Omaha daily bee., 1903-03-22
Governor Mickey Indicates Plainly that
He Will Sign the Measure.
THINKS IT WILL LIFT THE STATE DEBT
Chief Anxiety at Present is Over the
Constitutional Amendments.
WEEKS WORK ON THE APPROPRIATIONS
Little Time Remaining in which 90
Dispose of the Mass Of other
Bills which Are Pend
(From a Stan Correspondent1

From a staff Correspondent
LINCOLN, March H.-(Special. )-The
revenue bill which passed the house yes
terday and was read for the first time in
the senate last night, passed the second
reading in the upper branch OF the legis-
lature this morning. Al this session the
Ramsey elevator bill, compelling railroads
to grant full terminal and transfer facili-
ties to farmers elevators, and imposing
upon the farmers the requirement OF con-
structing their elevators at a cost not less
than $4,000 also was read for the second
time. The house adjourned yesterday and
the senate this morning until 2:30 Monday
afternoon.
Opposition to the revenue bill subsided
when the fight in the house ended. That
measure will glide swiftly through the SEN
ate, passing that body about Thursday so
that before the end of another week it is
more than likely to have become a law.
No obstruction will be placed in its way in
the senate, save possibly the four votes of
the fusion members, and these, of course,
will count for naught, since the forces back
OF this revenue measure have even a
stronger grip on the senate than on the
house. Governor Mickey will affix his off,
cial signature to the bill without hesl-
fancy. He has committed himself in favor
Of this measure. OF it he said today:
81 am glad to see this bill passed. | be-
lieve it will afford US relief that we so
much need We ought, and l believe will,
derive through 1t total assessment OF
$500, ,00O, 900. This state is in a bad condi-
tion with this debt of over $1,000 900 hang
ing over it and we cannot hope for the
greatest substantial progress unless we ef.
face that debt"
Interested in Amendments.
The governor is deeply interested in see
| ing the legislature pass at least three OF
| the bills for constitutional amendments that
are pending before 1t. These are the bills
| providing for an increase in the number OF
supreme court judges from three TO ave.
| increase in the salaries of state officials
and the provision for safe investment OF
the pRrmanant- school fund. There are
many more constitutional amendment BILLS
| pending, but these three are, in the judg-
ment of the governor, the most important.
He said he would rather see them pushed
through than to have twice as many of the
others passed, for fear of getting too many
before the people at once. He contemplate,
however, recommending the passage OF two
more such measures, one to provide that
all appropriation bills shall be presented
to the governor by the fftieth day of the
legislative session, so as TO give him ample
time in which to act on them before the
| legislature adiourns, and the other provid-
ing that the governor shall withhold his
approval from bills making appropriations
in excess of the income for the blennium
The governors object is to throw about the
state every safeguard against unwarranted
Indebtedness, frequently incurred by ex-
travagant legislation. He dwells with par
agfe ahn nWgy
ance of this state addressing itself with
singular purpose to wiping out its present
illegal debt as a condition to potential de-
velopment.
Sitting Committees at Work.
The general sentiment in both. houses
/ seems favorable to these amendments and
1t is believed they will get through, but
the one great trouble is the legislature is
making such poor progress with the tre-
mendous amount of work confronting 1t.
Up to a week ago but nineteen laws had
been enacted. This week only four more
have been added to the statute books
While as a matter of fact the fewer laws
passed is often the better, yet something
must be done with the 300 or more that
are awaiting action in the two houses
With only nine more days Of the legislative
session It is dificut indeed TO figure out
: how this work is to be wound up in proper
shape. The sitting committee in the sen
ate has already begun welding its axe and
A the one in the house will start in on the
: fifty-sixth day, but this does not offer a
satisfactory solution of the problem. No
matter what course is pursued, certain bill
= are bound to suffer.
: General Appropriations Next.
| - 4bo
:, the salaries appropriations bill, the hous'
. will Monday take up the next appropria
!, tion bill on the docket. There are ye
= three to act on, the general appropriations
: deficiency and claims bills. At the rat
= things have been moving it will just abou
!. require the greater part OF next week L
!. dispose of these measures-unless som
:. night work is done. Three apportionmen
bills are among the huge pile yet to b
: acted on. Two Of these provide for judicia
% redistrlcting and one for legislative re
: apportionment. There is little thought tha
either Of the first two will ever get furthe
than they are now, but it is believed tn
McAllister legislative reapportionmen
. measure possibly may get through Legis
- lation of this character is generally con
ceded to be necessary, but OF course ther
are various minor changes which eertai
1. members would like TO make in the bill.
m Appropriation for Exposition.
p; The legislature has not yet acted on tn
y. bill calling for a $4,000 appropriation fo
s. the st. Louis worlds fair, nor is II llkel
or to recommend that amount. This is a poe
H. time for any appropriation bill to com
d. up to this legislature and the chances ar
or not altogether assuring that any outlay wi
or be made for this purpose. Two represents
tiyes OF the 81. Louis fair, W. II. Moore
a, St. Louis and Colonel Harvey p. Salmon
!. Clinton, Mo, In company with W. j. Bryal
Ill who presented them, called on GoyernC
m Mickey today and urged him to use his II
huence with the legislature 10 make an az
propriation. The governor told them th'
I'M -there was a bill pending providing for SIS
," 900 and that he was Of the opinion thi
mn probably the legislature would grant $50. 90
but doubted II the bill would get throus
li in its original form. The gentlemen thougl
ta~n l. MI kraN a. =.