Omaha daily bee., 1903-01-24

Union Pacific lobbyists here are booming
his bill. They have sent TO Kansas and
received a large number OF copies Of II and
are distributing them among all the mem-
bers OF the legislature. The bill is a
voluminous, affair, Surprising seventy six
pages in book form, and is introduced by as
much Of a review Of the history OF pro-
posed revenue revision in Kansas. This is
contained in. the official report Of the Kan
sas state Tax commission, created by act Of
the legislature Of that state IN 1901.
Some days ago John n Baldwin. attorney
for the Union Pacific. was asked his opin-
ion OF the Kansas measure He said:
WELL / am inclined to think it is a good
thing"
"As a matter OF fact, Mr.. Baldwin, your
company, which has extensive interests in
Kansas, lie not opposing this revenue bill,
Is it?" was asked. s.
NO" emphatically replied the corpora
tlon lawyer, I'VE are not opposing it, but,
on the contrary, we favor the bill, for we
feel that IL is a good measure and Will meet
every need OF the state"
Another Union Pacific lobbyist yesterday
had this to say OF the proposed Kansas
bill:
This bill ought to pass in both these
states. II offers the only correct solu-
ton Of this revenue and taxation prob
lem. II there is to be any revenue rovi-
sion in Nebraska II must be along the lines
laid down in this measure"
CandOr is Appreciated.
SO much for the Kansas revenue bill
and the relations OF the Union Pacific to It,
Anyone who is interested in knowing
what the Union Pacific wants in the way
of revenue revision in Nebraska would do
well to prt cure one OF these voiuminOus
documents from the legislative department
of this railroad and find 0Ut: The bill Is
entirely too long to print IN the columns Of
& newspaper The candor Of the Union
Pacific in so clearly setting forth its posi-
tion on this important matter no doubt
will be greatly appreciated by the legis-
lators OF this state who are striving with
such evident zeal to ascertain the needs
and wishes Of all interests concerned
throughout the commonwealth and the
theories upon which to proceed In this
grave undertaking.
The questions that present themselves
with striking force to the peoples repre-
sentatives are.
Are ,the interests of the railroad cor
porations and those of the individuals
whom we prepresent identical In this i'm
portant grespect?"
Or Have the Union Pacific and other
railroad corporations employed talented
and experienced lobbyists to come to Lin
coin TO work day and night for the special
promotion OF a revenue bill that will, II
enacted into law. afoTd to the people of
this state adequate relief from those OPP
pressions against which the popular voice
is raised in such loud and emphatic pro-
test7"
With this question satisfactorily an
sswered there ought to be no further trouble
in proceeding with the important work to
be done along these lines. .s.
COMMITTEES Doors Closed.
The special committee from the house and
the senate revenue and taxation committees,
which form the joint committee TO draft
and introduce a revenue law, met this aft
ernoon and elected Senator Brown of Keya
Paha chairman. and the clerk OF the reg
ular senate ecmmittees clerk.
The committee has decided to hold star
chambers. excluding Representatives of the
press or any of the public, Two Omaha
K reporters entered the committee room and
took seats as the meeting was convened.
Representative Sears Of Burt arose and
moved that the early meetings Of the Joint
committee be held in private. as he Thought
It would facilitate the work OF the COM
mittee, not, he said, that he had, any OBJ
jections TO the presence OF reporters or
others. Senator Douglas seconded the mo-
tion. Loomis Of Dodge peladed for the early
meetings TO be open, saying that 1t would
be better to admit the press and the pub
lie to the preliminary meetings than to
admit them later when the actual work was
being done and privacy would De rsqurv,i.
Senator Fvies Of Custer wanted the early
and later meetings all to be open, contend
ing that the press and the public were
interested in the work at hand and had a
right to attend the meetings. He and
Loomis were the only ones who voted for
the open meetings.
The committee maintained its mysterious
policy even after the meeting. All the In.
formation that could be ELECTED was that
Senators Brown Anderson and Pemberton,
Representatives Sears Douglas and
Thompson were appointed to decide
whether general revenue revision, or sim
ply amendments to the present law, should
be attempted and to report to the house
and senate Tuesday
The committee win hold public meetings
next Wednesday and Thursday nights at
which any citizen or railroad representa-
tive may offer suggestions as to the matte.
of revenue legislation.
The Douglas county delegation mas been
successful In securing the passage by lhe
senate as well as the house Of Saunders
bill making the date of city elections in
Omaha the FIRST Tuesday in May, instead
OF the first Tuesday In March. des. lite the
emphatic protests OF so many OF Omaha's
citizens. The measure slipped through
the senate today without dissenting vote
Personal Gossip.
Among the very industrious members OF
the senate. who are Industrious even when
that body Is not In session, is Senator
Brown OF Keya Paha. But there are other
reasons for the senator's love for work
besides his regards for ones duty. The
senator made a trip home when the senate
made its hrst adjournment over Sunday
He hasn't been home since and will not
likely go there until the green grass comes
again. To get to Springview one has e