Omaha daily bee., 1905-03-20
MUCH WORK YET TO Be DONE
Most Important Legislation of the Session
Still on the Calendar.
SHARP FIGHT ON RAILROAD MEASURES
Effort Likely TO He Made TO Put
Sitting Committee at work in
Both Branches of the
Legislature.
CFrom a STAFF Correspondent

LINCOLN. March 19.--(Special Teiegram.)
With perhaps not more than fortnight,
II that much, left of the Twenty-ninth
session. the Nebraska legislature has yet
to transact the most important business
pending before It. The story is an old one
that 1t has as yet enacted no railroad
measures and the belief is entertained
that It will not, though counter efforts
are being made to secure the passage OF
at least one freight rate bill and a rail-
road commission bill.
The Cady railroad commission bill,
verbatim copy of the old Board of Trans
portation law enacted in 1887 and declared
unconstitutional in 1901, has not yet as
was enormously stated finally passed the
senate, but was Friday recommended for
passage in committee of the whole. How
ever, this was regarded as tantamount to
its final passage as the vote then was
sufficient to warrant the same result upon
third reading. This measure has the cor
dial support of the allied railroads and
the exposure of this fact, which has been
kept quiet, may cause a revolution and
ultimately defeat the bill. Those members
who had fought for the Sheldon bill hope
as much and are doing what they can to
accomplish this result. The Cady bill, 1t
is probable, will go upon its passage In
the senate about Tuesday. The adverse
sentiment being engendered is liable to
reach a point where, even If the senate
does pass it, the bill will be lost in the
house.
The senate and the house had mutually
agreed not to touch the bills coming from
the other branch until March II or after.
Therefore Monday the senate, which
cleaned up It's general file Friday, will
start in on house rolls and the house,
with sixty-four house rolls and fifty senate
files before it, will be at liberty to take up
senate files. The volume of work in each
branch is great and the chances are num-
bers of bills will never see the light of
day. The railroads are trying to place the
rate and commission bills. save the Cady
bill, in this category. There is a DISPOSE
ton to agree on March 81 for adjournment.
Work of Sitting Committee.
1t is understood efforts will be made to
put the senate sitting committee to work
Tuesday and other efforts are on foot also
to have sitting committee appointed in
the house, regardless of the speakers op-
position and contention that the house will
be able to clean up everything without the
aid of one of these traditional function
aries
If the legislature were to stop right where
1t is now the state would have just forty
two new laws upon it's statute books, for
out of the sO4 bills introduced forty-two
have passed beth houses and been signed
by the governor. One, the county engineer
BILL was vetoed, but the governor has sent
to the senate a substitute measure. And
of these forty-two bills there is not single
one which any considerable number of peo-
pie in Nebraska would regard as a big
measure-one of unusual Importance.
With seven days in the house and eight
in the senate of the siXty-day limit, this
week promises to develop some interesting
skirmishes in the way OF slillful legislative
tricks and maneuvers. AS much energy
will be expended to prevent as to enact
legislation. for that will be about the safest
way to head off what measures certain in
terests do not want passed.
That Overtime Proposition.
Considerable has been said about the
overtime Speaker Rouse has allowed during
the session to Chief Clerk Wall, First AS
sistant Barnard and other employees in the
chief clerks office, but these employees and
many members think the papers which have
tried by this method to reflect upon the
speakers avowal at the beginning of the
session to allow no pay for work not done
nave QOne a great not only 10
the speaker, but to those who have re-
ceived the overtime pay.
II came up here at IL o'clock the other
night" said representative at the state
house, land found nearly the entire force
in the chief clerks Office hard at work.
think when 1t is taken into consideration
that this night work is a regular thing there
should be no criticism of this kind. AS
matter of fact to my certain knowledge
part of the force worked until / o'clock
in the morning once this week. The work
of the house is SO great that 1t simply re-
quires all the chief clerks force can do to
keep up. Night work is necessary and If
so why is 1t not right to pay extra for It
l am sure that no reasonable taxpayer who
knew the circumstances would have any
complaint to make"
1t was pointed out that while the chief
clerk and his assistants have 100 members
in the house to work for, the secretary of
the senate and his force have but thirty
three members, and yet the secretary of
the senate has three stenographers, while
the chief clerk of the house has but two.
1t is a noticeable fact that among the
members no criticism has been made be-
cause John Wall and his force have re-
ceived pay for overtime.
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