Omaha daily bee., 1898-10-23
EDMISTEN'S EARLY SERVICE
His Direction of the Last Legislature Is
Recalled Just at Present.
EFFECT OF THE RECOUNT LEGISLATION
Three Men Who Sought to Attach n
Penalty to the Bill Made to Feel
the Force of Someone's
Power This Fall.
EFFECT OF THE RECOUNT LEGISLATION

LINCOLN, Oct. 22.-(Special.) IA portion
of the popocratic stationery is stamped in
red letters Legislative Department, Di-
rected by ]. II. Edmisten," but none of the
circulars mention the ballot recount scheme
in which Chairman Edmisten got so much
notoriety, and none of them tell why the
last fusion legislature was afraid to attach
q penalty to the recount measure to pre-
vent tampering with the ballots. Quite
probably the man who directs the legis-
lative department" now was in active man
agement of the same department during
the session. and had personal reasons for
not wanting the penalty clause in the bill.
At any rate, through some good manage
ment the fusion majority was almost unani-
nous on the subject.
1t will be remembered that the first re-
count bill became useless because OF the in
junction issued by the district court to pre-
vent the further counting of the ballots.
A few days later the ,ropocrats introduced
another bill, known as house roll 632, to
take it's place. This bill was printed and
went to the committee on privileges and
elections, the same notorious committee
that had performed in such summary
manner in the Douglas county contest case.
The committee rushed the bill back to the
house with the recommendation that it be
advanced to a third reading.
Killed the Penalty.
BY turning to page S26 of the House Jour-
nal 1t can be seen how anxious the pops
we're to have things done honestly and
have all guilty persons punished In the
debate 1t was pointed out that there was
no penalty in the law for any tampering
with the ballots or fraudulent count, and
the following amendment was offered:
Any member OF such committee. or any
clerk employed by such committee who shall
in any manner tamper with the ballots. or
with any ballot or who shall make any
fraudulent count. or who shtO count anY
illegal ballots. or who shall ATTEMPT to dc
any of these things. shall be guilty OF a
felony. and on conviction thereof be con-
fined in the penitentiarv not more than five
wears or less than one year.
The amendment was showed under, only
three fusonists being in favor Of 1t. ThC
fact that two out OF those three failed L
receive denominations this year indicates
that the direction of the legislative depart
ment" was assumed by Edmisten before th'
nominating conventions were held, and tha
rebuke was administered to the men WHIT
dared to vote contrary to the caucus rule oI
such a risky matter.
Their Claims Don't Balance.
In their catch as -catch-can campaign III
state officials are having a good deal o
trouble because the figures in their cam
paign circulars do not agree with the cam
paign cards that are sent out by the officers
For instance, folder was issued telling o
,he great and good deeds OF the sta.e ad
ministraton, and part of page was de
voted to the auditors office, showing HOY
much he had saved" At about the sam
time Cornell issued some cards. com
parsou of the figures on the circulars make
the following showing
Circulars. Cards
Saved in collection state .,.,
Saved In office fees......... l2S6S.9i 2S,50ii
by not paying salaries in
On his cards the auditor throws in al
item OF Saving" from sheriffs' and orhe
fees OF S2l,024, making a total of 500, ,dl0.9S
while the circular neglects to go into totals