Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1905-12-03

THE LEGISLATURE WILL DO ITS DUTT.
While the republican press Of Ne
braska is practically unanimous in favor
Of constitutional revision, apprehension
is expressed I'm some quarters that the
Legislature IL reconvened could not be
convinced that an emergency exists for
the revision of the constitutional other
words, that the legislature, If called to-
gether in extra session, could not be in
duced to submit a series Of amendments
TO the constitution that would cure the
defects I'm the organic law, which have
so seriously embarrassed state admins
trations and rendered a strict enforce
ment of the constitution utterly impos-
sible under existing conditions.
This apprehension is chiefly caused by
the failure of the legislature in its regu-
lar session to agree upon proposed
amendments with one single exception,
and the disappointment and the general
distrust in its integrity of purpose and
of action caused by the defeat of many
meritoriOus measures, and its general
disregard of public sentiment and even
party pledges. Do figs grow on thistles?
What can be expected from a legislature
that was dominated completely by the
corporation lobby? These questions are
naturally asked to create a doubt as to
the wisdom Of calling the legislature to-
gether this winter.
Upon second sober thought we feel
sure those who entertain such apprehen-
sion will change their views. The last
Legislature was a great disappointment
to many people, as other legislatures
have been before it, and will be here
after, but legislatures are made up
largely, if not wholly, of men with politi-
cal ambitions. Many, if not majority of
its members, would like either to be re-
elected or to climb higher. They aspire
to state offices, seats in congress or po-
sitions on the district bench. Few of
them are recklessly indifferent to popu-
lar approval and all who are conscious
Of having run counter to public senti-
tunity to redeem themselves.
Quite apart from the individual desire
of members to reinstate themselves in
the public esteem, there will really be
no temptation to go wrong. The only
constitutional amendment that might
have met with opposition from corpora
tiOns-the creation of railroad commits
sion-was submitted at the regular ses-
SIGN. The other amendments will meet
with no serious objection from any quar-
| ter. Their defeat at the last session was
due chiefly to a combination of circum-
stances and disposition to retaliate for
! the defeat of mutilations Of bills in and
out Of committee at the behest of va
rious conflicting interests All this will
be out of the way in an extra session
that will be confined strictly to legisla-
ton on topics embodied in the gov
| ernor's call.
AS matter Of fact, legislatures called
in special session rarely, if ever, adjourn
without carrying out the principal OBJ
jects for which they were called to-
gether, even when that object is to enact
measures that were defeated by them In
regular session. A few examples will
suffice: Two different New York legisla-
lures were reconvened in extra session
by Governors Roosevelt and Odell to
compel public utility corporations to pay
for franchises and to pay taxes on fran
chises. Both Of these legislatures had
voted down the bills having that object
in view and yet revised their action
when compelled to face the issue
squarely in an extra session. The same
is true of legislatures reconvened in ex-
ira session by Governor Folk in Mis-
souri,, Governor LaFollette in Wisconsin
and Governor Davis in Arkansas. In
each Of these special sessions the cor.
porations made desperate efforts to frus
trate the reforms recommended by the
respective governors, and in each In
stance they failed because the lawmak
ers were not bold enough to defy public
sentiment.