Omaha daily bee., 1907-01-15

| for. unless all this furore is but a grand
, stand play.
Madison Chornlcle: The lobbyist will
have a hard row to hoe in Nebraska this
winter unless the present sentiment among
legislators undergoes a change before the
close OF the session.
North Platte Tribune: The republican
legislators down at Lincoln start out as
though they intended to keep the plat
form pledges of the party. That's what
the people expect them to do, and nothing
less will satisfy the people.
Central City Republican: The "conser-
vative" and the safe and sane legislators
have been making their presence noticeable
in the halls Of the legislature, but they will
have hard job heading on the reforms
promised by Sheldon and his loyal sup
porters in both houses.
Valley Enterprise: The state legislature
seems to be heading for deep water and
are taking no chances by appointing COM
mittees that are favorable to railroads. We
certainly should get some railroad reg
ulation during this session. Keep your
eyes on the sign boards.
Friend Telegraph: The men who have
been sent to the legislature this winter
are not seeking for railroad passes, and
the railroad lobby might as we'll go home
| and get ready for a 2-cent fare rate and
| lower freight rates. They are bound to
come and the corporations might as we'll
get ready for them.
Clay Center Sun: There will be a thou
sand and one things that 1t will seem good
for the Nebraska legislature to enact into
law. Better cut everything else out until
the promises to the people are redeemed
| The OnDOgitiO0 railroads will ha
| right glad TO see the time taken up with
these outside measures to the end that the
republican party may fail to enact all the
promised laws.
Schuyler Free Lance: The Nebraska leg
islature starts out well, anyway. II they
keep up the way they start and carry out
their platform pledges the state will surely
be solidly republican for some years. The
state never was otherwise, except as a
protest against the bad official work of that
party when in power. The state never was
democratic; 1t was simply anti-republican.
Then the ants put up just about as bad a
record and the state swung back.
| Wood River Sunbeam: The members of
| the house of the Nebraska state legislature
who voted In favor of keeping the railroad
lobbyist in the house, caught 1t from some
of their constituents when they spent Sum
day at home. One of the representatives
said he was fooled by the old trick that
there was another bill coming, and so
voted against the resolution. This is the
way he explained 1t to one of his con-
stituents, but 1t looked like a thin excuse
to the voter.
Columbus Journal: The legislature Of
Nebraska was promptly organized by elect
ing republican speaker of the house and
a republican president of the senate. 1t
is to be hoped the legislature will promptly
elect Norris Brown United States senator
enact promptly all necessary legislation
and adjourn. 1t is not necessary for every
legislature to tinker with all our laws and
introduce bills for the sake OF putting in
time. In law making, Just as in business
let well enough alone.
Nebraska City Tribune: Experts on "leg-
tslatlve situations" predict that the big
contest in the present session will arise
over the municipal taxation of railway
terminals. 1t is a knotty question in some
of Its phases and II may be confidently
predicted that to secure the support of
country members the showing will have to
be conclusively made that the new law
will not reduce the proportion of taxes
now received from the railroads by the
outlying districts throughout the state
which will receive little or no benefit from
the terminal law If enacted.
Rushville Recorder: We believe the leg
islature should leave no stone unturned
until 1t has compelled the railroads to
pay their taxes just like the common peo-
pie Corporations have no souls, but the
individuals who make them up have, and
we are in favor of sending every mothers
son Of them to prison when they fail to
dizzy up their share of the public burden.
The ancient Romans used to punish as
capital crime those who sought to pre-
varcate or elude their taxes. Sheldon was
right when he said the railroads were not
patriotic when they refused to pay their
taxes.
Oakland Independent 1t looks as though
Representative Byram was starting out
wrong in his legislative career. He re-
corded his vote for McMullen, the corpora
ton candidate for speaker; he voted against
shutting out the lobbyist. We could forget
that in the state convention last fall he
voted for Millard in preference for United
States senator, because he signed the agree
ment to abide by the choice of the conVen-
ton. The people are watching the legsla-
, ture this time and the interests of the re-
publican party at the next presidential
election are tied up with its record this
year. We are waiting for an explanation.
Columbus Telegram: The legislature
starts out we'll The members evidently
mean business. They know the specific
purposes for which they were elected. They
recognize In Governor Sheldon an able and
! worthy leader They know he enjoys the
! confidence OF the people and they are in
} clined to follow his counsel. They know
| that the railroad lobby has won many a
battle by scattering the forces OF the re-
formers through securing the introduction
OF innumerable reform bills Hence they
} are inclined to consult together and agree
In advance on some strong measure which
, they can pass Indeed 1t would look al
{ this time as II the only real danger to be
? feared in the matter of reform railroad
! legislation is the rock OF unconstitutionality
The Railroad commission will be clothed
: with ample power. But the question Is
VIII we have any commission at all when
: the supreme court gets through with I'll
4 And II the commission is annulled is there
not some means OF passing a bill to take
. effect at once reducing freight ratesp
Arcadia Champion: We see that Thomas
Darnell. the legislative lobbyist of tn,
, anti-saloon league, is already on the legis.