The independent., 1907-03-14
LEGISLATIVE 5;



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The accounts of work in the Nebras-
ka house would Indicate that some of
the republicans are standing on the
platform holding 1t down while others
are using crow-bars to pry it loose but
that the platform is spiked in the CEN
ter and revolves slightly but never gets
very far either to, port or starboard
A bill has been recommended to pass
by the house committee of the whole to
make 1t felony to steal over $5 worth
Of live poultry. Representative Walsh
of Douglas is the introducer of the
measure. The prevalence of chicken
thieves operating by the wholesale has
reused the farmers wives. who "raise"
the chickens until their protest has
reached legislative halls. The woman
who raises q flock or hens from their
infancy and then wakes up some morn
ing to find that q representative of the
scum OF the earth has come along in
the night season with a covered wagon
and put them all in and carried them
off is said to feel more Indignation
than the passholders who found them
selves on the pay list after last New
Years
Senator w. r. Patrick of Sarpy
county is the Denosthenes of the sem
ate lie has commanding figure and
voice and he utters sentiments in the
most choice language. He strings words
together in such manner that they
convey ideas through the ear 10 the
brain as the rainbow conveys through
the eye a sense Of color. He is one of
the most forceful speakers in the sem
ate and Is always listened to with adj
noiration. The most commonplace sub
ject becomes almost classic in his
hands. Discussing the liquor license
question In Sarpy county, a favorite
theme with him, he said: "Innumerable
bootlcggers came forth to ply their vo-
cation" How does this compare with
the eloquent Macaulay: During sew
eral generations Denmark and Sweden
poured forth innumerable pirates''
Patrick of Sarpy can give the old mas
ters points every day in the week
The large amount Of constructive leg
islation before this legislature has
somewhat staggered the members not
used to that kind Of work, but there
have been many willing and able
workers to put their shoulder to the
wheel. Outside of the platform pledges
there are bills of considerable import
ance that will receive attention. In
the matter Of credit for the work of
constructing legislation, the members
OF the two houses are not disposed to
quarrel. The statement has been made
that the senate has had little to do
with constructive legislation, but has
waited ON the house to act first This
is not admitted by members of the SEN
ate. All the platform pledge bills have
been drawn by joint committee, com
prising members of both houses and IL
may be said that one branch had as
much to do with the measures as the
other However, 1t is admitted that one
senator drew the railway commission
bill and it was not materially changed
One senator conceived the plan where
by a 2-cent passenger fare Is now In
force and drew the bill as chairman OF
a subcommittee of the joint commit
tee. The senate judiciary. committee
reframed the Gibson employers liabil-
ity bill that Is now ready to be sent
to the governor for his signature The
pure food bill first passed the senate.
The primary bill and the terminal tax
alton bills, both of the greatest import
ance, are the work of members of the
house.
The antl-pasS bill was drawn by a
joint committee comprising members
of both houses The bill thus drawn
was not accepted by either house. Each
house has recommended a different bill
and Ii remains to be seen which is the
more effective measure.
The senate, which is not RS dignified
as it was during the early days. was
treated to diversion yesterday morn
Ing when McKesson of Lancaster
stopped the order of business to ask
President Saunders, who was In the
chair, to enforce rule So. This rule
provides that with the exception of
certain officers and their deputies and
their clerks, no one shall be admitted
TO the floor of the senate without a
card of admission signed by MEM
ber OF the senate or the secretary of
the senate, Mckesson poised his
smoking cigar and asked a second time