Omaha daily bee., 1907-01-22
HOUSE INDUCES IN SOME SENSATIONS
Committee Reports on Bills Rejected After
Vigorous Debate.
DIFFERENCES OAtR ANNEXATION BILL
Hearing Before Railway Committee
Develops Opposition to BnI Giving
street Railways Authority TO
own Interurban Lines.
CFrom a STAR corre.pondent.l

there are several ahti-lobby bills now
pending In the Legislature there is SEN
timent among certain of the members
that none of them exactly hit the bulls
eye, and a movement is on foot to so
amend one of the bills that 1t will be i'm
possible for the professional lobbyist TO
practice his profession irA-the state house.
at the hotels or even in Lincoln. In
other words a movement is on foot TO
expell from the capital every lobbyist
who is staying here or who may come
here to attend future legislatures. by en-
actment of law
One plan which has been proposed IL
for bill providing It shall be compul-
sorry for lobbyist upon coming to Lin
coin to register his name with the sec.
retary OF state together with the name
Of the corporation or other interest which
he represents. He shall then report. to a
board composed of the governor, the
speaker of the house and the president
pro tenn of the senate. who shall by law
have authority to say how long he may
remain at the capital The proposed
amendment to one OF the bills now pend
ing will carry with 1t a penalty for the
violation OF the act.
"VisItinE Statesmen" Responsible.
This amendment is inspired by the ad.
vent into Lincoln of numerous ''promi-
nent" citizens who under the guise OF
friendship whisper conversation into the
ears Of the members and who pretend
not to be interested in any measure
These men, so some of the members be-
lieve, are far more dangerous than an
accredited corporation lobbyist. Those
who belong to this latter class are known
and the Legislators can avoid them But
fha 81.
who comes in as fellow citizen and a
neighbor can get in his smooth work, col
lect his fee from the corporation and got
out without having it generally known
what his business Is. The proposed
amendment to the lobby bills will be so
worded- to catch these men.
Some of the members believe the resi-
dent lobbyists are just bad and little
more than the imported crowd, so an
amendment is being prepared to catch this
bunch.
Differences over Annexation.
That It will require considerable dplo-
macy to bring the Douglas county legis-
| lative delegation together on a greater
Omaha bill developed tonight at a meeting
of the delegation. before which John p
Breen and w. H. Herdman appeared in
! the interests Of consolidation. Only four
| members of the delegation attended. They
were Senators Thomas and Gibson and
/ Representatives Clarke and Harvey. Mike
| Lee was present for a short time at the
! beginning and again at the end of the ses-
| sion, but did not take an active part in the
| discussion. He indicated. however, before
| and after the meeting tlat he Intended to
make fight for his bill providing for the
submission of the annexation question to a
vote of the people.
Senator Gibson made a statement in
which he said he could not support an an
nexatlon bill. but he declined to say at
present whether he would fight It or not.
His statement was OF Importance, as te
is chairman of the senate committee on
municipal affairs. before which the bill
will come, He promised the bill would have
! fair treatment before the committee, how
! ever.
Clarke and Harvey both expressed them
selves as opposed TO any measure that
would shorten the terms OF ONCE OF the
| Omaha or South Omaha officials and as
the bill drawn by Breen would cut off two
years from the terms OF Omaha officials
! their statement is taken as an announce
ment that they will not favor the meas
ure. Walsh was not at the meeting being
called to a meeting of the railway COM
mittee, but he has already expressed him
self as being opposed to so-called forcible
annexation. The other members OF the
delegation. 1t is believed. would support
annexation
Breen and others expressed the opinion
annexation by vote would be Of doubtful
validity
1t has been agreed that Senator Thomas
is TO Introduce the bill In the senate. prob
ably tomorrow. and an effort will be made
to get the bill through that body before
It is sent to the house
! 1t Is conceded that II will be necessary
for the Douglas county members to get to-
gether II they hope to get a consolidation
measure through the two houses.
Opposition 10 street Railway BuI.
House roll No. got little ,oIt tonight.
1 when It was discussed by q. w. Wattles.
II. II. Wilson, c. z. Hurd and C. T. BogRs
before the railroad committee OF the house.
though the senate committee had recon-
mended the same measure for passage.
This il the bill giving authority to street
railway companies TO own stock IN inter-
urban companies. its object being TO permit
the Omaha Street Railway company 10
build interurban lines. That was the way
all OF the speakers explained II and an
were for it except Mr. Boges Of Lincoln,
who is interested in the Citizens Street
Railway company here. Mr.. Boggs objected
10 the passage OF the bill. he said. because
IL conferred on street railway companies
the right 10 eminent domain. which he
said should be guarded jealousy by every
community, though the most serious ques-
tion he raised was the effect such a law
would have on cities buying street railway
companies. Should the street railway conf
panies own interurban lines, he said. how
would the property be divided should a city
desire TO purchase. No attention was paid
10 this proposition by the defenders OF the
BILL though after the meeting Mr.. Wattles
explained that was not serious. as a city
would merely buy the street railway prop
erty 20 the city limits. Boggs told the