
| clded that an inquest was unnecessary The
| decision OF the coroner ut the time failed to