The Columbus journal., 1903-02-18
THE NEBRASKA LEGISLATURE
A Svnoosis of Proceedings In Both Branches
of the Twenty Eighth General
Assembly.

l. Oh IX10 "SSASy
Assel
SENATE.
After q weeks adjournment, tie sem
ate reconvcned on the 9th. Chairman
Brown of the reevnue committee re-
ported that the till was not ready. ana
asekd for more time. He stated tnat
the bill would probably be ready by the
middle OF the week. Chairman warner
Of the committee appointed to investi-
gate the charge of telephone companies
requested five days more time. ana 'hat
the committee be authorized to sum
mon witnesses and cOmpe! companies 10
produce books. The requests were
e:anted Hall of Douglas reported the
time Of meeting Of the various commit
tees. and this t-es ordered printed ana
distributed. At the afternoon session
the following bills Wee passed: >. r.
H. authorizing county boards TO appro-
pirate money for agricultural societies
S. r. 81, compelling those in charge OF
portable engines 70 lay boards on cul-
yerts before crossing with engine. s.
+. IL. to memorable congress to oppose
the Dietrich land-lcasing measure. Tho
bill vas amended that fences around the
public lands come down by July I. lSo4.
III. r. Co. appropyiating $4S.0oO TO pay ex-
pension Of legislature. Amended to read
s.. 600 The committee Of the whole with
O. Nell of Lancaster in the chair re-
ported favorably on s. F. s.. reiatine
20 the raising OF money by cities OF
S 900 Inhabitants for the purpose OF
water works. Bills were introduced:
Act providing for a commission to revise
the statutes and Code Of Civil Proceed
ure OF the state OF Nebraska ana 10
prepare the same for the consideration
of the legislature OF 1865. To amend sub
divisions and Of section 69 OF article
1. chapter xiv. of the Compiled Statutes.
ertitled "Cities OF the second class and
villages" and to repeal said original
subdivisions. Streets to be graded oy
two-thirds vote OF council: three-fourths
vote to construct sidewalks or curbing
Granting to persons. associations ana
corporations engaged in the generating
and transmitting of electric current Tor
power and other purposes the right OF
way in. along and across the public
highways Of the state Of Nebraska, and
prescribing a penalty for the wilful ana
malicious injury to or interference win
the poles or wires of such persons. as
sociations or corporations. Joint reso-
luton making application to the con-
gress Of the United States to propose
an amendment OF the constitution OF the
United States. providing for the election
of United States senators by direct vote
OF the people.
Senate file s., allowing cities Of 5000 in
hsbitants authority to levy an increased
rate for establishment of water works.
was passed on the 10th. The senate went
irto committee of the whole. to consider
bills on general file. The committee made
the following rep.rt: Senate file "a
changes lowest rate OF interest on county
deposits to per cent. Report that It be
considered in conjunction with senate file
g. Senate file a. relating to organization
Of counties not under township organiza-
tion: recommended for passage. Senate
file 3. relating to guardians and wards.
that 1t be passed. Senate file Il. providing
for county commissions to contract for
bridges. was taken up. A substitute was
offered by the committee. Many amend
ments were offered and the bill. with the
amendments was ordered engrossed. s.
r. s.. an act to increase the powers OF
the Food commission. brought forth con.
siderable debate. Hasty OF Furnas made
a big fight on the bill and said the Food
%. commission didn't amount to anything
anyhow. In his category OF boards thai
were not doing their duties or doing any
good for the state. the senator said "mosl
OF the commissioners and the state OF
fnspector." O'Neill, Wall and others
were in favor of the bill 1t went over t.
Thursday. The substitution for 8. F. Is
providing for the letting of contracts by
county commissioners. was the occasion
o. much talk. The debate occupied al
most the entire session and enough
amendments were offered to make th'
bill unrecognizable. A number OF new
bills were introduced.
Most OF the day in the senate on tn
18th was taken up as a committee o
the whole in discussing the bulk law
providing that no retail merchant shoui,
be allowed to sell his stock. entire o
I'm part, outside of the regular trad
routine. without first having notified
his creditors and filing list Of credit
ors with the county clerk. The bill Wa
amended and discussed so much that
was finally sent back to the committee
which was instructed to patch on tn
amendments and again bring 1t forth
s. F. ia, calling for a convention t
amend the constitutions. after a length
discussion, was recommended for pas
sage by the committee of the whole
Sheldon Of Cass introduced a resolution
authorizing the judiciary committee (
get up q bill making such changes Il
the ballot Law regarding constitutions
amendments as may be deemed neces
sary and submit the same on or befor
February Is. 1909. Bills on first readin
included: Fixing fees for county clerk
for issuing instruments. To provide TO
the sale BY railroad companies OF un
claimed goods Authorizing mutual fir
insurance companies to do business uoi
side of the state To extend the bound
aries of all cities. villages. school dis
tricts and other municipal incorporation
bordering upon nss igable streams whic
constitute state boundaries. To defin
the crime of desertion Of minor child o
children, wife or husabnd or home. b
father. mother. putative father. husban
or wife. and to provide punishment
therefor.
After being in session an hour on tn
18th the senate adjourned for the day
This was done in order to give the com
mittees time to get up a large genera
file Standing committees reported as fol
lows: 6. F. IS. providing for the paymen
of certain fines into the school fund. In
definitely postponed: s. F. 3. providing fo
a board Of pardons. recommended for pas
sage: s. F. IS. to prevent the mutilatio
of horses. recommended for passage: 6
F. 6. relating to marks and brands. rec
commended for passage: s. f. l3S. for Is
suance Of bonds for Irrigation purpose.
recommended for passage: s. 2. l3s.
regard to water rights. recommended fo
passage: s. F. 1T. water rights. irriea
tion. recommended for passage: s. F. 13
~o1otSnO IN no 6ostr,,rtSo,, Of lila ~,