Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-12-13
ROSE WRITE LEGISLATORS
Chairman Of Stat mmt.eo Reminds
Them OF tn ry Hedges
ESSENTIAL TH-Y oi.ULO Be FULFILLED
Second Animal Corn Contest Of the
Boys Of state Now in session at
High school Auditorium with
Large Attendance.
tFrom a stan Correspondent

LINCOLN, Dec 12.-(special. )-Chairman
W. y. Rose has sent the following letter
10 members Of the legislature:
Dear Sir: During the recent campaign It
was constantly asserted by the republican
state central committee that the republican
platform would be carried out in good faith
In the event Of a republican victory No
Promises to keep the pledges Of the party
were reiterated by ali republican Candi-
dates, were featured In campaign literature
and published in the republican press Of
the state. Campaign speakers sent out by
the state central committee Joined in these
promises The people believed in the prin-
ciples OF the republican party and in the
sincerity and ability OF its candidates. As
result you were selected as a lnwmaker,
and the legislative and executive depart
ments OF government were committed to
republicans for two years more. Good
faith, party honor and public welfare re-
uuire the redemption Of every pledge.
AS chairman Of the state central com
mittee, l was frequently criticised for max
Ing these promises. The critics did not
question tho sincerity OF candidates for the
legislature, but they insisted that party
officers should hesitate to make promises
which might not be fulfilled, and that mem
beers OF the ieeiFlat ure would find il difficuit
TO enact anti-pass laws, direct primary
laws, laws TO tax railway terminals laws
comforting upon the railway commission
power to determine and enforce reasonable
freight and passenger rates. and other laws
promised by the republican party in It's
To pass effective and valid laws on these
subjects is In fact, very dfficult for the
reason that the railroads with their trained
lobby and skilled manipulators oppose legis-
lRtion OF that kind Fulhllment OF promised
legislation Will, therefore. be attended with
difficulties, and under the circumstances, I
feel at liberty to call your attention to
some OF the means by which measures
anecting railroads and other corporations
were defeated at former sessions Of the
legislature.
The chief obstruction to the passage Of
such laws in the past was the introduction
n nf n ~ 60
aRry bills on almost every conceivable sub
1ect. Bills were drawn In great numbers
by designing persons outside of the legisla-
ture, and members urged to introduce them.
In this manner bills were multiplied until
took \ well equipped printing plant to
print them proofreaders In both houses to
correct errors, clerks to read the bills In
open session and other clerks to keep track
Of them In the bill rooms. Valuable time
or the members was wasted daily In the
reading OF bills never intended for passage,
but to confuse members and defeat legisla-
don. They accumulated until II was diff
cult 70 get bills Of public interest up for
consideration.
When bill purporting to regulate rail
roads was reached some one was always
prepared with an amendment to make It
OdioUs or unconstitutional. and II It sue
cessfully ran the gauntlet of legislation. Il
was ready FOR annulment by the courts.
Meritorious bills sometimes met the same
rate through improper records kept by I'M
friendly legislative clerks. Important bills
on the same subject were often introduced
by different members, and through rivalry
or jealousy, all were defeated.
In the passage of the present revenue
law during the session of 1903 these diff
culties were overcome. The senate and
house appointed joint committee on
revenue and the members thereof patiently
heard all interests made a thorough in
vestigation of the subject Of taxation
formulated and introduced in both houses
Dill which received the united support OF
republican members and met with execu-
tive approval. If this method Is followed al
the coming session, in acting on the 'prin-
cipal republican measures, every promise
OF the party will be redeemed.
Promised laws will be more certain of
enactment II considered at the beginning
OF the session, without interference by de-
mands for other legislation to which the
party is not pledged
Thousands for Third Regiment.
Governor ]. H. Mickey this afternoon re-
ceived 2s,24O.96 from the War department