Omaha daily bee., 1897-01-20
JOPY FIVE CENTS.
ARGUE FOR THE EXPOSITION
Claims Presented to the Ways and Means
Committee of the House.
SPEECHES BY wATTLEs AND HITCHCOCK
President nnd Promoter of the En-
tcrprisc Explain Its Aims aud
Answer the Objections
of Wooster.

LINCOLN, Jan. 19.-(special Telegram)-
Both houses of the legislature met in Joint
session tonight in representative hall for tho
purpose of listening to a presentation OF tho
claims of the Transmssisslppi and Interna-
tional Exposition. Representative Clark
chairman OF the house committee on ways
and means. presided over the joint session.
In addition to the members of the legislature
there were present large number of prom
incnt citizens of Lincoln.
Hon. G.. w. Wattles of Omaha, president
of the Transmississipi and International Ex-
position company, was the first speaker to
address the assemblage. He reviewed in de-
tail the history of the exposition from its
very inception at the meeting of the Trans
missippl congress at 1T. Louis down to the
present time; laying especial stress upon
tho fact chat the exposition was not local
enterprise, but one undertaken by the states
and territories west OF the Mississippi river.
He closed his arguments by expressing his
belief that the temporary benefits that would
accrue to Nebraska om the exposition
would be the least of the advantages to he
secured by the state by the tncurson of new
people. new enterprises, new capital and
new blood.
G. NJ Hitchcock, chief of the Bureau of
Promotion was next introduced. and he an
nounced that he would divide his time with
Charles Wooster, representative from Mer-
rick county, and that he would reply to that
gentlemans arguments. Mr. Hitchcock as
serted that Omaha has done it's part and now
asked the state to do its share. He asserted
that there would be no lobby at Lincoln to
work for the passage OF the bill making a
state appropriation for the exposition.
RESTS WITH THE LEGISLATURE.
He also said that the exposition depended
upon the action of the legislature. If the
pending bill was passed the men at the head
of the enterprise would push forward. If the
appropriation was not made. the exposition
project dead. He closed the first part
of his argument by saying that If it was
wise to have an exposition, it was the part
Of wisdom to have a great one. He believed
that the time had come for the west to
arouse itself and attract the tide of immigra-
tion and investment to the west. I'VE cam
not" he said, carry Nebraska around and
exhibit her to the people of the east, but we
can bring millions of the people from the
cast to Nebraska by means of the exposi-
ton"
Representative Charles Wooster then
spoke in opposition 20 the exposition. He
asserted that the exposition was solely for
the benefit of Omaha; that IL would do Ne
braska more harm than good, and that the
people of the state were opposed to the
whole scheme. The joint convention seemed
to enjoy his remarks an entertainment,
for the points he made ELECTED frequent
bursts of hearty laughter.
MIR, Hitchcock replied to the objections
urged by Mr.. Wooster and his replies
brought out round after round OF vigorous
applause. The joint convention WAS then
adjourned at 9;35 o'clock. in pursuance of
the rule adopted by the committee on ways
and means.
SUPPORTS LIEUT. GOV. HARRIS.
The senate today settled small piece of
trouble that has been brewing for some days
10 rrfprCpQp Of hills the committee
on miscellaneous corporations. When the
senate was organized a committee OF seven
was named by the resolution to make up
the standing committees for the session.
OF this committee Senator D6aring of Cass
county was named as chairman, and his col
leagues were Senators MCGann of Boone,
Osborne of Richardson, Feltz of Keith, Mutz
Of Keya Paha, Grothan of Howard and Ran
som of Douglas. After lab0ring for several
long nights the list was made up apparently
to the satisfaction OF all Interests. The
senate approved the list without comment
Within a few days 1t became known that
the mddle-of-the-road populists were gem
orally dissatisfied with the makeup OF the
committee on miscellaneous corporations
This committee consists Of Fritz FeltZ,
Watson Howell and Dearilg. All are avowed
champions of free silver, but none of them
are popuiists Nick Fritz is a democrat
and a stock feeder In Thurston county. Feltz
is lawyer at Ogalalla, Watson Is free
silver republican ana physician at fTleHu,
Howell is a democrat and business man OF
Omaha, while Dearing Is a physician OF
Plattsmouth. Several confidential confer
ences were held in the lieutenant governors
Office in which prominent middle-of- the-road
populists who do not belong to the senate
were present. The result Of these dellbera-
tiuns were apparent when the stock yards
bills made their appearance and were re-
ferred by the lieutenant governor to the
committee on agriculture. This committee
Is made up of Miller of Burt county,
farmer and a democrat Farrell of Merrlck,
Osborn of Richardson, johnson OF Clay.
Ritchie of Butler and Heafy of sherman, all
farmers and populists, and Smith Caldwell.
a republican. Last Friday Senator Fritz
went to the lieutenant governor and made a
vigorous protest against the reference OF the
stock yards bills to the committee on agri-
culture The lieutenant governor refused to
see the error of his way, and said he would
adhere to his program. NJ the same time
he told the senator from Thurston county
that the votes of seventeen senators could
oyerrule the chair. Senator Fritz has been
gathering his forces since Friday for the
final struggle, which came this afternoon.
He was defeated by a mcst decisive vote.
He was backed by the three senators from
Douglas county and Senator'S Feltz Johnson
and Lee. The republican senators, with the
exception o. Mr. Evans OF Douglas, voted
aiet the liputenant governor.