Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-03-08
Governor,n Honae Rrnt.

Governors House Rent.
The questions at issue in the governors
suit against himself for house rent were
discussed in the senate this morning when
the committee OF the whole took up the
consideration of McKesson's bill providing
a method for the payment of railroad fare
for state officers on public business, The
debate came up on an amendment offered
by McKesson to include judicial officers
At present district and supreme judges are
paying their own railroad fare. King Of
Polk raised the point that this provision
might be in conflict with the constitutional
provision that these officers should not re-
ceive any other perquisite or benefit be-
sides their salaries. He thought the pay
ment of railroad fare might be construed
as a perquisite or benefit.
Root Of Cass, who is defending Governor
Sheldons suit. was loaded for this argu-
ment He cited court decisions holding
that the payment of actual expenses was
not a perousite. He said the state ought
to bear this expense because under their
present salaries the Judges in the larger
districts could not afford to pay their rail-
I road fare. Heretofore they had been in
the habit of accepting passes to tighten the
burden, but he thought It best for the state
! to pay this part of their expense. The
amendment to include the judges was car
ried. with another, which allows the au-
ditor to pass on all claims for fare under
the bill.
The bill provides the secretary of state
shall issue coupons to state officers, and
when they desire TO take a trip they pre-
sent the coupons properly filled out and
signed to the ticket agent In exchange for
ticket. The coupon contains a state
% - - H.. A.
handing the trip, and is accompanied by
sworn statement by the officer. The
claim is then audited by the auditor. and
II approved the coupon is paid by the
treasurer. The bill was recommended for
passage.
| Pure Food Bill.
! After two hours OF strenuous discussion
| the senate this afternoon in committee OF
the whole recommended for passage the
| judiciary committee substitute for the
| Burns pure food bill. The only attack on
the measure was in the interests of the
| druggists, who were represented on the
| floor Of the senate by Senator Luce OF
| Harlan. who is in the business. The Nprin-
| cipal difficulty came In amending section
o. which originally required all patent
and proprietary medicines containing poi
sonous substances to he labeled poison ir
| large red letters. The druggists protestcc
that this would work a hardship on them
in the preparation of formulas of theii
| own for general sale. After some discus
sion the section was changed so as not
| to require the poison label, provided the
maximum dose which might be taken with
safety by adults or infants should be stated
| on the bottle. Another change provides
that 1t shall be a valid defense against
| prosecutions under this section II 1t IL
shown the goods complained of were ir
stock March 21, 1907.
After the section had been amended Luce
moved to strike 1t all out and precipitatet
a hot debate on the patent medicine ques
ton. Dodson declared the retailers had no
| opposed the bill until put up 10 1t by th'
wholesalers and the wholesalers had no
paid any attention TO II until urged 20 d
so by the manufacturers He declared th'
use OF patent medicines was the cause o.
the drug habit in majority Of cases. Pat
rick also took a shot at the druggists WIFI
opposed the measure and Root of Cas-
sprung a batch OF copies OF Golfers Week.!
containing formulas of some of the paten
medicines.