Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-02-22
GOSSIP OF THE LEGISLATORS
Jim Kelby's lodge OF sorrow" n
Deserted and Darkened Place.
CFron a Stan Correspondert)

Jim KeIby's lodge OF sorrow" n
Deserted and Darkened Place.
CFrom Stan Correspoudent)
LINCOLN, Feb 2l.-+(special.) -what GER
tainly must be the last straw was heaped
upon the bowed back OF Burlington Lob
byist Jim Kelby last night when member
of the legislature dubbed his darkened
headquarters at the Lincoln as the Lodge
Of Sorrow" Failing to find members who
are willing to associate with him or his
kind in public places, such as the hotel
lobbies Kelby has been sending out plead
ing invitations for those who will talk TO
him to come to his room. Few are ac-
cepting the invitations. and those who have
been there bring back the story that the
old-time arrogant user of legislators and
manipulation of political conventions. and
all round boss. is about all in. His tone
OF command which used to strike terror
to the legislator who wanted to break the
railroad strings. has changed to whine
not unlike that OF the proverbial whipped
cur These certainly be changed times
for Mr.. Jim." remarked legislator.
fuckers bill to prevent a continuance Of
the feeding graft at the Douglas county
Jail has certainly struck a popular cord
out in the senate. Today Mr.. Tucker re-
ceived not less than a dozen applications
for copies OF his bill by persons living in
the less populated counties who have had
the same proposition to go against that
Douglas county has experienced for 80
many years. It is probable the outside
Legislators will want to amend the law
to apply to all the counties.
Some of the legislators are still talking
about that speech Of Burlington lobbyist
| in which he said. I'VE have made mis-
takes in the past; we have sinned, but
forget IT; we are flesh and blood; let us
work together in the future and wipe out
the past" The Legislators cannot forget
when they talk OF that plea that the Bur-
lington and Union Pacific owe enough
money in taxes, the collection Of which
were enjoined, to put number Of counties
on cash basis and open up a few schools
( in the sparsely settled districts.
II the facts already in the hands of the
house committee on claims are verified
/ upon farther investigation, Captain Fisher
| of Chadron probably will discover that
/ he has gone to the Legislature once too
often with his claim for s1l,s0o, said to be
/
tho state. The facts about this claim was
/ set out thoroughly in The Bee and other
| papers two years ago, and at that time
| the attorney general became interested IN
| the claim and began an investigation, hut
nothing ever came OF the matter. As told
! I'm The Bee. the claim grew in four years
from $500 to $11.5OO The land in ques-
ton consisted Of one section located in
! Sioux county and owned by the heirs OF
/ Herman Goedde, deceased. These heirs
lived in Germany, and three appraisers
were selected to value the property, as un-
der the law such property must be bought
| foreigner. 1t was set out In the article
that Captain Fisher was to receive as his
fee for looking after the matter. for the
heirs all over $1,000 received for the prop
erty. 1t was appraised. so the records
show, for 1850. In 1901 a, claim was put
before the legislature for 5000 It was
rejected. Abut bobbed up sereney in 1901
Increased to Sl1,5O0. and again IL was about
| to; be turned down. when IL was VERY
quietly withdrawn from the committee
Now It is up again. This legislature in.
tends to settle this claim once for all
Armstrong of Nemaha and Snyder Of Har,
Ian left today for the northwestern par
OF the state to bring before the claim.
committee the three original appraiser,
who valued the, property. The men hav,
that authority delegated to them by tn,
house. They already have affidavits from
two of the appraisers saying the land wa,
valued at $500.