Omaha daily bee., 1897-01-13
ECONOMICAL FROM THE WORD GO.
Senators Insist ON Scrutinizing All
Proposed Expenditures.


LINCOLN, Jan. l2.-(Special) 1.-The ora
torical talent of the senate was on parade
this forenoon and economy was preached
from a half dozen texts by large number
of the members The debate on two or
three resolutions involving the expenditure
of funds brought out the fact that there are
in the present senate many good strong,
forcibe and even eloquent debaters. Not
in many years has the senate found itself
addressed by better speakers than Senators
Beal, Ransom, Dund2s, Howell Farrell Felt1,
MUTT. Murphy, Halter, Caldwell, Lee, Gond-
ring and Conaway, all of whom took an
active part in today's debates.
The debate started this morning as soon
as the journal had been read. 1t was pre-
cipitated by a resolution ohered by tarrell,
poDulist of Merrick, providing for the ap-
pointment OF a committee of three, to act
with like committee from the house TO
take action in regard to the printing OF the
governors message Senator Dundas OF
fered an amendment requiring the proposed
Joint committee to first ascertain and re-
port the cost of printing the message in
lots of 600 5000 and 100 900 copies.
Mr. Ransom Of Douglas opposed the amend
ment in most vigorous manner lie de.
clarcl that the senate had wasted great deal
of valuable time in quibbling over so small
a matter as the expense OF printing the gov
ernors message. He said the senate should
drop the foolish talk of economy. lie hopeu
that the effort to commit an act OF manifest
dscourtesy to the governor OF the state woulu
fail.
BOUND TO FIND OUT
Mr. Dundas insisted that II was simply
good business move to ask the price before
making an investment He had no desire
to slap the governor in the face as asserted
by the senator from Douglas.
Mr. Murphy republican of Gage, iaVoren
the amendment. He could not understand,
he said why the inquiry as to the price was
not proper one The senate would DO
false to it's duty II 1t did not practice mere
what its members preached on the stump
Farrell OF Merrick supported the amend
ment and expressed himself as pleased with
the sentiments OF economy urged by the SEN
ator from Gage, for, he said, 1t was the nrst
time on record when republican senator
had shown the slightest disposition 10 pIac-
ticc economy.
Mr.. Bcal, populist of Custer who had OPP
posed the proposal to print the governors 8
message In pamphlet form from the start
stated that II behooved the senate to exercise
economy because later in the session 1t
would be called upon to make liberal APP
propri6tons for the Transmississippi and IN
ternatOnal Exposition and for an exhibit
at the Nashville exposition If a halt was
not called soon the total appropriations this
session would largely exceed the aggregate
of any session ever held in the history OF
the state.
time the amendment offered by Mr.. Dundas
was agreed to by the assistance of the re-
publican senators. The president thereupon
appointed as the senate members of the
proposed joint committee: McssTs. Farrell,
Duudas and Ransom
The balance of the forenoon was taken up
with an equally warm discussion over the
resolution directing the secretary of state to
furnish each member Of the senate daily
with five ! cent wrappers and ten 2 cent
stamps The lines OF the discussion were
similar to those followed upon the resolution
referring to the governors message. The
senato finally by unanimous consent, laid the
matter or the table Recess was then taken.
ROW OVER THE RULES.
Upon reassembling at O'Clock the report
of the snecial committee On rules was pre-
sented, and 1t provoked discussion which
consumed the greater part Of the afternoon.
The rhangCS In the old rules were for the
most part unimportant; but there was an
open revolt at the proposition OF the rules
committee TO make 1t necessary for a de-
mand for call Of the house to be seconded
by ten senators instead OF five, as under the
old rules. The rule proposed would abao-
lutely bar the republican minority from de-
manding call OF the house
Mr.. Murphy led the protest, He said the
committee on rules proposed 10 strike down
parliamentary right that had been ac-
corded to a minority for more than a CEN
tury. II absolutely deprived the minority
Of eight republican senators of all protection
In critical points, Ho recalled the fact that
IN tue senate lHD ttdIS hBus Nhtu lutIb
were twenty-five republicans in control tho
minority was treated with the utmost fair
ness. He moved that the rule as reported
by the committee be amended so as to per-
nit five members to secure call of the
house.
After vigorous discussion tho amendment
offered by Senator Murphy wae agreed TO by
a vote of II to 1G.
The next contest came over the proposition
to make a sitting committee one Of the stand
ing committees Of the senate. The PROPOSE
tion was denounced In unmcasured terms by
Gondrlng and Haller. On an aye and nay
vote but two senators were recorded In it's
favor.
final effort was made TO make an amend
ment 10 the amended rule, covering the call
ot the house. The rule as amended and
agreed to permits Ave members to demand a
call Of the house but enables majority to
break the call Senator Talbot Of Lancaster
undertook to secure a second amendment
restoring the rule TO It's old wording, which
pres ented the suspension Of call as long ~