Omaha daily bee., 1903-01-16
DAILY GRIND OF The HOUSE
Sears Resolution PrecIpitates the
First Debate Of the ses-
sion.
tFrom a star Cotrespondentl

Ing sears OF BuTL CdlleQ up his resolution
Of the previous day that no building APP
preparation bill should pass before the
enactment Of a revenue law, made a forcible
speech in its support and moved its adop-
tion.
Mr.. Sears, thus precipitating the initial
debate Of the present session in the house,
argued along constitutional grounds that
the adoption Of his resolution was i'm pera-
tive as a means Of insuring the effacement
OF the present state debt.
This resolution is not aimed at stopping
any ordinary appropriation for the actual
benefit Of this state" said Mr.. Sears.
Neither in its purview does IL contemplate
the blocking of any laudable appropriation
bill. 1t is simply to give us time to reflect
upon this momentous question and see
where we, as a state, stand.
"The constitution prohibits a state debt
of over 500, 900, and the state has sur
passed that limit by the enormous and
almost appalling sum Of 81, 900, 900. This is
startling and we must go no further.
Appropriation bills aggregating $3.50, 900
already have been introduced in the house.
While not questioning the virtue or justice
Of a single one of these measures, l plead
with you, gentlemen, TO see that SOM
proper and adequate means be provided for
AAoh NAANNAh6 NAAp VI 10
debt and then of meeting these new de-
mands. II this is not done. If we do not
call al immediate halt in this p%erilous
course which our state Is pursuing, We will
be confronted at the end Of this biennium
by a debt exceeding $4,000, 900.
People Cry Halt.
DUTY says stop. Listen, and you will
hear the warning voice of an impatient
constituency, crying. halt. We may not be
responsible. as a body, for this stupendous
debt, but we are responsible for its obliter-
alton. Let US not, l beg OF you, shirk this
grave, this unavoidable responsibility.
zone way to raise this needed revenue Is
to enforce our present law by remedial or
specific legislation, and without this there
can be no increase in the receipt OF taxes.
We cannot expect larger assessments with
out a new revenue law.
81 am afraid of delaying action in this
matter. l think there IL not a member of
this house or of the senate, or an intelll-
gent voter in the state who is not con-
WINGED of the imperative necessity for
prompt and heroic action in this respect.
II we proceed with the passage OF various
appropriation measures before we provide
for the enactment of a revenue law, we are
building a superstructure without a foun-
dalton.
Lets go back to our constituents and
say we did our duty toward wiping out
this illegal debt"
sweezy Wants Time.
sweezy Of Adams offered a motion to
send the Sears resolution to the COMMITTEES
on judiciary for a period of ten days in or
der to give the members ample time for
due consideration.
This matter Is so important that we
need further time to reflect. / have no de-
sire to defeat or obstruct the resolution. l
agree with my colleague from Burt that
this debt simply must be discharged, but l
think it is too early to take this sort of
action. Appropriation bills can also wait
ten days. said sveezy.
Memminger of Madison did not want the
Sears resolution to go through II II would
cut off money for improvements at the
Norfolk asylum.
Gregg Of Wayne solved the problem by
moving that the Sears resolution go over
another day and become the special order
for Friday.
Nelson Of Douglas, chairman Of the COM
mittee on judiciary, expressed approval OF
this motion, deprecating the plan to take
1t out Of the hands Of the house as a whole.
by referring 1t to his committee.
After Thompson of Merrick had added
his approval to the Gregg motion it passed.
sweezy himself offering to withdraw his
prior motion.
Bills from 81 to IS were given their Sec
ond reading and referred to committees
and thirty-nine new ones were introduced.
The house adjourned at 3 o'clock.
New House Bills.
II. r. No. Sc, by Mangold of Douglas-An
| act to amend section 12 article /. CbantaF a
Compiled Statutes, making II mandatory
on county boards to pay county agrlcul-
not exceeding 3 cents per capita In county.
H. r. No. 81. by Gilbert OF Douglas-An
tions from the first Tuesday in March TO
the first Tuesday In May. Same as saund-
II. r. No. S., by Shelly of Douglas-An
act TO prevent and punish the dissertation
Of the flag of the United States by q fine
Of 500 or Imprisonment of thirty days. OF
ii. r. No. 50, by GOOD OF ~Nemaha-kn
act providing for. the taxation OF telephone
statement TO the state auditor of value Of
stocks and bonds and all personal and real
demand any other information; Imposing
a hne of 500 per day for delay of state
ment; provides for valuation by state board
Ii. r. No. 90, by Mendenhall Of Jefferson
An act providing for a levy Of 10 mills tax
people in d%tstricts Of more than i5O school
II. r. No. 81. by Riggs Of Douglas-A bill
TO prohibit imported police officers from
performing duties OF such Otncials.
II. h. No. 80, by Wilson of Pawnee-An
act 90 require applicants for permission to
practice medicine to pass examination by
state board OF health.
H.. r. No, SO. by Roberts Of Dodge-An
act creating city road districts for i'm
proving roads leading into cities and dehn-
ing their powers. government and duties.
H. r. No, "a, by. Anderson. Of Knox-An
act to require publication OF delinquent tax
sale notices in German, Bohemian and
Swedish newspapers.
II. II. No. IS, by Robbins OF Gage-An act
to authorize the preparation OF ar oficial
statute TO make IL admissible in evidence
and for the purchase OF a supply thereof
by the state and appropriating $4,000.
III. II. No. IS. by Warner Of LancRster-An
act 20 constitute the county surveyor eN-
OficiO county engineer In addition TO his
powers and duties Of county surveyor.
II. n. ", by Thorpe OF Garheld-Act 70
Vacate all OF the townsite and the streets
and alleys thereto Of the town OF Willow
! Springs.
amend section lOlOa, Code OF Civil Proce-
Justice TO district courts
III. II. 80, by Gregg of Wayne-Act relRt-
Ing to meeting and powers Of district
H. Il. 100, by Hanna OF Cherry-Act e
establish junior normal schools and apprO-
pirate $500, providing that three Of thcse
schools shall be at Alliance, Mccook ane
II r.. i0l, by Kitue OF rman- q