Omaha daily bee., 1907-02-20
GOSSIP AMONG LEGISLATORS
Action of Commercial Club HandicapH
nougIaH DELEGATION.

Action of Commercial Club HandicapH
Douglas Delegation.
LINCOLN Feb. 19.-(Special.) -Members
of the Douglas delegation to the legislature
are still waiting for the Commercial club
Of Omaha to rescind the action OF the ex-
ecutive committee which protested against
the r ~sage Of 2-cent rate bill. Net a day
has sed since that action was taken and
published but 1t has risen up to embarrass
and handicap members of the legislative
delegation and to a man they have denied
responsibility for the action Of the execu-
tive committee OF that club, and have ex-
pressed themselves in no uncertain terms
as being absolutely opposed to that action
and not in sympathy with II. A member
of the delegation said today:
1T is an outrage on the people of Omaha
that the executive committee of the Com
mercial club should have gone on record as
being opposed to the 2-cent rate. 1 con-
slider that the mon who did that are pass
holding, railroad Influenced men who have
not the best interest of Omaha or the state
at heart. The Commercial club should at
once hold a meeting and denounce the ac-
ton and refuse to countenance it. When
we talk of terminal taxation some member
from out in the state tells us Omaha is
against the 2-cent fare If we talk direct
primary, we are told Omaha is against the
2-cent fare I have answered that the ex-
ecutive committee of the Omaha Conner
cial club is not Omaha by any means but
IL is due the city of Omaha and the Douslas
delegation which is trying TO secure leg
islation which will be of benefit not only
to Omaha but to the state and which is in
harmony with our party pledges, that the
Commercial club hold meeting and re-
scind the action of the executive commit
tee 1t should have been done long ago.
The Commercial club should consult with
the delegation before taking any more po-
litical action"
The happiest man in the state to1ay is
Fries Of Howard county, the good natured
democrat who never worries even though
he has ten children to look after. Fries
got his bill passed by the house to make
men vote or pay Sc into the public treasury.
Fries is proud OF his children and ne is
proud Of the action of the house which will
place his name forever in the public mind
whether his bill will pass the courts or
not.
Peter Mortensen, former state treasurer
who knows probably as much as any man
in the state about the value of railroad
property and the assessment OF that prop
erty. is in favor of the taxation OF railroad
terminals for city purposes and he not only
believes the enactment of such law viii
not take from any taxing district IN the
state any railroad property, but he be-
lieves 1t will increase the taxable property
in every town and the bill as introduced is
a just measure. both to the railroads and
to the people. He said
IT have not studied the bill carefully
which has been introduced, but I think
am familiar with its general terms.
think the railroads should by all means
pay a tax for city and village purposes.
The bill should be scrutinized very closely
to see that It conforms to the state con-
stitution but I have no doubt able men
have studied Il carefully and there is no
reason to believe It will not stand the
test"
Judge Alstadt, king pin of all the jus
tlces OF the peace Of America. who stands
up for the people at every turn Of the
road, even though he may have TO reverse
the supreme court in doing It. an all round
prince, physically well as in disposition
gladdened the hearts OF the members of the
legislature this morning for the first time
during the session Little Bismarck"
came down to see to II that the rotated
ballot plan was not adopted in the primary
bill. and II is understood he will also ad-
vocate the enactment OF a law providing
justices OF the peace must be not more
than FIVE feet In height, and at least that
far through. year ago when this dis
psnser OF justice came to Lincoln he was
set upon by a bad. bad man who tried TO
] rob him. But he didn't do II. The little
1 Judge promptly grabbed the impudent ras-
cal and dragged him six blocks 10 the
| police station. The next morning he APP
J peared against him. but wanted him let
down easy. because he said Il looked like