Omaha daily bee., 1903-01-25
BELL PEOPLE STRONG IN THE HOUSE
Have the Best Of IL in the Makeup OF the
Committee on Telephones
OPPOSITE CONDITION IN THE SENATE
Hail OF Douglas Makes a Move Look
ins 90 the Cali of a Convention
TO Frame New CoRstitu-
tiOn for state.
CFrom a Stan Corresponden,1 ,

phone company and the Independent com
panies of the state assumed tangible form
today by the simultaneous introduction in
both house and senate Of bill allowing
competitive telephone lines in the cities OF
Omaha and Lincoln. In the senate the bin
was introduced by Reynolds of Dodge. in
the house by Deles Dernier Of Cass. Rey-
nolds is chairman of the senate committee
on telegraph. telephone and electric com
panies and a stockholder in an independ-
ent telephone company. and Deles Dernler
is member OF the house committee and a
strong advocate Of the independent inter-
ests.
While these measures provide merely for
the establishment Of toll stations. with all
necessary lines, etc. they are regarded as
the opening wedge for further legislation.
The next step, 1t is believed. will be a bill
requesting the right OF establishing central
exchanges providing. OF course. that the
initial measure is favorably acted ON.
Some interesting developments are looked
for along this line. 1t certaialy Is evident
that the Independent telephone companies
OF Nebraska have come down to this ses-
/ sion OF the legislature well organized and
/ determined to break down the barriers
which the city councils OF Omaha and Lin
coin have maintained against them. They
/ have come 70 meet a mighty foe, however
I The Bell people are as thoroughly organ
lied. They are in possession OF the head
quarters and have one of the strongest lob
bies in the capital city. They are prepared
to give their opponents a stir hght
| Rivalry shows Up Early.
The bitter rivalry between these fac
| tions became evident at the outset OF this
session. In the makeup of the house and
senate committees each side dealt some
fierce blows and laid the foundation for
the subsequent battle. In the senate the
Independents gained the chairmanshlp OF
the committee by getting Reynolds into that
| position. and II was about an even toss on
the remainder OF the committee. The house
chairmanship. however went to Burgess
of Lancaster, strong Bell man. Moreover,
Morsman Of Douglas was placed on this
committee and Mr.. Morsman's father is
general secretary for the Bell company.
Even with the other six members evenly
divided between the two factions. the Bell
people would have the upper hand Of the
committee in the house.
As TO the sentiment in the house and
senate, II would be a decidedly dificult, II
not impossible matter to determine Just
at this stage. The natural inference with
respect to the house, owing to its popular
caste, would be that the independent peo.
pie would fare well there.
Here is a copy Of the bills introduced to.
day, both Of which contain repeating and
I emergency clauses:
Section 1--That any telephone company
( Incorporated and doing business in the
state shall be and is hereby granted the
I rtsht-of-way along, over, under and across
metropolitan cities and cities Of the first
/ class in the state of Nebraska for the cree
lion Of poles, conduits. guys fixtures and
! nf ell
/ toll line wires; the erection OF said poles
conduits, the stTingiBg OF said wires TO be
ordinance 10 the erection of any other
poles, conduits and stringing.. of any other
similar wires in said cities, telephone of1ce
and toll stations and booths In connection
with the said lines.
| Sec. eLAll companies awaiting themselves
/ Of the rights granted by. this act shall pay
TO each city OF the said classes In which
! they operate per cent of the gross re-
and toll stations within said city for toll
/ line business, and said sum shall be payable
at such times as the council may direct
AS was stated In The Bee this morning
the joint revenue committee is divided on
: the point Of whether It shall proceed 20
doctor the Ills Of the state by drafting an
I entirely new and general revenue bill or
simply By tacking on a few amendments
90 the old law. The latter remedy Is what
( the railroads and other corporations want
/ The committee has appointed a subcom-
l mittee, as was stated in The Bee, 20 de-
eide which course shall be pursued The
I committee Will report Tuesday and great
anxiety is felt over it's action. The over
whelming sentiment OF house and senate
/ Jointly, is for general revenue revision,
! for Il is understood that By this means the
I interests Of the masses win be better sub
served and those OF the large corporations
more fairly dealt with
Move for New Consultation.
Senator Hall Of Douglas this morning
took the FIRST steps toward Insuring the
calling OF a constitutional convention 10
amend the constitution by the introduc-
tion Of a joint resolution calling on the
people OF the state to vote at the next gen
eral election on the proposition OF calling
this convention. A deadlock on this ques-
tion exists and this step on the part OF the
Omaha senator is the result Of this situ-
alton. Many Thousands OF dollars have
been expended by the state 20 secure the
adoption Of amendments recognized as nee
essary because OF the failure OF the cleo
tors 10 settle the question at the polls.
There Is a rumor that certain timid ele-
ments Will oppose the resolution because
Of their fear of the part the railroads may
play in endeavoring 10 XIII any such move.
Legislative Gossip.
For some reason Currie OF Dawes prefers
not to discuss his bill introduced in the
house the other day aud at once inter
preted as a subtle scheme az heading of
the bill to let Omaha's tax commissioner
levy a direct tax on the railroad property
within the corporate limits instead Of TAX
ing the hgures returned by the State Board
Of Equalization. M Currie was asked by
Omaha reporters for an explanation OF the
purpose OF his bill. which Is eouched in
such subtle language and merely said:
Il have nothing 10 say about the bill at
all. III talk about Il when the timo
comes. but not nov"
This attitude on the part Of the author
has the effect Of confirming the belief that