Omaha daily bee., 1907-03-14
GOVERNOR HITS At LOBBY
Sends Special Message to Legislature Ask
ing II 70 Pass Anti Lobby Bill
SENATE MAKES EFFORT TO REVIVE II
InnuH of Representatives of Special
Interests Rouses Both the chief
Executive and the
Legislators.
CFrom a star Correspondent

NhTom Stau COrfeapOnuent.)
LINCOLN, Neb., March 13.-(special.)-
Governor sheldon this afternoon sent a
message to the senate asking for the en-
actment of a law directed against the lob
bies that have swarmed the state house
and the Lincoln hotels during the last few
days. In the message he requested the
senate, II possible. to reconsider its action
by which It indefinitely postponed house
roll No. IS several days ago.
The action OF the governor came at an
oppottune time, as the senate and house
have been overrun with a half dozen
different lobbies for several days. The
activities OF the representatives of special
interests have been 80 great that it has
been hard for the bodies to transact busi-
ness. The most active of these was the
railroad lobby imported from all over the
state to assist In defeating terminal tax
alton. Second only to this was the drug
gists' lobby, headed by +. ]. Cheney Of
Toledo, O., a prominent patent medicine
manufacturer, sent here to assist in tho
fight on the pure food bill He has been
assisted by half a hundred druggists from
over the state. Besides these, the brew
ers' lobby the insurance lobby, the Pull
man lobby and a dozen other Hobbies have
been concentrated here during the last few
days When the special message was read
the senate lobby was crowded with drug
gists, railroad men and other representa-
tives of special interests.
The message was received with applause
from the senators and spectators, and Ep-
person moved that the house be requested
to return to the senate for its further con-
sideration the bill referred to in the senate.
This motion went through, but the house
had already adjourned and the bill could
not be had until tomorrow morning. The
senate found itself in a peculiar position,
as the rules forbid the reconsideration of
votes after two days have elapsed. As
Nthls was the second day after the bill had
been killed, the time limit would expire
with adjournment tonight.
To meet the dihiculty, King OF Polk
moved to amend the rules permitting re-
consideration Of the vote within three days.
Ashton OF Hail. a fusionist opposed the
change in the rules and declared the gov
ernor had no business to try to Influence
legislation. King retorted he was not sur
prised at the objections OF Ashton, and the
motion to change the rules carried, Thomas
OF Douglas and Ashton voting against It.
The attitude OF the senate indicates the
bin win be passed tomorrow unless the
powerful lobbies now in the city get busy
tonight and influence enough votes to de-
feat It, which is not considered probable,
Message of Governor.
The message of the governor is as fol
lows:
LINCOLN, Heb, March 13--ro the Mem
bers of the Nebraska State Senate, Gentle
men; The members of this legislature ar'
TO be congratulated upon the tirmness anC
inccrrupubility manifested throughout this
! n gratifying know
that the promises made to the people VII
1t seems TO me that this legislature SHOULD
not only redeem every pledge and promise
made TO the people OF this state, but tha
1t also, should pass law regulating and
controlling lobbying. In my inaugural ad
dress, called attention to this question
''The great corporations Of Nebraska
companies. have in the past maintained {
strongly organized lobby in Lincoln during
sessions of the legislature. The presence
of any kind OF professional lobbyists II
neither needed nor desired. The corpora
tion lobbyists are usually men Of high in
tegrtty and sobriety, men OF large expert
enee in their line OF work, congenial, clever
men who, by their persistence and able ef
forts, are able to accomplish much for thu
interests they represent The fact tina
during all Of the previous history of thil
state no law has been passed which hai
regulated freight rate in any particular
| bears witness TO the effective work and in
huence OF strongly organized railroad
/ lobby. It is expected that this Legislature
will pass such measures as will forever pu
an end to ring rule In Nebraska. 1t is t,
be hoped. therefore, that there will b,
l passed not only an anti-pass law. and
primary election law, but that there will
also be passed law that will prohibit pro
fessional lobbying"
As an interested observer, feel that tht
presence OF strong lobby in the capita
city during the session has been an annoy
ance, and possibly has prevented thu
prompt passage of laws redeeming public
| pledges.
have been Informed that H. r. IS, a bill
for an act to prohibit counsel or agents o.
1 any other person receiving a pecuniar!
( consideration, or state officer or officers
| their deputies or employees. in matters ar
fecting their pecuniary interests, from at
tempting to Influence members Of the legis
lature otherwise than by appearing befor
the committees thereof, or by newspape
( publications, or public addresses, or b.
/ written or printed statements, arguments
+ or briefs, was postponed by your honorable
/ body. II seems to me that this 1egislatur
I should not adjourn without passing an &C
| regulating lobbying.
1 It is. therefore, sincerely hoped that you
] action in reference to H. r. IS may be re
| considered. Very respectfully,
GEORGE LAWSON SHELDON