Omaha daily bee., 1899-02-26
ALL ARE WEARY OF THE LONG STRUGGLE

Likely NtCid Than
Earlier in the Game.
| LINCOLN, Feb, 25.-(Special Telegram.)-
| Wednesday next is now set down by all the
political prophets the day when the
| United States senator is to be made. This
conclusion is reached from the fact that the
principal candidates and their representa-
tives have come to an understanding which
is to materialize in a republican caucus to
be held Tuesday evening. The supposition is
that the plan is still sort of optional
ballot, but that the Thompson forces who
wish to vote secretly are to be enlarged by
the infusion of at least fifteen secret votes
from the Hayward column and that then
fifty votes will be required to effect a bind
ing nomination. 1t is taken for granted
that If enough republican members to elect
can be brought into a caucus they will keep
at the caucus work until they are Joined
! under one banner and then finish the con-
test by casting their ballots agreed in
Joint session of the two houses
While there have been so many false
alarms about proposed caucus schemes. those
on the inside profess to believe that this
time there will be no gigging back. This
belief is strengthened by the well-known
fact that members are becoming more tired
and more willing to accept other candidates
than their first choice. For six weeks they
have been balloting until they have re-
corded themselves thrty-one times without
apparent material change in the looks OF
the tally. This week precedent was broken
by taking second ballot Thursday for the
first time. This was without result, but
still a pointer that the Hayward
forces will try to force the ballots further
this week. The lobby has thinned out since
adjournment, but it promises to be bigger
than ever the coming week
Rush of the Closing Days.
There is a vast amount of work to be ae-
complished in the matter of the discussion
of measures before the two branches dur
ing the remaining days of the session. Aside
from the passage of a large number of "cura-
! tive bills" the senate has passed only few
| bills and a large number of important
measures are stIli on the general file or held
Il in committees. 7sIenhers with pet m easurcs
In tow are already beginning to realize that
the time for getting them through both
houses is rapidly being shortened, and the
usual hustle and rustic of the closing days
will soon be in earnest. While motion
to recommit bill few weeks ago did not
meet with much opposition from its sympa-
thizers, such proposition from now on will
have decided opposition, being looked upon
measure thus attacked.
Judging from the daily petitions received
| and letters addressed to the members from
| all parts of the state, the pure food bills
that have been introduced in the house by
! Representative Jansen and in the senate by
Senator Talbot are the most popular meas
ures before the legislature. The bills pro-
| vide for a food commission and are looked
upon by the agricultural classes with espe-
Cial favor, rs it is conceded much can be
done for the food and dairy interests OF
the state by proper legislation. This is only
one of several very important bills that are
yet to receive consideration.
The Cornell Exposures.
Since the startling exposures of the in
| surance methods in vogue under Auditor
! Cornell, the public is interested more than
ever in knowing how the various insurance
measures that seek to correct present evils
/ are faring at the hands OF the lawmakers.
| S. f. a. the most important of all the meas
ures in the senate, as 1t removes the in
surance department from the auditors con-
troll and places it under that OF the gov-
/ ernor, has not been reported upon by the
insurance committee. The committee has had
/ several sessions to consider the measure,
/ which has necessarily taken large amount
/ of time, as the bill proposes an entire revi-
sion OF our insurance laws At the present
| time the members say they waiting to
see what the house is going to do with a
similar bill, thinking that time can be
saved By waiting. They want to consider the
amendments suggested by the house COM
mittee.
The lieutenant governor is said TO have
discovered some ''snags" in his strict anti
pass" measure. Railway postal officials
! have pd he
prohibit the giving Of passes TO postal clerks
by the railway corporations AS this mat
| ter Is regulated by federal acts, and all
contracts Tor carrying the mails include
contracts for such transportation as may
be asked for by the postal authorities upon
their requisition, they say the bill as drawn
by the president of the senate would be
unconstitutional. President Gllber's atten-
/ tion has been called to this matter, and
he has said he will investigate the points
/ involved
! There is another large body OF "profes-
sional" men in the state who are not likely
4 10 accept the bill with open arms and they
/ don't ride on passes either. That class com
! prises the ministers OF the gospel. At the
present time all railroads allow them half
! fare, but the presidents "anti-pass" bill
says the railroads shall not discriminate in
order to allow one person any advantage
4
alike. The author of the bill says he does
not believe in newspapers receiving mileage
| in pay for railroad advertising In their
newspapers, but thinks the corporations
should pay cash the same as anyone else,
and when the editor wants to take a ride
| he should do likewise
Consider II "A Joke.
Some OF the members of the senate do
not seem TO take the bill in a serious strain.
which is not remarkable since the fusion
forces did not grasp the golden oppor-
tunity'' two years ago to enact such a law.
! One member heard TO inquire OF an
other during the week whether or not they
should Joke the Joker" and pass the bill.
The chances for the jokers being !oked are
not the brightest In the world.
While the coed resolutions OF the ma
jority IN the senate at the beginning OF
the session to be economical in the way Of
emuloyeS have not been fractured IN saheh