Omaha daily bee., 1907-01-31
Expectation It win Be Ready to Report
Some Time Thursday.
POWERS GRANTED IT ARE SWEEPING
Orders to Hold Good Tending Decision Of
Appeal to Court.
APPROPRIATIONS Are BEING SCANNED
Legislators VIII Insist on Definite
Statement by Heads of state Insti-
tutiOns of what Money is
Wanted For.
From a stan correspondent


LINCOLN, Jan. S0.-(SpeCiaL) THE pas
senger rate bill is ready for action at the
hands of the joint railroad committee; tile
commission bill proper Will be ready some
time tomorrow, and the anu-pass bill is
on the road to completion. These bills
now are in the hands OF subcommittee
selected from the joint committee, and be-
fore being introduced into the house and
senate, OF course, must run the gauntlet
of the joint committee. Inasmuch, how
ever. as the general outline Of all the bills
was discussed before the subcommittee
were appointed. It is thought more than
probable the joint committee will merely
endorse what has been done by the joint
committees and the bills will be introduced
the latter part OF the week.
While there is considerable discussion
over the anti-pass bill, regarding who
should be exempt from its provisions, the
measure, which wll draw the most fire
and be of the most Importance, If one
measure is any more important than an
other, is the commission bill proper. The
bill gives to the railway commission alb
solute power to regulate freight rates. and
while 1t protects the railroads from un-
Just or incompetent commission. It makes
1t extremely difficult for a railroad to set
an order of the commission aside unless
- 10 oib"h NohClusANtly lndN the OIueT 10
unjust. The subcommittee has worked
with the idea in mind that all orders
against which there are protests should
be settled at the very earliest possible date
and while the railroads and the commits
sion are at law over the temporary in
junction the order OF the commission re-
mains in force, 1t being up to the railroads
practically to try their case on Its merits
before even temporary injunction shall
Issue.
Method of Appeal.
This is provided for by compelling the
roads first to appeal to the commission
when they object to a rate. A full hearing
is granted, and upon going into the dis
trict court, the bill having designated this
court the railroads must ile with their
petition for an INJUNCTION a copy 9as the
order of the commission. a transcript of
the testimony taken before the commission,
as we'll the final decision Of the COM
mission. Incidentally the railroad has to
pay for its transcript of the testimony be.
fore the commission. BY making Il q
misdemeanor to disobey an order Of the
commission the bill compels the railroads
to come into the state courts and not TO
the federal courts, as they have done In
the past. The punishment fixed in the bill
for violation of the orders OF the COM
mission is a fine of not less than 500 nor
more than 5000 with the added penalty
of a jail sentence for the eniploye who
disobeys an order of not less than ten nor
more than thirty days.
1t is provided the railway commission
shall ask the railroads for their schedule
Of rates in effect January /, 1907, and fu-
ture orders are to be based on the charges
| made at that time. II is compulsory for
the railroads to furnish this information
| When the commission makes an order Il
! shall go into effect in not less than thirty
nor more than sixty days. and II the rail-
! roads desire TO object they must do so
within the thirty days in the manner out
! lined. The roads are required to furnish
/ detailed statements OF their earnings and
| other information demanded by the com
! missioners including accounts and causes
of accidents. The commissioners are re-
| quired to inspect the railroad bridges and
roadbed, though this is left In a large
measure to the discretion of the commits
sion. The sections mentioned have already
been prepared and the remainder Of the bill
is largely a matter Of routine The sala-
| ries of the commissioners probably will be
fixed by this committee at $500 year.
The railroad commission Is given power
over all common carriers the same as rail-
roads, including telephone and express
companies, car companies and interurban
companies. The commission shall have a
secretary to be paid $500 year and two
clerks at LOO each and other help II may
need.
Pleased with Deaf school.
Representative ReJcha OF Lancaster
| county, who is a member of the committee
which inspected the Institute for the Deaf
and Dumb at Omaha yesterday. is we'll
pleased with the way In which the school
has been conducted and spoke in very COM
plimentary terms of the management.
Twas very much gratified at the progress
the pupils of the school are making" said
the Lancaster member, ''and was very
much surprised. / consider this one OF the
states most valuable and worthy institu-
tions. We saw one case there Of woman
% years OF age who just recently came 70
the school. She could neither speak nor
hear, OF course, and had never had any
! kind OF schoolL &. She is doing remarks
bly, we'll and making wonderful progress"
Incidentally however Superintendent
Stewart, as well as the heads OF other
state institutions may have TO change
their estimates filed with the legislature
before they get favolNble action. Mr..
Stewart. as well other heads Of state
institutions, mentioned "etc." In explaining
what appropriations are needed Tor. There
is a disposition among the legislators 70
know how much OF the appropriation II for
"etc" In other words. more detailed state
ments likely will be asked for
Mr.. Stewart estimates he will need $50.
$50 TO maintain his institution during the
biennium. He filed this estimate with the
committee;
Salary superintendent ..................t a6OC
Salary matTon and hOusekeeper....,... 1,6l
Employees wages .......... ..............,. 11.O0l
Salaries teachers. supervisors, physi-
clan, nurse, clerk etc, tc,................. % 00(
Fuel and light ............................ 500
Maintenance ......................... is, on
Furniture and bedding ................. 30
, Supplies for industries .................. 15OC
Incidentals ......... 100
once expenses, books, school sup
plies, elc......-. Luz
IelepnOne ...+..s.s u
/. Drugs and medicines .................... ~
Improvements on farm ..............s.. 81
Repairs and improvements .....s.....s ~