Omaha daily bee., 1903-04-03
Tel $685.

ton Of republicans in omfha known as
the "anti-machine." which has recently
boosted Of the Organization 4 has per-
fected for the purpose Of securing control
Of thesCity hall at the spring election, the
high card of whose game was the railroad
ing Through the Legislature of the Gilbert
primary election bill. 1t is not denied that
these street cleaners and employees Of sim
liar character are to be arbitrarily and
without cause AIRED" because, forsooth, 1t
H. believed a potential method OF furthering
the interests Of the ~"antis." The plan be-
yond this c~ontemplates still more power
for the new machine. 1t is the design that
when these men are turned out Of their
positions to attempt to hire an entirely new
set with the approval Of the council, and
then cash in this piece of political chic
anSry as an asset for the ~"antis."
One Of the other political schemes con-
templated in this act is the election Of
the city attorney, who has heretofore been
an appolntiye officer, appointed by the
mayor. The act further changes the pres
ntscharter In constituting. one, instead Of
two oficial papers for the city.
Suddenly com Home Ruler.
II was Omaha day in the senate, at least
. good part of It was. Howell and Hall
indulged the patience Of that body for a
considerable, period while they threashed
OUT some '"dirty linen over the Howell
telephone bill. The tight arose over a
motion by Howell to raise the bill from the
sitting committee. The motion was finally
lost. The principal contention of Hall was
that the bill, in contemplating a reduction
of8telephone rates, sought to deprive the
city council Of a right II possessed and
force the legislature to- do something which
II awas not called on to do. He said that
II the council did not properly exercise the
functions Of its ONCE the people OF Omaha
had the right, and shoul use II in placing
man in these positions who would do their
duty. He argued that 1t was not a mat
ter for the legislature to settle.
Howell laid, great stress upon the fact
that ne was fighting for home rule, a prin-
cipie which Hall laid claim to as the foun-
dalton Of his nght,a A number, q, other
senators took Howeflab task for pFeclpf-
tatingl this light over local matters In the
legislature. where they claimed 1t had
no place.
appropriation is Pared.
The senate committee on finance made
its report on tho general salaries bill
carrying originally $4,000. cutting II
down $40, s1.67. The committee on &C.
counts and expenditures. carrying out the
principle Of economy which has manifested
itself so conspicuously In the upper branch
reported that &c had settled the bill of the
Omaha Printing company of $1.71s,69. fol
$3.50. This committee reported further that
It had offered the Hardy Furniture com.
pany S142.1s for Its carpet bill OF s69O.1'
and that the company refused to accept
preferripG 10 lotsthe account run ovei
until the paxt lseislatufs.g
The hoqee committee on railroads hal
at last rslesaed the, Kennedy bills. H. r
All and HgfRT 451, relating to the en-,
forcement Of the maximum freight rate
law. The bitiE we're reported back with.
out recommendation. Chairman Menden
hall Of the committee wanted to repor
them for indeHhite postponement, but HI
could not secure enough votes to sustain
his DESIRES H. R. AL provides that tn
attorney shall be- authorized to proceeC
agalnst any railroad that has violated thi
act and H.aR. 451 provides that the COVER
nor. state treasurer And the land com
missioner shall constitute a commission
for the proper enforcement OF the pro
visions of this act. Under the presen
law a dsfunct body. the transportatioi
board is vested with this power.
The senate committee on municipal az
fairs has finally agreed to report back TO
general hie H. r. sOS by Gilbert Of Doug
las. which has been in the committed
hands fer several weeks, This is tn
measure which contemplates the vallda
tioh Of All the paving taxes in Omaha sine
1897, u seeks to correct the defects 4
tho petitions for paving and would resul
IN bringing about a relevy-of taxes on al
property where suits have been brough
end thus turn into the treasury Of the cit
a large revenue. II would, 1t is said, like
wise do sway with endless litigation whic
has already been extremely expensive I
Omaha The demand for the passage c
this bfi has been active. all the com
mereiaT bodies of the city being engage
in it's promotion. James Adams. deput
city attorney, has been here today in III
Interest OF the bill. He met with tn
committee and presented his own and tn
arguments OF other leading citizens