Omaha daily bee., 1900-01-31
PORTER'S PLAN IS REJECTED
Proposition to Demand Resignation Of Trans-
portstiop Board Secretaries Voted Down.
PORTER ONLY MAN WHO VOTED to1 II
Three Hours Consumed In Consider
alton Of the Resolution, After
Which tho Vote IL Takcn-Su-
premc Court Calendar.

blNNOBN, Jan. -iSpeclal,D-ln TcsJ-
luton OF Secretary OF State Porter, demand
ing the resignation OF Secretaries Laws,
Dahlman and Edgerton Of the State Board
OF transportation. was voted down this
afternoon by a vote Of 4 to L, MIR. Porter
being the only member f~avoring it's adop-
tion. About three hours time was con-
sumed in the consideration OF the resolu-
ton and at the close Of the meeting come
time was spent discussing the future course
TO he pursued by the board and the secrc-
tsries. Every member informally expressed
the opinion that hereafter wherever rates are
found to be too high they should be re-
duced and that steps should be taken by
the board or the secretaries to prevent any
unjust increase in rates the railroads might
attempt to make.
The meeting was called at the instance OF
Auditor Cornell, chairman Of the trsnsporta-
tion board, and after a date was set for the
hearing OF the complaint OF Charles II.
Johnson, which was published In The Omaha
Daily Bee Sunday morning, Secretary Por-
ter made the request that the board go into
executive session. There was considerable
opposition to this request. Treasurer Me-
serve announced that he did not think IL
wise to transact public business behind
closed doors. Land Commissioner Wolfe
alN ludJ II NOulu ne all TiBlt 10 TAKE up
In executive session any matter Mr.. Porter
might wish to bring before the hoard II
1t was something the public did not already
know about or ought not to know about.
Mr.. Porter refused to submit his request in
the form of a resolution. but it was finally
brought UP by another member and voted
down. During the consideration Secretaries
Dahlman and Edgerton remained in the
room and Secretary Laws retired.
The secretary of state received very lit
tie support during the meeting and 1t was
evident at the outset that the resolution
would be voted down almost unanimously.
Mr.. Porter was questioned by Mr.. Edgerton
and several members Of the board concern
ing his motive for asking for the reeigna-
ton Of the secretaries. 1t was timated
that he had a man in mind for an appoint
ment as secretary when he introduced the
resolution.
Debate WAKES Warm.
The debate grew very warm toward the
close OF the meeting and in response to one
of Meserve's questions Porter said that he
did not propose to be caterhised by any
member OF the board. Meserve asked II
the secretary OF state had not told a man
that he had no ill-feeling against the sec
retaries. but that it was necessary for him
to introduce the resolution for self-protec-
ton because Of promises he had made to
his constituents that had not been fulflled.
Porter replied that he might have made
such a remark. but he didn't remember II.
Porter moved the adoption of his resp
luton and Wolfe, through courtesy alone,
he explained, seconded the motion. A yea
and nay vote was called for, which re-
suited as follows: Yea, Porter; nay, Cor
nell, Smyth. Wolfe. Meserv..
The complaint Of Charles Johnson will be
heard by the Board of transportation and
It's secretaries on February . at Norfolk.
1t was suggested that any other complaint
arising in that section Of the state. be COM
sidered at the same time.
Ed Cooper of Vesta, johnson county, com,
planned to the board today that the Bur-
lington railroad refuses to furnish a SUI
fcient number of cars to farmers living
In his vicinity for the shipment Of grain.
He asserts that they are compelled TO haul
TO the tracks Of another railroad al a loss
OF several cents per bushel.
Lincoln A. Miller entered a complaint
against the Rock Island railroad today. al
leging that II has violated the terms OF a
contract by tearing away a bridge over
one OF its tracks in Lancaster county.
Supreme Court Matters.
1t is probable that only one sitting of
the supreme court will be held during the
month OF February. The second sitting, if
held. would occur during the annual con-
vention OF National Creamery Buttermak-
ers' association and, as the hotels will be
overcrowded at that time, it is likely that
the months business will be combined in
the sitting which begins February 6. APP
pended is a list OF the cases TO be called
for hearing at that time:
Schmidt against Mahoney, Dawes county;
Dufrene against Johnson. Douglas county:
Upton against, Belts, Saline county; Ash
land Land and Live Stock Company against
May, Saunders county; Fire Association.
Philadelphia, against Ruby, Phelps county;
Lincoln Street Railway COMPANY against
Lincoln. Lancaster county; State eX rel
Emerson against Dickinson, mandamus:
Morton against Watson, Otoe county;
Hanscom against Meyer. Douglas
county; Alling agains- Fisher, Dawes
county; Eikenbary against Porter. Cass
county; Henney Buggy Comrany against
Ashenfelter, Gage county; Henney Buggy
Company against Pnrlin, Orendorf & Mar
tin Company, Gage county; Denney against
Stout, Douglas county: Veith against Ress.
Lancaster county; Clifford against Hall
county, Hall county; Chamberlain Banking
House against Wcolscy, Johnson county.