Omaha daily bee., 1905-02-15
Later Three Change Their Votes and
Stringent Action is Resoinded.
STATE ACCOUNTANT MEASURE PASSES
House Also Surprised People by Passing
Binder Twine Bill.
CHANCES IN SENATE MORE DOUBTFUL
Appropriation Necessary to Carry the
Plan Through the Principal
objection Raised 20 the
Bill at Present.
(From a STAN correspondentJ


LINCOLN, Feb. H-(Special Telegram)
For the first time this session the house
this afternoon found IL necessary to issue
warrants for the appearance OF absent
members. This remarkable procedure was
taken in connection with the strenuous ef.
fort required TO pass the administration
bill providing for state accountant. The
necessity for the warrants was obviated,
however, within few minutes when sew
eral members reversed their votes giving
the required two-thirds for the passage of
the bill with the emergency clause.
This bill was introduced by jackson of
Antelope. 1t is drawn in compliance with
the recommendation made by Governor
Mickey in his annual message to the leg
islature. 1t provides for the appointment
by the governor, secretary of state, aud
itor, treasurer, land commissioner and at
torney general OF a state accountant whose
duties shall be such as usually come within
the province of such officials. He shall
receive n salary OF 5000 a year and give
bond OF $4,000 with at least two sureties
Some of the governors critics have in
sinuated that his son, E. s. Mickey, now
the governors executive clerk, will be a
candidate for this new Office, provided the
bill passes the senate
When the bill came up for passage
twenty members were found to be absent
without excuse. The roll call showed only
sixty-five votes for the bill and jackson
moved for a call of the house. This pro-
cedure failed to bring forth the necessary
number to pass the bill with the emergency
clause. Jones of Polk. fusionst. here made
motion to raise the call, saying he knew
of several members who were not in the
city because they were delayed by snow
storms and he thought II useless to try
to assemble the required two-thirds. This
motion the speaker declared to be lost
when viva voce vote was taken.
barnes Means Business.
The house was in a state of much con-
fusion when Barnes of Douglas arose.
Mr. Speaker" exclaimed the venerable
Omahan in a tone of voice which denoted
very clearly that he was in earnest yes
terday this house adjourned because there
was no quorum on hand to transact busi-
ness. Today we are stalled here and can
not raise the necessary number of votes
to pass this bill even under a call of the
house. know of many members who are
in the city and not in this house. 1 think
they ought to be forced to come here and
attend to their business"
well, so do l." cordially responded the
speaker. why don't you make a motion
that these members be brought before the
bar of the house?"
Il make that motion, then, Mr.. Speaker"
exclaimed Barnes.
The motion carried and the speaker
ordered the warrants drawn and placed in
the hands of Sergeant-at-Arms Taylor for
service. In the meantime Jackson and
other friends OF the bill were busy
"Mr. Speaker" presently exclaimed
Jackson, II move that further proceedings
fha call tho house "A
with"
The motion carried, for everybody knew
that this meant that the necessary two
thirds had been rounded up. Three mem
bers had changed their votes, and now 90
announced, from no to yes, making the
vote 6S to IA against the bill. Friends of the
bill were determined not to give in to its
passage without the emergency clause. BY
the attachment of this clause the state
accountant may be appointed within thirty
days after the bills final passage.
Twine Plant Bill Passes.
To the surprise of many members and
doubtless many lobbyists the Ernst binding
twlne plant bill passed the house this after
noon by the decisive vote of 66 to IS. A
most powerful opposition had been waged
TO this bill and the impression was begin
ming to be somewhat general that the bill
cOulu never pun lllIOubn. III MS
in explanation of his vote on the bill Rep
resentative Ernst declared:
This bill is being fought with all the
power they can command by a tremendous
lobby sent here by the Binding Twine trust
These lobbyists are In every quarter fire.
quented by legislators. This is a measure
in which the people are interested. have
received petitions urging the passage of the
bill from over 1900 farmers Of the state
But the bin would not only benefit the far
mers 1t will benefit every taxpayer in the
state of Nebraska. That is why I want 1t
passed. l hope the trust lobbyists will not
prevail"
Whether the bill will pass the senate or
not Is a question, and II IL does the gov
ernor's action Is also a question. Many
members have taken the position that this
bill. which appropriates $4,000 for the es-
tablshment and $l5OOOO for the operation
the first biennium of this plant. ought to
be defeated merely in order to keep down
appropriations. Governor Mickey is one OF
this class. He has expressed the hope the
legislature will not pass the bill, He has
not OF course, committed himself as to
whether he would veto It or not.
some Poor Economy.
On this matter OF expenditures and APP
nronriattons Representative Davis OF Buff
falo. who as a member OF the house
anance. ways and means committee this
session and two years ago, has earned the
reputation OF being one Of the most con
servative and cautious financiers the house
ever knew, says;
at is all right TO keep down appropria-
tions / thoroughly believe in that I want
10 make every possible retrenchment, as
those whose lot it has been to come before
tho finance, ways and means committee
knows, but there Is sometimes such thing
as false economy. ! believe in transacting
the business OF the state just exactly as
would transact my own business. The hue
and cry that we should not make this or
| that appropriation because Of the illegal
debt OF over 100000 Is not worth all the
consideration that It receives. II Is tue.
the state owes over 100000 II also Is true
| the state has over So OOO 600 loaned out on