Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1903-01-07
Harrison Of Hall and Mockett Of Lancaster
Formally Elected.
FEWER SPECTATORS THAN COMMON
Opening Session Does Not Draw So Well as
Two Years Ago
MEMBERS READY TO TAKE UP THE WORK
Take Hold a. Though peter
mined 60 Make session
One of Business.
From a stan Correspondentl

ty-eighth session OF the Nebraska general
assembly convened at noon today. The
machinery was set In motion simultan-
eously in house and senate and the pro-
grams arranged in the preceding caucuses
strictly carried out.
The spectators in attendance included
quite n number OF former members OF pre-
ceding legislatures in addition TO the usual
horde Of place hunters anxious to get in
on the ground floor. On the whole gall
leries and lobbies were not crowded as
much as they have been on opening days
of the last two sessions. This is, perhaps.
because there Is no impending senatorial
contest to add zest to the legislative pro-
Ceedings
The halls OF both branches OF the legis-
| lature presented an inviting appearance,
with new polished furniture and freshly dis
| tributed supplies Back OF the presiding
officers chairs the walls are draped taste
| fully with large American flags ccntering
about a portrait OF President Roosevelt in
the -enate and portrait of the late Presi-
! dent Mckinley in the house. The desks of
the presiding officers were also adorned
with floral sprays and in the house the
desk that had been assigned to Represent
ative Musick of Nuckols was draped in
black and surmounted with flowers and
/ two small flags in token OF his sudden
death last week
Opening Not SPECTACULAR.
The parts played in the opening scenes
by the respective officers and members
we're chiefly prefunctory. In the senate
Lieutenant Governor Steele did the honors
as presiding officer while in the house Sec
retary of State Marsh called the body to
order and gave way to DR.. Wilson OF Paw
nee, who in turn, yielded the chair to
| Speaker Mockett DR.. Wilson ludlcrously
| forgot that there were any fusionists in
the house, a mistake quite natural In view
| OF the extraordinary majority Of the re-
/ publcans. AS a result in appointing his
committees he almost invariably named
none but republicans and then having his
attention called TO it, revising his list by
adding someone to represent TIE minority.
The speeches OF both DR.. Wilson and
Speaker Mockett we're received with ap
plause indicating that they accorded with
the sentiment of the members Mr.. Mock
ett's brief remarks in particular were clear
cut and to the point, giving promise that
the proceedings will be conducted through
out the session in a strictly businesslike
manner.
Rouse OF Hall made winning play that
was not on the program when, by motion,
he added a name for chief clerk of the en-
rolling room to the list of officers elected
by the house. The position had not been
considered at all by the caucus, and in the
usual course of events would have gone to
the speaker, along with his other perqul-
sites. Rouses motion came as surprise
and went through without a dissent The
complete organization Of the house by the
appointment of the minor employees and
the naming OF committees cannot be fura-
! tshad before q first mart Of next week.
How the Senate Met.
The senate was called to order by Lieu
tenant Governor Steele, and after prayer
by Chaplain Gresham of Grand Island, the
roll call disclosed all present.
Hall OF Douglas moved that Reynolds OF
Dodge Howell OF Douglas and Anderson of
Saline be appointed a committee on cre-
I dentials. After ten minutes time given
them, on motion OF Harrison Of Hall, the
I committee reported all entitled to seats.
Warner Of Dakota moved that Hall OF
Douglas, Wall OF Buffalo and Marshall OF
Otoe be appointed a committee TO notify
Chief Justice Sullivan CT the convenlng OF
the senate and escort him 20 the chamber
= to administer the OATH After the oath had
. been taken the rules OF 1901 we're adopted
on motion OF Harrison, the senate was per-
p manently organized and committees chosen
, 7
This was done by motion of oNeill of Lam
caster.
/ Howell OF Douglas, Warner OF Dakota and
Sheldon OF Cass were appolEted to bring
the secretary of state to the senate and
) administer the oath TO the employees. When
the committee returned without the secre-
. tary II found Chief Justice Sullivan doing
the work. Before the committee could re-
port, Harrison OF Hall moved that the rec
! ora oe corrected and the chief Justices
name be inserted in place Of that Of the
secretary of state. This brought forth
= talk from O'Neill, who wanted the rec.
ords to read that the committee could not
find the secretary and had brought in ths
chief Justice. Then the committee objected
because its chairman said II had nothing
O to do with Judge Sullivan being there. Th'
/ name Of Judge Sullivan was inserted in the
D motion instead OF the secretary and the
4 business was settled.
n committee consisting OF Day OF Muck
a oils, Reynolds Of Dodge, Jennings OF Thaye
and Meredith Of sarpy was appointed q
wait upon the house and notify II OF tn,
A organization OF the senate
= Harrison of Hall, Brown Of Keya Pahi
and Saunders OF Douglas were appointed I,
act with a committee OF the house in wait
ing upon the governor. The first commit
tee reported the house not ready to recev
IT and the senate adjourned until II ococl
| tomorrow
Before adjournment a resolution wa
= passed to pay the chief enrolling and en-
u crossing clerk 81 per day
< The senate committee on committees me
u tonight. but brought no work TO completion
s House Routine.
.- The house was called 10 order at nool
Il by Secretary. OF State Marsh. The rol
call showed two absentees, Atwood Q
-. Seward and Kennedy Of Douglas who 1
D. sick. Rev. Joseph II Presson Of Milford
NJ chaplain OF the last session. delivered m
y Invocation Wilson OF Pawnee was electe
temporary chairman, receiving seyenty-On
'r republican votes against the twenty fu
%, sionist votes cast for Hoy Of Polk.
Jouyenat. Burgess ard Hogrefe were az