Omaha daily bee., 1906-12-11
THE sPE1KERsHIP.

THE SPEAKERSHIP.
No other oficer Of the state govern
ment has greater influence on leg!Jla-
ton than the speaker Of the house Of
representatives. His relation to the
law-making body is such that It gives
him practical control Of all measures
presented for consideration. AS he is
chosen by a majority Of the member
ship, his decision carries with it the
fate of any bill. The Importance OF
the office viewed from any angle must
necessarily give the members occasion
for deep and careful consideration be-
fore they make up their minds as to
their choice for the place.
In the present session more than
ever depends on the speaker of the
house of representatives. The impor-
lance of the office will be accumulated
by the Importance of the matters to be
brought before the legislature for con-
sideration. Chlefest among these are
the laws that will relate to railroad
affairs. Laws must be passed to give
vitality to the newly elected railroad
commission and to place in its hand
the power to make It Of real value to
the people of the state. A law to give
the cities and towns of the state the
right to tax for local purposes railway
properly lying within their limits is
also proposed and the republican party
Is pledged to its enactment. Another
law, which will cover the question Of
employers liability for accidents to
employees, doing away with the obnox-
ious fellow servant" provision, which
has filled the cities of the country with
cripples who are without recourse, will
be submitted. To this also is the re-
publican party pledged by its platform.
But these laws will not be passed ex-
cept against the utmost effort of the
railways and other corporations of the
state. The corporations are already
active in their effort to organize the
legislature and to provide as far as
they possibly can for thwarting the de-
sires of the people for needed laws.
Where they cannot absolutely prevent
the passage of a law they will en-
deavor to secure such form of legisla-
ton as will minimize its effect and
keep the word of promise to the ear
and break 1t to the hope"
Part Of the railroad campaign is to
align the state against Douglas county.
Douglas county is expected to lead in
the fight for a terminal taxation bill
and to some extent on all the laws af-
fecting railroad or corporate interests.
Just at present every effort is being
made to create sentiment against the
delegation from Douglas county. The
| fake reformers are daily printing al
legged interviews or making ridiculous
assertions as to the attitude that will
be assumed by the state. The Lincoln
Star and Omaha World-Herald on Sun
day boldly assert that every measure
offered by Douglas county will be OPP
posed. This is only part of the cam
paign of Misrepresentation and down
right lying that is being carried on for
the purpose of manufacturing senti-
ment that will divide the republicans
in the legislature and create dissension
and strife, and thus defeat the inten-
ton of the party in Nebraska to give
to the state the relief promised by the
platform.
Sincere and honest members of the
legislature should be very careful as
to what promises they make before
going to Lincoln and gaining first
hand knowledge of the exact situation.