Omaha daily bee., 1903-03-14
HOUSE DEBATE ON REVENUE
Practically Entire Day Taken Up with
Section Dealing with
Railroads.
(From a stan correspondence

LINCOLN, March 3.-(special.)-on mo-
ton of Sears of Burt the house went into
committee of the whole, Immediately upon
convenlng and resumed consideration of the
revenue bill. ,.sso. = s.,.t - ,G.' "a
Rouse Of Hall'was the 1irst speaker. He
drew attention to the, great, debt Of Ne
braaka by saying that 1--WE, as a people, are
prosperous. but We as Q ttate, are not
prosperous, and 1t is because of deficient
revenue laws" He urged the imperative
necessity Of a revenue measure that would
meet the demands Of the hour. He spurned
the charge that the ultra-revisionists were
impelled by sinister political motives and
declared that they were honestly trying
to represent their constituents interests.
Rouse was one OF the strongest oppo-
nents OF the revenue bill. During his re-
marks he replied to a fling made at him
by a speaker on the other side last night,
Gliding him for not fighting for anti pass
legislation. He said the member was like
himself. a defeated candidate for speaker,
and had approached him to secure his co.
operation for an anti-pass bill which that
member intended to introduce as a re-
taliation upon the railroads for their de-
feat. Rouse said he asked the member
later. about his anti-pass bin that was
never submitted. When he finished Sears
arose and took exception to the remarks
and brought down a laugh on himself when
informed by Rouse that he was not. the
man referred to.
Morsman of Douglas attacked the Loomis
and Caldwell amendments, saying. II en-
acted, they WOULD. deprive. Nebraska of a
vital portion of railroad valuation belong
ing to it. He pleaded for the revenue bill,
maintaining that this bill would subject
these corporations to fair taxation. He
unequivocally asserted that for ten years
the railroads had paid more than their
fair taxes and urged that II would be an
imposition to increase their taxes.
Sweezy Of Adams came out OF the dark
at last and placed himself on record as
f~avoring the Thompson amendment as
against the Caldwell and Loomis amend
ments. He did not fully endorse either
plan. He proposed an amendment that
would require the state board to take ,he
value Of stocks and bonds into account
In arriving at the valuation of a railroad.
Afternoon Session.
sweezy was in the chair at the afternoon
session. %
Kennedy OF Douglas, replying to remarks
made by MorsmAn, said that II to tax stocks
n bonds is to tax incomes, then taxing
gross earnings is. In a truer sense, to tax
incomes. He upbraidBd Thompson OF Mer-
rick for carrying this night along party
lines. sweezy interrupted to ask II the
fusionists had not csncused on the Caldwell
amendment and Kennedy said they had not,
but would support the amendment on q
broader principle than politics.
Mockett protested hat the railroads had
always been in Nebraska politics and took
occasion to deny that this house was owned
by railroads. He then rebuked the repub-
lican members for yielding to the sophis-
TRIES of the minority faction. He declared
that IL for no other reason he would vote
against the Caldwell amendment simply be.
cause it is in the Grand island democratic
platform.
Caldwell of Clay made a splendid Piles
for his amendment, oneAof the most for.
chile and effective that has been made on
either side. OF this question: He sale re.
publican principles we're as dear to him al
to any other staunch republican. and IA
had not departed from them or yielded
himself up 10 the enemy. He believed hil
amendment was right and wise and h
would support II, on that broad grounS
and not be affected by the thrusts that hi
was betraying his party and allyihg himssl
With the fuaioHists. g.
Douglas Of Rock took the moor and en-
tered into a detailed explanation that h
was not, as had been said. at present
railroad lawyer. His remarks were agains
the Caldwell amendment. He made a pas
sionAte' appeal to the party pFeiudiees o
the republican members 10 set them u
vote against this. Caldwell amendment Whiel
he. with others. said had 1.-The demOerati
brand on Il.
Then Roberts OF Dodge made his speed
against the Caldwell Gnsndmsat. sadinl