Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1903-03-29
This, However, Would Not Make Much Of a
Reduction in the Bills
GRAND TOTAL ALMOST FOUR MILLIONS
More 7 an a Million in ExCss Of Any
Previous Session.
GOVERNOR SAID TO Be SHARPENING AXE
Indications Are that Unless senate
Makes n Material Reduction
There VIII He some
VetOes,
CFrOm a Stan Correspondent, ,

From Stan Correspondent
LINCOLN, March 2s.-(special )-Gov-
ernor Mickey and the senate are prepar-
ing TO reduce some of the appropriations
OF the house Taking into consideration
the appropriations passed and pending, the
tull amount will aggregate approximately
$S,SOO.OOO, the largest by over 81 900 900 In
the history OF the state. Two years ago
the legislature appropriated for ali pur-
poses in round numbers S2,600,0 That
was up to that time the largest ever made
by Nebraska legislature.
While the house proceeded on the theory
that 1t was holding the appropriations
down to the minimum, the impression pre-
walls in the senate and in the mind OF
the governor that there is ample room for
material reduction and 1t need not sur
prise the house to find its work severely
censored. II the senate does not apply
the pruning knife as much as he thinks
1t should, Governor Mickey may exercise
certain prerogatives Of his once with con-
siderable effect. The governor has not seen
at to discuss these matters to any great
extent, but he did say. when asked II he
would offer any obstruction to the final pas
sage of the huge appropriation measures:
II think we (meanlng himself and the
senate) will take care of those matters
at the proper time. The appropriations are
beyond all record and It seems as IL some
cutting could judiciousIy be done"
Governor Mickey is a friend Of the new
revenue law. He has expressed the opinion
that the law will be the means OF bringing
the total assessed valuation Of the state
up from $3.50. 900 to about $500 0OO. .OOO
On this theory he concludes that Nebraska
may at last gain relief from it's Illegal debt
of $2,000000 Yet he nevertheless depre-
Gates the idea OF this legislature incurring
such tremendous liabilities as a total appro-
priation of nearly s4.OOO.0OO represents. It
is not at all improbable therefore, that
II the senate. does not cut these bills to
what In the judgment OF the governor
seemed necessary. he will take on himself
the responsibility of heading them of.
Propose Cut in Salaries.
The senate finance committee has half
way decided to adopt, as one means OF cut
ting down the appropriations. rule that
the salaries OF the young women clerks
and stenographers in the state house shall
be reduced to a common basis Of $50
month. In making this partial decision this
committee has already incurred severe crit
icism. In the first place It is argued that
were this done 1t would not bring the
| penses down to any appreciable degree and
| in the next place would work a gross in
justice upon the young women thus em-
| ployed. While it may be fact that some
OF these employees are not compelled to put
in every minute of their time. the general
| opinion is that as a rule they earn all the
salary given them. These salaries run
from about $65 TO $s5 a month. Some who
are opposed to reducing these salaries have
expressed the fear that II 1t Is done IT will
result IN the resignation of many OF the
young women aad the impOssibility of fill
| Ing their places with as competent help
| This plan contemplates the reduction OF
the wages Of s:atehouse janitors.
1t is the impression that the committee
would be strainlng at a gnat and swallow
ing a camel to adopt this plan. Greater
economy could be practiced, II is believed.
by looping of other portions Of the ap-
propriations. The governor. who has al
ready placed himself on record as favorlng
higher salaries generally among state offi-
GERS and members Of the supreme bench, as
a means OF elevating the standard Of pub
lie oficials, is believed to be opposed to
this project OF cutting subordinates' sal
aries.
In connection with the economical side
OF legislative affairs, II has been learned
that a movement is on foot TO secure for
members full mileage and partial expenses
incurred in their legislative iunketing trips.
despite the adoption by the house yester-
day Of the Harrison resolution, providing
that no claim should be allowed where II
was found that a member had ridden on
free transportation or obtained concessions
in the matter OF hotel expenses, Ond indi-
eating that great deal Of this had been
done There is no doubt that when Tbe at
tempt is made to force this movement to g
successful issue some PERSISTENT protests
will be raised. Certain members are
quietly waiting for this attempt Among
them are friends Of the statehouse stenog-
raphers and clerks. who, It is said, will be
able to swing a good deal Of influence. They
have expressed the belief that they will be
able 10 show the ineongruity Of allowing
such claims as these-claims that were
never legitimately incurred-and looping
on salaries that are actually earned
No Check on Appropriations.
Some interesting comment has been in
dulged in during the last day OF two about
the Sears resolution introduced early In thu
session in the house. providing that no new
building appropriation should be allowed
until revenue bill providing means sum
cient 20 efIace the Etate debt OF 81 600. .OOC
had been passed. The question is asked
How has Il been determined that the rev
enue bill passed will do this?" assuming
that IL has been so determined, since nC
check has been placed on the passage o.
the other appropriation measures. As
matter OF fact. IL is not believed that thii
resolution could be made binding anC
therefore OF any legal effect on the actions
Of the house.
VIII Give stuefer Clean BiIs.
The committee that prosecuted the in
vestigation OF the stuefer Burt county bon'
purchase case is expected to make it's re
, port 20 the house Monday. While the chair
man OF the committee and the other mem
bers have declined to give out any definite
statement In advance Of their Official find
ings. II has been learned that the decision
will be favorable TO stuefer. One who par
D ticipated actively in this anairs said;
81 know what the decision will be. I
| a-FU ba fov vorabla n