Omaha daily bee., 1903-04-07

spoke against.the Boomis amendment. VIII
son said Ser this legislature go down
in history, as opposed to submitting any
constitutional amendmentB to the people,
since we are convinced by experience that
such methods are useless and futile"
Douglas Of Rock lined up for the LOOMS
amendment and made a fight against the
attempt to block the passage Of all con-
stitutionaf amendment bills. Replying 20
Wilson, he said
1T is unfortunate for this house, II 1t
would follow the advice Of the gentleman
from Pawnee, that it has already passed
II. r. 7S, a bill for a constitutional amend
ment for the Investment OF the school fund,
and cannot, therefore, without stultifying
itself, go down on record as against all
constitutional amendments.
Appeal to Reason.
Speaking ot3the clash between the house
and senate, Douglas said:
Let me warn you, gentlemen, that there
IS now a fight between the two bodies Of
his legislature. Let us not do anything to
Intensity or aggrayate the feelings that ex-
list, but rather rise above petty sentiments
ind 20 on record as bigger men than that.
some members favor a constitutional con-
~vention. Let us not plunge headlong into
This until we ~ean assure ourselves that 1t
will give thesd6sired results.?;,
Mr.. Douglas then pointed out that a
constitutional convention would not insure
the desired, changes in the organic law any
more or nalf as much as would the submits
sion TO the voters Of separate amendments
and he urged the house TO recognize the
fact that the constitution needed revision
In at least three particulars. Regarding
sweszy's course he said:
ut seems the only thing that actuates
Mr.. Sweezy is the petty desire to get re-
veage on the senate for defeating his pet
measure. Now, gentlemen, let us not get to
that level"
Douglas. In answer to other arguments
later in tbs debate, which continued
Throughout tho entire morn.ls session,
called attention to the fact thai 1t would
take a three-nfths vote OF both houses TO
call a Constitutional convention and then
that there would be nothing definite or GER
tain about such a. convention. composed OF
all the different parties ana conflicting In
terests of the state. He thought that until
the various elements could be harmonized.
which ppobably would never be, and until
the vital Questions of the state are settled,
no constitutional convention could be made
to subserve the interests Of the people and
produce the desired, results Furthsrnsore
he pointed out that 1t would require about
six years. to hnally-sretify.a land SECURE the
operattonSdb4the festlts ofasuch a conven-
ton. Then he remarked that 1t was highly
improbable that three-Afths Of the legisla-
ture would vote for this and that there
fore II the amendment bills were voted
down to,fmake. ,roomf forI the convention
propositions the whole, matter was lost. Mr..
Douglas saw In this opposition to consti-
tutiopal {amendmepts, more than was APP
parent on the surface evidently. for he
said In cloaink: ftt
Let us not be carried away by senti-
ments and emotions of men who have per-
sonal ambitions. In this matter"
sweeHy Bill ImmateriaI.
Loomis, followed with a strong defense
for his amendment, following much tn,
same line Of argument as Douglas and alsC
pointing out that the bill which SweeE!
was ~grieYlpg over was shperiuous, sine,
1t contemplated very little not already pro
vided for in the present, law. The bill
sought to prevent the publication of con.
stitutionalt amendments in daily papers
Loomis showed that the present law oni!
specifics that these notices shall appear II
weekly papers. or at least as week.!
notices, and not daily. He attributed thu
excessive bills for advertisements to tn,
fault of secretaries OF state, who. he said
had either not capacity or integrity to en-
force the law. He was in favor of the con
stitutional amendments and against tn,
convention in which he saw no practice
good to- the state, He thought that II
convention was called It might result II
the destruction Of some OF the best fea
lures Of the present revenue and other laws
Gilbert Of Douglas, Jones Of otoe an
Ten Eyek OF Douglas then spoke for tn
Loomis amendment, while SweeEy, Sears o
Burt. Morsman Of Douglas and Cassell o
Otoe spoke against the amendment an
for the sweesy motion. Nelson Of Dougla
said the house was about to go wrong
He Nantedsto vote first on the conventiol
bill and then II hat, lost on the amend
ment bills.
A standing vote was taken on the Looml
amendment, resulting 80 for and SO against
Speaker Moekett did not want to cast tn
deciding vote and called for a roll cal
This showed 40 for and As against tn
amendment. Thirty-fve republicans an
thirteen fusionists voted in the negative