Omaha daily bee., 1889-03-08
House.

LINCOLN, Neb., March Especial to The
BEa.1-Representative Gilbert of York
arose and stated that the sad DUTY devolved
upon him of conveying the intelligence TO
the house that his colleague, Hon. G. w.
Hays, had died near his home near McCool
Junction.
A motion to adjourn was withdrawn, and
the reports of committees were then handed
in.
The railroad committee reported that
house roll All, a bill by Johnson to reduce
the number of secretaries of the state board
of transportation from three to one, be in
definitely postponed.
Johnson moved to amend by placing the
bill on general file and made a lengthy
speech in favor Of the motion. He said the
work of the board was merely clerical, and
one member could do the work as well as
three.
Olmstead thought that il the railroads
could control three members, as it is now
claimed they do, 1t would be much easier to
control one.
Caldwell said the legislature could do moth
ing to suit the railroads better than to abolish
the commission. He knew it was imperfect;
that the attorney general prepared the briefs,
sat on his own case, and executed judgment,
but that it was better than no commission.
Mcbride hoped the bill would be placed on
bne general ne, anu WOulu oppose Iuc appTO-
priation for even one secretary.
Burnham thought the present board should
be maintained.
Ballard opposed the motion and defended
the commission.
Hall asked Ballard If it was not a fact that
Judge Mason and Mr.. Munger both practiced
law about six days in the week and only gave
an occasional day to the service of the states
, Ballard was unable to say whether this
was true or not.
Hall was satisfied that the state board
could get along with ono. Two of the secre-
taries perform scarcely any duty except draw
their salaries, aud this they do with amazing
regularity.
Cady believed the commission system
would prove the final solution of the railroad
problem, but wanted fair play, and favored
placing the bills on file.
Johnson accepted an amendment making
all railroad bills q special order Tor T:3O
Tuesday evening, and the motion was
adopted.
House roll 449, a bill by Olmstead requir-
ing all butcher stock in Nebraska to be in
spected on foot, was reported for indefinite
postponement. The author moved to place
the bill on the general file aud stated that it
was in the interest of local dealers and farm
ers who raised cattle, that the meats We're
now shipped IN from large packing, houses
located at outside points and the people had
no means of knowing anything OF the char
acter of tho product,
Cady moved that a committee be appointed
to draft resolutions expressing the feelings
of the house over the deaJh of Representa-
tive Hays, which was adopted, and Cady,
Gilbert, Majors, Dempster and Caldwell
were named by the speaker.
While considering the Olmstead inspection
bill the house adjourned.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
The speaker announced the following COM
mittee 10 attend the funeral OF the late g w.
Hays:
Hampton, HAWTHORN, Yutzy, Winters,
Whitehead, Robb and Delaney.
A large number of reports were sent up,
The committee consisting OF Specht,
Abrahamson and Sheppard, appointed
TO investigate the competency. OF
engineers. reported that they found
that Robert Emerson, the engineer
in chief in charge of tho hosting engines,
was incompetent and often under the infu-
ence Of liquor, aud that he be
dismissed and a competent engineer be APP
| pointed, ard competent and regular assist
ants employed. The report was placed on
file.
On motion of Speaker Watson-Cady in
tho chair--all the trust bills were made u
| special order for Monday at . D. m.
All bills reported by the committee ON pub