Omaha daily bee., 1897-01-04
UNlTEDJ0N LOCAL MATTERS
Douglas ooBnty's Legislators Harmonious
on Important Questions.
REPUBLICAN, 7@bMBtRS NOT AGGRESSIVE
Exposition, 9pd Charter nils to he
Vigorously. Pushed, and Meas
urcS for, city Government
Reform Supported.

b'NbifS N'uhNy luGllutlS VI NhS iNtiSi'''''
they will not scatter their fire when 1t
comes down to working for matters OF local
interest. Interviewed upon matters and
measures that they would push, they one
and all expressed the opinion that the
Transmissssippi Exposition and the city
charter bills would receive their attention.
They expressed the opinion that while these
two bills were of local interest, they would
at the same time interest the state at large,
and that on the whole they could not be
considered purely in the light of local meas
ures.
Individual expressions upon legislative
matters have been furnished The Bee as
follows:
Senator ]. H. Evans said: "In the coming
session of the Legislature l shall give es-
pecial attention to the work of securing a
liberal appropriation for the Transmississppi
Exposition. In fact, believe | was chosen
to this position on that issue. / shall work
increasingly to obtain this end, and think
that we shall secure substantial aid from
| the state.
Il am in favor of new city charter, but
| am not in favor of all the provisions for
a new instrument that have been suggested.
Just what features | object to l should
prefer not to enumerate at this time. There
will be meeting of all the Douglas county
senators and representatives at Lincoln dur
ing the next few days to consider the matter
of new city charter for Omaha. At that
time the various propositions which have
been made with a view to making a better
city charter will be thoroughly investigated
1t would be inopportune to discuss the mat
ter before that meeting"
REPUBLICANS NOT AGGRESSIVE.
'Do think there will be any anti-railroad
! legislation? No, / think not. l am in
! formed that there is strong conservative
class among the democrats, who Will siren
uously object to any vicious legislation, and
II believe they, with the republicans. VIII
hold the balance of power. | candidly be-
| lieve that nothing but wise and cautious
measures will get very far in this session
of the legislature. At a meeting of some
of the republican members held a short
| time ago. it was decided that we should
not attempt to force any legislation. The
power lies in the hands of the peoples inde-
pendent party, and it was thought best to
allow their representatives to take the in
| itiative in all matters. We shall endeavor
to work harmoniously with them in all leg
| islation which may be beneficial to the state.
The republicans will do nothing to antag-
onize the independents but will rather try
to cooperate with them on measures in
tended for the good of Nebraska.
| There has been some talk about adopting
a law regarding the foreclosure of mort
cages, similar to the one now in effect in
1 IL
certain extent and so far as l can see, such
a law would be of the greatest benefit to
| Nebraska. There IL man holds mort
| gage of $1,000 on a piece of property, he
| can the foreclosure sale bid it up to
| 81 900. In this state the property would
probably be bought in for $500. The mort
| gagor may redeem 1t within year The
| mortgage runs no danger of a deficit in
| the adjustment and there Is no likelihood
| of the matter being held UP in the courts
4 8 .l.... l.,
\ would greatly strengthen Nebraska credit,
| and, so far as l can see, 1t would work no
| hardship to the debtor class. ! believe such
| a measure will be introduced into the COM
| ing session, and l am heartily in favor of
| its passage
Senator Frank T. Ransom was seen Satur
! day afternoon by Bee reporter and asked
what measures he favored He was very
| busy closing up legal matters preparatory to
| his departure for Lincoln, and with matters
! pertaining to his canvass for the presidency
| of the senate and stated that he had no
| time to tell what measures he was going to
champion. He couldn't tell anyway until
he got to Lincoln, and saw the lay of the
ground.
Senator E. E. Howell said that it would
| be hard for him to tell just what bills he
| would champion until he arrived in Lincoln.
| He said: Il am greatly in favor of the new
! city charter, and have been working pretty
| hard on it recently. OF course, / shall give
| this a great deal Of my attention. ! have
no pet measures, and l don't know what
| bills l shall favor"
| SALARY FOR DISTRICT COURT CLERK.
Representative Charles Curtis of South
| Omaha. in speaking of proposed laws, said:
| 81 am in favor of making the clerk Of the
| district court salaried office, and will in
| troduce bill in the legislature to that end,
providing no one else does | think the fees
derived should go into the public treasury
Spct ao1 nf n nIprk a goDl salary
| 49, 500 or $4,000 should be paid the clerk.
| The bill providing for this change will not
| affect the present incumbent of the office,
| but will go into effect at the expiration OF
| Albyn Franks term. / favor a revision OF
| the Omaha city charter and am particularly
| opposed TO the provision in one of the amend
ments to the charter which does away with
the salaries of the members Of the Fire and
| Police commission. | I'm OF the opinion that
| such oiIicials should be paid a salary in order
| that they can afford to devote a portion Of
| their time to the cty's business. | also
favor the raising of the South Omaha FIRE
| levy from 3, to or mills. as | am con-
vinced that mills are not enough to main
tain an efficient fire department in that
city
II favor the equalization of railroad taxa
tion and want to see the railroads taxed
more for the privilege of running through
city than across prairie By this change
in the laws the revenues OF cities would be
materially increased without increasing the
burden of the people"
FOR oLEoAlARGARINE.
Representative Levi Cox said: 81 would
like to SEQ the law governing the loaning
OF money on real estate changed so that the
owner would not be liable for a deficiency
judgment. L anil favor of the repeal of the
o.eomargarlna Iawsl and while l may not
introduce a hal to that end, ! will support
amy such measured Owing to the fact that
the party | reRrescnt is in the minority, do
not think thaLrbils originating with myself
or with my republican colleagues will meet
with a hearty, support from the majority.
However, II q, 7bll,7repealing the oleomarga-
rine law was presented ! would give 1t my
hearty support il, will protest against any
interference with tho commission business
at the stock yards,f for any attempt TO reduce
the price OF commissions now charged. ]
am of tho opiticH that the Office Of clerk of
tho district cauft Should be made a salarled
one, the salary to be something like $4,000
a year. In this, way think litigants would
not be overcharged fees, etc. AS to the re-
vision of the Omaha charter, ! am not ia
miliar enough With. the needs of the city to
know just what Is necessary, but intend con-
sulting with better posted men before form
ing any opiniCt."
Frank Burman has no particular hobby to
ventilate In the legislative body, because he
docs not believe that he, being a republican
would havo much OF chance to'ride II. He
Is favorable. however, 10 some charter re-
forms which he Intends to advocate siren