Omaha daily bee., 1903-02-10

its report but from remarks made by cer-
tain members OF that committee. Three
leading members wero asked today II the
committee was harmonious as to that part
Of the work accomplished and each made
nearly tae sane answer:
We'll nearly So"
One member who seemed less restricted
than the others was frank enough to admit
that the members did not all agree as TO
the provisions and that this was largely the
reason for tho delay In reporting the bill
and In fact in completing It.
But even a more direct statement than
this may be made on the basis of a remark
dropped by a member OF that committee. it
is that unless some heroic action il taken
pretty soon there will be a majority and a
minority report submitted by this com
mittee. The line OF demarkatlon was drawn
when. with certain members OF the com
mittee absent last week. the others repudi-
ated the original resolution Of the COM
mittee in adopting the Nebraska law as
a foundation for it's labors and substituted
the Kansas bill, advocated in the most
strenuous terms by the Union Pacific Dail-
road company. When these members learned
of this there we're some pretty warm
things said, so the report goes, and ven>
geance sworn.
Now in holding out to the last, persist
emily refusing to be whipped into line by
the railroad lash, IL is said that these in.
surgents have determined never to agree
to the bill which 10 about TO be completed
as the product Of the majority OF the COM
mittee and that they will, therefore, sub
NIT a report Of their own on the basis Of
the Nebraska law. OF course the members
are reticent In discussing this phase Of
the case. ..'
While refusing to name cny exact time,
all the members of the committee inter-
viewed upon the subject say the bill ought
to be ready for introduction about Wednes-
day. This is said with an evident mental
reservation and 1t is feared that the bill
will not be forthcoming before the latter
part Of the week. Sears made this prom
Use:
"It will be ready some time this week.
This is the best l can give you"
There is a great deal Of restlessness on
the part Of serious minded members for
the Introduction Of this bill.
Adjournment May he n Mistake.
whether the legislature acted wisely In
adjourning for a week to give the revenue
committee time to draft a measure re-
mains to be seen.
THE recommendation OF a revenue meas
ure that would be for the best interest
OF the state; that would provide for the
wiplng out OF the state debt; that would
provide for the taxing of all taxpaying
bodies and corporations an equal basis
for all purposes, working injustice to none,
doing Justice to all would stand forever
as a monument to the citizenship, the
statesmanship, the integrity and the ever
lasting glory of every member Of that
eomLiittee," said a legislator today. 1T
has been week of opportunity for every
member OF that committee"
The opinion Of those at the state capital.
however. who have watched the proceed
ings from the frst is divided as to whether
the committee has taken advautake OF its
opportunity So far as the public generally
is concerned the committee has been un-
hindered and uninterrupted in its work. 1t
is composed of representative men whose
ability and whose knowledge OF the state s
reeds is unquestioned, and the public know
It. The railroads, however, maintained
their lobby here during the entire week.
but whether the bill will have tho ear
marks of the railroads is also a question.
The committee has given out no au-
thoritative statement and the reports OF
its doings published by the papers, though
CORRECT, had to be secured from individual
members OF the committee or from those
IN possession Of the facts. The committee
but the majority has ruled and an agree
fnent exists that will make 1t almost i'm
possible for the public to ever learn on
what important subjects the members dis
agreed This agreement is intended Ia
hold good through the discussion of the
bill in the legislature and the hght fol-
the passage OF the bill as recommended
win be unit by the committee,
Railroads Improve Opportunities.
Tho adjournment for which in the sen.
ate at least, the railroads or those who are
friendly to the interests OF the railroads
fought desperately, and which would have
been defeated had II not been for th'
smooth work OF Senator Brown who, wheI
mis- ballot would have tied the vote, voted
the opposite from that for which he haC
cpoken, in order to be able to move
reconsideration, has been of vast impor
tanoe to the railroads. And the railroad
have not failed to take advantage Of tn,
opportunity accorded them. They have beef
free to woEL as they saw it; they hav
lad time 20 SOW seeds OF prejudice agains
terminal taxation for city purposes an
they have been free to work untrammele
or unhindered. And II a legislator sue
eumbed 10 their influence, by argument
there has been no one here TO show u
the dsmerits of their cause.
As. the new revenue measure does no
provide for the taxing OF railroad terminal
for city purposes, upon the Ten Eyck bill
will be as hard a fight. perhaps. as upo
the entire revenue measure. Al least tina
is the impression one gets from the leg
islntors who have visited the capital dur
ing the week. 1t is the impression OF man
that a fight on this bill will give tn
Douglas delegation an opportunity tha
seldom comes to q Douglas delegation
While II was stated Immediately after th
alleged public debate of the tax questio
in which John N. Baldwin talked for tw
hours and had his arguments shot I
pieces by Mr.. Mcintosh in twenty minute
generously given him by the eommitte,
that all the debate in the world woul
not change things, for II is all set fc
the railroads." the railroads are not sur
Of their ground on this bill. It has bee
called to mind that many legislators al
here with appropriation bills in their pocl
cts and II these are not allowed Il mean
political death, so far as such leglslatoi
are concerned. So the Douglas delegatio
has somewhat of club IN It's own har
with which to argue against the railroad
And there are an even dozen votes dow