Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-01-10
Majority Will Have to See Them Go and
Stay Before They Will Believe
COMMITTEES TO DRAFT PLATFORM Bllls
House and Senate Both Take Action Along
This Line,
BURNS sIDEsTEPs PROGRESSIVE WAGON
Gets In the Road of Reform Move, but
DOdges Before IL il Too Late
Anti-Lobby Measure Passes
Senate.
(From a staff CorresnondentN

(F'rom a Staff Correspondent
| LINCOLN, Jan. 9-(Special THE hand
writing on the wall has been seen and read
| by the interests which have for so many
years, through smooth representatives,
thwarted legislation demanded by the peo-
pie and as a result movement is found to
be on foot now to abandon the field and
| trust to the legislators to do the right
| thing, both by the corporations and the
| people. The movement though inspired
by the action of the house and the antici-
! pated action Of the senate is being made
/ by the corporations themselves, It is said,
J though many are inclined to doubt IL.
From reliable sources 1t was learned this
morning that the railroad lobbyists have
| contemplated closing their headquarters
and leaving town. Whether a new set Is
to come is problematicaI
1T would be the best thing the railroads
ever did for themselves" said a repre-
sentative discussing the proposition. For
forty years or more the railroads have al
most completely dominated politics of Me-
braska and manipulated It's affairs poll
tical. The time is now here for the people
to look after their own interests and we
intend to do it. We will be kinder to the
railroads, however, than they have ever
been to us. because we will do them no in
Justice, but we will give the people justice.
That is what we were elected to do and
that is what we will do. The railroads
might just as well move out of Lincoln
with their political headquarters"
| Up TO date none of the accredited rail-
road crew except Burlington Lobbyist
Frank Young, has been in the legislative
halls since the session began, and accord
ing to information furnished the members
none of them intend to come to the state
house, but will be content TO work from
the hotels and appear before the commit
tees al the proper time.
OId-Liners sidestep.
II has been demonstrated beyond a rea-
sonable doubt that both houses of the legls-
lature are controlled by men who are here
D to carry out every pledge of the party
platform and the procession will trampIe
over any person or corporation that gets
I'm the way. In fact. In the senate where
It was supposed the corporations would be
able to make gallant stand after having
given up hope in the house, appearances
indicate the old machine is shattered. II
not smashed. 20 pieces. Those two Lam
caster reformers, Joe Burns and John Nc
Kesson, relics of the old Burlington days
saw the procession coming this morning
and sdestepped beautifully. When McKes-
son moved a committee be appointed TO
get up a railway commission measure,
naming the members, Dodson of Saline
at once moved 20 amend TO insert other
names, though he was on the McKesson
, committee Epperson of Clay moved as
a substitute the matter be referred TO the
: committee on standing committees. Burns.
with all the energy he possesses, shouted
for roll call. He shouted loud and long
and made a speech on the proposition.
| Then others made speeches. and in the
I wind-up Burns forgot about his roll call,
and the Epperson motion was carried by
an aye and nay vote. with McKesson and
n Burns not voting.
2 Within a short time the labor bureau
1 will issue a bulletin showing the freight
: charges in Nebraska and in neighboring
/ states. The comparison will show Me-
4 braska is Disseminated against to an out
a rageous degree, and, while some believe
1 the labor bureau has gone out OF its juris-
: diction TO find work. the bulletin will not
+ advance the cause of the railroads.
The regents of the state university have
issued a statement to the legislature in
( support of their plea for an increased ap-
preparation, in which the salaries paid here
| and in other states compared, showing
the Nebraska university instructors are
paid less than in other states Notwith-
standing the statement, some members OF
the house and senate fail TO see why the
Il vouchers of the state university should not
n be filed with the state auditor and the
IS claims passed upon by him after the Board
e OF Regents has indorsed them, and before
8 the session is ended a move to this end
probably will be made In the meantime,
o hardly before the speaker had ceased nam
; ing the committees. university lobbyists
n had called up 20 talk with members of the
II university committee.
IT Appropriations 10 lie watched.
70 1t is very evident appropriations will be
n scanned closely by the members this ses-
IS sion The proposition to buy 80 cents
d worth Of stamps each day for each mem
e Der of the house was killed yesterday The
n same proposition was made this morning,
a with the amount reduced TO 20 cents and
k then to 10 cents. II finally carried to allow
e the members 10 cents a day each, so they
N could communicate with their constituents.
d II this stands the Appropriation will there
d fore be reduced from about 81 500 10 500 for
m the session. The members who opposed the
Re proposition were cautioned by the others
TO scrutinize as closely all other appropria-
tions.
The legislature IS gradually rounding into
shape 10 do business and the indications ars
y the next few days will see the platform
pledge measures well along the road TO
realities In both houses and senate reso-
lutions were introduced and I'm the latter
adopted, providing TOT the appointment OF
le Joint committees to work together on plat
81 form measures. In the house the resolu-
-e ton under the rules went over until tomor-
Is row. at which time the speaker will be au-
p thorized 10 name the committees. In the
IL senate the committee standing commit
le tees will select the special committees.
IA The day was again marked IN both
sr houses by onslaughts on the corporations
" by the introduction OF measures 70 prevent
the giving Of free transportation; providing
for the municipal ownership Of telephone
lines by cities OF the second class. and
4 measures relating to freight rates.
:, Almost showdown.
M The senate at the morning session barely
. ! -.