Omaha daily bee., 1905-10-01
DODGE AND EXTRA SESSION
Thinks State ConstitutiOn Obstacle 10
Effective Anti-Railroad Legislation.
POPULAR UPHeAVAL is NECESSARY
" Governor Calls Legislature To-
se'.her 60 Correct E1istinE Con-
ditions dodge Thinks He
should Act without Delay.
40 UPHEAyAl is NECESSARY

inc press comments upon the supposed de-
ars OF Governor Mickey to call an extra
session says Representative n p Dodge.
! Imagine the object would be to enact
some legislation that would be in harmony
with the administrations policy Of increas-
ing the governmental control OF railroads.
If this calling an extra session is being
seriously thought OF and It is not merely
being agitated as a political shibboleth to
GIN some other vantage II should be care
lully considered and only resorted to in re-
Spouse TO widespread demand from all
parts of the state. IL there is no popular
demand for legislation having for its object
the control or restriction OF railroads, tariffs
and service It would be useless to call an
extra session. for the legislature can but
carry out the wishes and desires of the
people.
There Is no doubt this question was not
an issue in the last campaign; and for that
matter, there was state issue OF any
Kind, except in a few counties where the
new revenue law had proven unpopular for
reasons that were purely local and wherein
the evils would soon cure themselves In
fact, all state issues were utterly lost in
the national campaign, which was rather
colorless In comparison with the over
whelming brilliancy or Roosevet's popu-
larity. In the great desire to continue him
in Office we forgot all issues or isms. feeling
confident that with him in office we were
assured OF his cooperation in all needed
reforms.
Apnthetic state Convention.
Another reason why there were no issues
In the state campaign was that we had a
very apathetic state convention, where the
nominations were LAT d and the delegations
were pawns in tie hands of powers un-
known to Douglas county. whose votes
were not consulted or counted on. The
platform was toDpted after the nominate
were made ~ q when most of the delegates
had gone hoPe.
me ~ erage state platform Is a
mOckery s-nd always will be- until we have
direct fttnary nominations, when candi-
cate fn.st go before the people on a plat
FORM made by the common minds of all
~ sh' vJtes and expressions OF their desires.
II may not have the sonorous ring of the
Oilvention-made platform. but its plank
will be ever present in the popular mind
and It's issues will be decided. cear-cut
at the primaries. Therefore, it may be
said that although railroad legislation was
not an issue In the last campaign, It may
stil be a fair question whether the people
of Nebraska felt the need o: some form OF
railroad regulation Of freight rates. This
question may still be an open one, and
Governor Mickey is In a position to know
what the feeling is in all parts OF the
state We In Omaha can only Judge OF
tho local conditions in that regard
las member of the house, l can say
There seemed to he an almost unanimou,
feeling that some legislation was needed II
order to give the people some relief fol
poor railroad servise, excessive freight rate
and unjust discrimination. Even sucI
measures as maximum freight bills anC
other more radical bills regulating ser
vice and shipments introduced in all sin
certify and in response to local demands
received heavy support. The railroad com
mission bills were passed almost unani
mously in the house. II the house was an,
barometer to record popular pressure fl
this direction, certainly the support Of thes
bills and the mere volume OF them, wa
suf1cient to overcome any lack of expires
sion in the previous campaign.
Ought to Give Ample Time.
IF Governor Mickey should call an ex
ira session it ought to be done long enoug
ahead so that each district in the stat
could fully discuss the form of needed leg
lslation, II any, and so instruct it's mem
btsrs of both houses so that they woul
not have to founder around when legisla
ture convenes seeking some way to pleas
all parties concerned. l for one feel tina
Nebraska can very easily keep pace wit
progress by following Iowa's example q
creating a railroad commission. with powe
TO fix maximum tariffs. Iowa has in thi
way been able TO give it's citizens howe
fr Ight rates and no railroads are passin
dividends as a result. / would oppose a
more radical measures I did in the las
session. for | believe no legislature is qua
fled to enact freight tariffs, involving a
1t does a thorough study of local cond
tons in each instance.
"A distance tariff is ruinous and absuT
and is only talked of by those who wis
TO Kill all forms of rate regulation But
create railroad commission means
amend the constitution. and here again "
meet with further complications. Unle!
some change is made in printing constitl
tional amendments and in correcting the r
turns Il is almost useless to try to pass a
amendment at election.
'"The chapter in the statutes providir
for constitutional amendments evident
intended that they shoudabe printed upc
separate ballots and deposited in separa
ballot boxes. II this were done il wou
be possible to pass amendment. But
the election law statute the form of ball
provides for placing a constitution
amendment on the regular ballot as
done now, on the big ballot the amen
ment is overlooked and Il can only
passed by having the law amended so tn
straight ticket will count for the amen
ment Another change would be to amer
the present law so that a majority OF vot
cast upon the amendment would carry
and not, as now. a majority OF all vot
cast at the election.
Final Question To Consider
so, when we consider all the obstacl
in the way OF railroad legislation tn
would be effective and reasonable,
come 20 the final question in regard 70
extra session: Can the legislature und
our present and out-of-date constitute
enact any laws that would attain the q
sired resultT ! have no doubt of I
spirit Of the house to pass any laws /
people demand. but il will take a popul
upheaval, and the votes of the people
the polls TO bring about the result mC
desired-a constitutional convention,
several amendments TO the present &C
stitution.
When any reforms are really demand
by the people, special session would
the best means 10 bring IL about. for
the members have had experience In leg
lative work and the work OF the sessi
conld Ia limited ~ the assentials and ,