Omaha daily bee., 1903-03-04

of fact the result is a surprise to 40 one
who is acquainted with the personnel and
tactics OF the legislature. and the iniu-
ence Of the railroads through their lob
bies. When Il became. necessary to amend
II. r III, the predecessor Of H.. r. $50,
extending the right of levying a direct
tax on railroad terminals to all municipal
titles in the state instead Of just to Omaha,
South Omaha and Lincoln, as the original
measure provided, It became clear to all
that neither bill would ever get through
the legislature. The railroads have fought
this one proposition as they have no other
before this legislature. From long before
the session. began they have had their
Hobbies and tax bureaucrats busily en-
gagged in promulgating war, in various
forms. against this bill, which they could
not help but see was persistently demanded
by a large proportion of the people Of
Nebraska. They have, therefore, attached
another scalp to their belt and will, it APP
pears, be able to wear it there until the
close of the session, although the Omaha
delegation protests that another strenu-
Gus effort viii be made to capture the prize.
Analysis. of Vote.
The vote on the bill shows that twenty
fdsfonfsts and eighteen republicans sup
ported the minority report for the passage
Ct the bill and ~hfty-one republicans and
two fusionists supported the majority re-
port. to kilIa the bill. All the Douglas
county members voted for the minority re-
port and all thes Lancaster county members
voted against IT. Thompson, Ford, Cell
wick, Perry, Cropsey, Hathorn, repub-
licans; Memminger and shinstock, fusion
ists, were absent or not voting. Every
raflraaA Iohhviaf In tho pitV save J0hn N.
Baldwin, was present when the vote was
being taken on tho bi ll-and exhibited mani
fest interest in their victory.
A brief but itveIy debate preceded the
final vote on the bill. Ten Eyck Of Douglas,
who introduced the measure, and$Kennedy
Of Douglas, Sears Of Burt, Sweezy of
Adams,' LdomisNofs Dodge, all, alphabetically
in behalf of the bill, while, Douglas Of Rock
and WILSON Of Pawnee spoke against II.
It had been hoped by the friends Of this
bill that the farmers in the house, of whom
there are nfty-fve, would support the meas
ure, inasmuoh as It c~ontemplatedsa fair and
ediltable tax Sn railtoads6 for which these
same farmers profess to be so earnestly
striving. But 1t is evident many Of these
men have been led astray by that subter-
fuge, so persistently and so adroitly used
by the railroads@in combating this meas
ure, namely, that II passed it would have
the effect OF detraeting from the tax re-
ceipts in the country districts.
stin Has Hopes.
1--WE are still. in the ring. This bill is a
lively corpse and we are not through fight
ing byr any means" emphatieally declared
Representative Gilbert Of Douglas county
in speaking OF the fate OF H. r. $50.
Mrs Gilbert authorized the statement thai
the friends OF the bill would undertake to
amend the revenue bill so as TO embody
the provisions Of H.. r.. $50. 1t is glver
out that a persistent. fight will be waget
to accomplish this lend. The suggestion
has been made that unless the Omaha char.
ter bill passed this could not be done, al
the present Omaha charter exempts rail.
road terminals from local taxation in the
manner prescribed in this bill, but Mr.
Gilbert takes issue with this view. HI
says that in that event, II the revenue bill
was passed IT would naturally amend th'
charter and secure to the people of Omaha
as we'll as to other municipalities OF tn,
stdter this coveted right. In any event thu
Douglas county members insist their meas
ure is not dead and that they have no
quiz Hshting by any means.
10 Is we'll of course to bear in mint
that the railroads are not asleep in tn
meantime. and having gained the first roun,
are taking advantage Of every circum
stance and condition to secure the per
manence OF their victory. There was grea
jubilation in railroad lobby circles whel
the result of the vote on this bill was an
nounoed today. II was evident that thes
agents OF the tax-shirking corporations fel
that they had gained the greatest victor
they could in this session.