The Norfolk weekly news-journal., 1907-02-08
ONLY TWO BILLS PASSED
LEGISLATURE HAS PROVIDED FOR
ITS OWN PAY.
ALSO LOOKS AFTER EXPENSES
But There Have Been No End to Bills
introduced, and Most Of Them are
Drastic In Their Attacks Upon In.
dustrial institutions.

Lincoln, Neb., Feb. Especial to
The News: For twenty-five days the
Nebraska legislature has been in SEES
sion and up to date only two bills have
been passed and signed by Governor
Sheldon. These are two appropriation
bills to cover the salaries and expens-
es of the legislature, one for $4,000
and the other for $4,000. The general
sentiment both in ,he senate and in
the house seems to be against corpo.
rations and capital but no legislation
along this line has yet been effected
In the senate 245 bills have been in
troduced, averaging seven and one
third bills per member. Twenty-four
of these bills have passed the senate,
thirty-one have been killed and 1872
have been pending. The senate has
been in session only twenty.one days
The house has been in session one day
longer than this, and in 1t 253 bills
have been introduced, averaging two
and one-half bills per member. Elev.
en- of these bills have been passed,
eighteen have been killed and 224 are
now pending.
Railroad regulation and rates Is the
subject taken up by thirty-two of the
bills introduced in the legislature, and
thirty bills are on revenue and taxa
ton. Four anti-pass bills and two d.
rect primary measures are under con-
sideration. Eighteen bills are on file
relating to county option and like mat
tiers. Three anti-tip, two antitrust and
three anti-lobby bills have reused
much discussion as has also the three
bills relating to pure food inspection.
Along with the bills attacking cor
porations and capital are number of
measures to create offices. There are
bills to establish veterinary examin-
ing boards, dairy inspectors, hotel in
spectors, insurance inspectors and all
sorts of supervising boards.
AS compared with preceding legisla-
lures the present session is unusually
backward. This is due to the party
reform pledges. When the members
actually assembled the pledges did not
seem so easy of fulfillment as they did
during the heat of the campaign.
Primary legislation has almost di-
vided the party into discordant fac
tions. One school of reformers want
statewide primary. Another faction
desires a state convention, the local
officers and the delegates to be named
by the voters. Still another clan wish
es initiative and referendum on the
state platform the document to be
compiled by the state central commit
tee.
Partisans and veteran campaigners
decry the primary system. The repub-
licans are pledged to the innovation
and the demands for the change are
vociferous and unequivocal.
County option may prevail. The
liquor interests are alarmed and it is
reported that vigorous fight will yet
be made. Several representatives are
in the city and it is claimed that no
stone will be left unturned to defeat
the option bill. The measure allows
counties to decide the saloon or no sa-
loon question once in five years.
So far the railway commission has
accomplished nothing. The legislat-
ors are kicking because the members
have not come to Lincoln to get next
to- the official duties while the COM
misSioners are waiting for a bill to be
passed clothing the new officials with
powers, duties and salaries. The leg
islators claim that it was presumed
that the commissioners would give
their whole time to the work while the
incumbents say that they understood
the duties to be merely judicial"