Omaha daily bee., 1903-03-07

olhNt FgOuiuAh I0mphhgs NhASh N0A NaANASh8
when l went into Office, was enjoying an
/ exclusive graft. which it had had for long
years. l have compared the totals OF my.
expenditures with the bills incurred by
former incumbents Of this Office and find
that. !, have actually saved the state money
and II Is very humiliating. in face OF these
circumstances, to have this thing sprung
in this manner calculated to, reflect upon
me. In buying supplies for the state I
have done what I thought was my duty In
following precedent set by my predeces>
sors. l am more than anxious to have an
investigation instituted and I promise to
give the committee all the assistance and
information I can. AS, to the velvet car
pets, l ordered a certain number or amount
Of carpet from the Hardy Furniture COM
pany and SUPP osed the bill filled as given.
II not, then l don't see that I am to blame"
After the velvet carpet had been found
this afternoon in the third story of the cap
itol building, w. L.. Nauslor, a janitor ap-
pointed by Secretary Marsh, made this
statement:
II knew the carpet was there and have
frequently told Mr.. Marsh. He had said 1t
was not needed and that 1t should be re-
turned to the firm from which 1t was pur-
chased. But it was never returned"
w. IL bNOANhONBNA NuuAAn6 NhAb III
the legislature of 1901. by Mr. Marsh's APP
pointment, is said to nave charge of re.
serve property such as this carpet. When
the carpet was bought IT is said to have
been very much needed and the bill for 1t
was o. KID. by the secretary OF state. -
In the presence of Mr.. Marsh, William
Hardy Of the Hardy Furniture company.
made this statement ~.-.. tt
I'VE have delivered to the state every
item in our bill and for each item the reg
ular Lincoln retail price was charged. II
such is found not to be the case we will
donate all this property to the state. l
have been given no opportunity of going
before this committee, although the COM
mittee informed me that / would be given
such opportunity. I was anxious, and am
yet. to testify to what I know to be facts
Opponents of the alleged printing trust
make the bald assertion that this resolution
and the proposed Investigation is the work
Of that combination, which is endeavoring
to get even with Secretary Marsh, whom
they accuse Of going outside the so-called
trust in making his purchases.
With the expiration OF the ~forty-day limit
for introducing bills, a comparison of tho
number introduced at the present session
and in it's predecessors shows that this has
not been a prolific one in this respect. In
the senate there have been introduced a
total Of 294 bills as against 300 two years
ago, 1853 four years ago and 400 in the '95
session, a less number than any OF it's i'm
mediate predecessors. In the house the
number is not the smallest Of recent ses-
sions, but only one makes a more econom-
ical showing In this regard, and that was
the session Of two years ago, with a total OF
4S1, against 487 the present session. In
1899 there were 623 bills introduced in the
house. $50 in 1897 and s41 in 1895.
Enforcing Maximum Rates.
Kennedy Of Douglas, author of the house
resolution providing for the enforcement
Of the maximum freight rate law, today in
troduced a bill constituting the. governor,
commissioner Of public lands and the state
treasurer a board to have charge of these
rates. They shall raise and lower them
as provided by law. At present this func-
tien is vested IN no living body. The raw
vests the duty In the Board of Transporta-
tion, which is a misnomer, since this board
has ceased to exist. Mr.. Kennedy's object
is to secure every means and facility Of
Strengthening his movement to insure tbs
enforcement Of the maximum freight rates,
which he contends have pot been enforced.
booming Portland Exposition.
Governor Geer of Oregon arrived in the
city this afternoon. He is here in behalf
OF the Lewis and Clark exposition. H
Is anxious to secure a reasonable appro-
priation from the legislature to give Ne.
braska q representation in the fair. He
talked with thirty or forty Members to-
night apd expressed satisfaction later al
the. sentiment represented by these mem
bers. 5at
w appropriated $4,000 for one Of the
Omaha expositions,'' said Governor Geer
''and we think Nebraska might reciprocatt
in appropTiatihg $4,000 or SIS, 900 for oul
fair." -.f
The governor goes to Missouri from here
He expects to secure a liberal donation
from that state. Oregon has appropriated
$780, 900 for the st.. Louis worlds fair. The
state OF Oregon the governor says, hal
set aside $500. 900 for the Lewis and Clarl
exposition, about 81 for every inhabitant
and the city Of Portland has appropriated
$3.50, OOO. 'N