Omaha daily bee., 1899-02-12
DOlNCS OF THE LEGISLATURE
Review Of the Work Accomplished During
Week Just Closed.
FREE HIGH SCHOOL BILL GOES THROUGH
One of the Most Important Measures
that Has Been Pnssed--Nine Days
Left for Introduction
of Bills.

LINCOLN. Feb. ll-(special THE thlr-
ty- hrst day OF the twenty sixth session of
the legislature euded at noon today, when
both branches of the Legislature adjourned
til Monday Only nine more days remain
for the introduction OF bills, and the final
rush 20 got measures started will soon be at
hand. The total number Of bills introduced
in the senate has reached the 2SO mark. The
total has been growing very slowly the las;
week. In the house the number has reached
$50, but Ia still far short of the record OF
last session.
A great deal OF routine work has been ac-
oomplished in the senate during the week
just closed. While there were no exciting
contests on hand involving the right to seats
In tho body there was a steady grind with
liNls display OF forensic oratory, barring
the time the majority allowed to be wasted
In tickling the minority under the chin in
discussing the Schaal resolution against the
imaginary Anglo American combine.
Probably the most important bill passed
during the week was the free high school
bill, which will be Of lasting benefit to
school children residing in country districts
where high school privileges are lacking,
The Wholesale passage of curative acts
continues. so much so that 1t becomes
monotonous to record them. If these bills
are noL plSeOuDotcu III llt uOuSe luey WILL
place the 1899 statute in much better shape
than the present one. which is full of acts
declared void by the supreme court The
house, however, has already killed number
OF these bills and in the rush of the latter
half Of the session is likely TO give them
little time.
To Amend Peddler Licenses.
Among the new measures proposed in the
ia hy ~ tn
the present law relating TO peddler licenses
The peddler vocation has long given the
country merchants more or less concern
IL this bill becomes a law 1t will provide
that peddlers must take out a license in
every county 20 peddle in that county. Ped
lers plying their vocations outside the lin
its of any city or town shall take out IL
cense with the county clerk for the privi-
lege Of peddlng in that county. An annual
tax OF s25 is made; one horse vehicle, $50;
two horse vehicle or less than four, s75,
four or more horses, $780,
There is a provision in the bill that county
boards may remit the license fee where arti
cles sold are deemed educational in nature
or where the party applying because of age
or infirmities has become incapacitated for
manual labor. In order not to conflict with
the decisions OF the federal courts it is ex
pressly provided that this act shall not be
construed TO apply to parties selling their
own works or production, either by them
selves or employees, and union soldiers and
sailors are also excluded. The bill does not
apply to wholesale trade, nor to transient
vendors Of medicine, nor to persons selling
fruit, produce, trees or plants. A fine Of
$50 and costs Is provided for violations OF
this act.
It's dull week when some bill Is not in
troduced relating to mutual insurance" "
At the request OF some of his constituents,
Senator Newell OF Cass has become the
father of a bill to provide for the organi-
zation of mutual insurance companies
against loss or damage by larceny, burglary,
robbery and theft. The bill provides that
100 persons whose personal property is of
the value of $4,000 or upwards may form u
mutual insurance company OF this kind.
Full provisions for the organization and
management of the company are included,
being somewhat similar to other mutual
companies. The auditors fee for examining
the bylaws and articles OF incorporation
is placed at so.
Vacation of rlnts.
When Senator Mllers bill relating to the
vacating Of plats was under discussion some
time ago several senators asked time TO
draw up amendments that would provide a
way of vacating plats. In explanation 1t
was said that in nearly all of the larger
places, when the boom was in the height
OF its glory, hundreds OF acres OF suburban
cornields were plated into city lots. With
the collapse OF the boom these lots became
worthless for city property and in many IN
stances city taxes have entirely devoured
them. The present law provides no way
OF yacating plats.
This morning Senator Prout introduced
an entirely new bill covering this point II
not being deemed eXpedient to try to amend
the Miller bill. The bill provides that il a
majority OF the property owners OF tract
Of land lying on the border Of a city or town
petition the district court to be disconnected
from the city said petition shall have a
hearing. 1t must be filed at least ten days
prior to the beginning OF the term at which
the case Is TO be tried and service shall be
had on all real estate owners Of the parcel