Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1903-02-20
Only Three Who Are Solvent Who Are
Not Already Released.
WORKING QUIETLY ON LEGISLATORS
Scheme VIII Be Launched Sometime in
Next Eleven Days
NOT CERTAIN OF GROUND IN THE HOUSE
Members of Omaha Park Board AK n
Larger Tax Levy and say Amount
Available I'm Omaha H. En-
tireIy Inadequate.
cFrom star corresponasntn

From stan Correspondent)
LINCOLN. Feb 19.-CSpecial) )-Unless
systematic plans which have been set on
loot miscarry a demand will be made upon :
the legislature within the next eleven days
TO provide means for the release from their
financial obligation to the state OF the
bondsmen OF ex-State Treasurer BARLEY.
Every effort is being made to insure the
success Of these plans and prevent their
miscarriage. The men behind this move
ment have been assiduOus in their enter
prise, aud have been anxious to launch their
boat in open waters before this, but have
been advised not to do so until some sort
of definite action is taken with reference
to the revenue bill which has claimed and
possessed right-of-wsy from the very first
OF the session This advice has prevailed,
and the plan now is-though there may
yet be some change-to let the BARLEY bond
proposition rest until the revenue bill Is in
troduced and we'll on it's way.
William 4. Paxton OF Omaha and c. c.
McNish OF Fremont. two Of the hartley
bondsmen, have been frequent visitors At
the state capitol since the legislature con-
vened. and have been carefully laying their
wires. Mr.. Paxton left the city yesterday.
The Information comes from a source that
Cdhnot De counted that the launching OF
this movement has been arranged. and that
the matter will now be allowed TO reet for
a few days. However. as but eleven days
OF the forty within which bills and resolu-
uOns Of this character can be introduced,
1t will be necessary to get the machine into
action before those eleven days expire.
The members of the senate and house
have been pretty well sounded on this prop
osition. While IL can be said that even
the Dondsmen themselves are not any too
sure OF their ground, they feel reasonably
certain that some sort OF compromise might
be made whereby their burden could be les
sened. 1t is not understood that the plan
Is to work directly through the oompro-
mise board. as was undertaken on a previous
occasion. When the time for action comes
the argument will be made that there are
now hrt three Enel s.hpl sere on the hartley
bond who eouio be held responsible For
certain reasons the names mentioned ara
not disclosed. There were originally. Of
course, dozen persons on this bond OF f.
900, ,0OO but by one means and another most
Of them have managed to get from under
the load.
willing to Compromise.
One OF the men whom the state stilI
holds responsible for indemnity on the
BARLEY bond. who was in the city today,
was interviewed upon the movement to
secure release from this obligation. He
conyersed freely, but asked that his name
be withheld from publication. He said:
While l am not prepared or not at
| liberty TO say what has been done toward
! securing the release of the BARLEY bonds
men from this bond. 1 can substantiate
the statement that something Is being
] Il.
steps to get of that bOnd-not, I remind
you, TO shirk any fair responsibility, but
70 arrange for a just and equitable set
tlement Of this matter. i can say that
| even before the legislature convened GER
tain members were approached. with hon
! est motives, in the interest of this prop
osition. And efforts have been made since
to obtain a nucleus among the members Of
the legislature upon which we might pro-
oeed with our scheme, but / am not as
| thoroughly in touch with the status OF the
movement now some others and cannot
give you a definite statement as to that.
/ have not recently entered into any con-
| siderable talk with any OF my associates
on that bond about the matter. though
have seen some OF them In the city and
presume they were here to see what was
! to become OF our scheme
1T strikes me that some fair basis Of
settlement ought TO be arranged II the
/ legislature thinks we are not entitled to
complete freedom Of responsibility let II
name what amount OF the loss Il thinks we
ought to make good. For my part would
be perfectly willing 10 leave the entire
matter to any twelve Of the largest tax
payers OF Nebraska. / would be willing to
abide by their decision. There are but
three OF US who are feeling any concsrn
TO do what is fair and right. but we cannot
believe that II would be right TO require
us to discharge the responsibility that
was placed on the whole number. We are
ell reduced in pecuniary resources as a
! result OF this bond proposition as II t..
I venture TO say that we have expended
already not a cent less than $4,000 In
defending and prosecuting the suits aris-
, ing from the situation. Four suits have
been tried in the district court and three
, IN the supreme court and suits Of that
character are not tried for nothing.
Yes. l would be eternally glad II this
legislature could see its way clear TO
provide means for Strengthening up this
matter and Of course /. as well as my as
soeiatss. would be glad to get from under
this heavy load"
Fearful of House.
There is intense anxiety on the part OF
the bondsmen-this one. at least, and no
doubt his feelings may be taken as an index
20 those Of the others-as 10 the prospects
, for the success Of their proposition. This
, gentleman. in his conversation with a cor
respondent OF The Bee, asked:
From your own observation, what dc
you think would be the chances OF getting
such a resolution through the house and
. senate?"
II is evident that greater fears are en-
i tertained as 70 the house than the senate
: still. more work has apparently been dOns
| among the members OF the senate than IN,