Omaha daily bee., 1907-03-07
TWO-CENT FARE BILL A LAW
Governor Signs the Measure q Short Time
Before Midnight.
HEARING ON PROHIBITION AMENDMENT
Allen G. Fisher Appears Before Com
mittee and Tells His story of the
Claim Against state for
the Goedde Land.
cFrom a stan correspondent.l

The 2-cent fare bill Is a law. Governor
Sheldon affixed his signature to the measure
shortly before midnight so It would become
effective at that hour. The governor gave
out no statement when he announced he
had signed the BILL but he did so in order
that no question might arise as to the
validity of the bill or the emergency
clause which It carried. Inasmuch as
some attorneys believed the legality OF
the law would be questioned unless the
governor signed IT, because the bill pro-
vided it should go into effect after it's pas
sage land approval" Governor Sheldon re-
1 fused to allow II to become law without
his signature.
| With only four OF the eleven members
present the house committee on constitu-
tional amendments held an open meeting
/ tonight in representative hall to listen to
discussion Of the proposed constitutional
amendment to prohibit the manufacture
and sale Of intoxicating liquors. The
! speakers were M. B. Reese, c. c. Bell, A.
/ G. Wolfenbarger, Frank Lynch and Sena-
tor Wilson, all of them favoring the sub
mission of the amendment The opponents
| of the measure did not appear. Chairman
Tucker of the committee, presided
Judge Reese did not commit himself on
the question of prohibition, but asked that
the matter be left to vote of the people.
Considerable opposition to the measure is
based on the ground 1t would have to be
| submitted at the next presidential election
and would tend to complicate the cam
paign. The friends OF the bill claim to have
petitions signed by 1900 persons asking for
the submission of the amendment.
The senate sitting committee met tonight
and got ready for business by electing Root
| of CagG ba rnft da-
cided to do all its work behind closed doors
and to have no open hearings on the merits
| OF measures on the ground open meetings
would delay action. 1t will report for
duty tomorrow and will be ready to go to
work whenever the senate Is ready.
Fisher Tells of His Claim.
Captain Allen G. Fisher of Chadron ap-
peared before the claims committee of the
house tonight as witness in the famous
Fisher claim for $11.5OO for land which es-
cheated to the state. Captain Fisher
brought with him a deed to the land signed
by the. Goedde heirs. for which he said he
paid $3.50 to the First National bank of
Chadron. He also had with him power
of attorney from the Goedde heirs and
some correspondence which he had with
them. The deed he said he got from the
bank some time In November last, Fisher
said he appeared for the heirs and drew up
a Journal entry which was agreed to by
the county attorney of Sioux county set
ting forth the land was worth 5000. This
was TO be the judgment of the court, and
he left Harrison with that understanding.
He knew nothing of the s11.5O0 appraise-
ment until he received a certified copy of it.
He did not know the 5000 was stricken
out until the following fall. He filed a
claim with the auditor. he said, for the
Ho1 he Nsa- .slvxA 80 Nla
ord In the case.
"Will you be willing to withdraw your
claims for 5000 and 800 and accept a
deed to the land7" asked Senator McKes-
son.
II will consult my attorney, Halleck
Rose. first" said the captain, 'T do not
know what he has done or what he has
filed"
Captain Fisher said he had not informed
Herman Kaup or the Goedde heirs any
thing about the value Of the land. He
made the offer of $780, and it was accepted,
he said.
H. r. and S. #. Is, both providing for
the ownership of interurban stock by street
railway companies. will be reported for the
general file of the house tomorrow. The
house bill was amended to conform to the
} senate bill.
The Quackenbush reciprocal demurrage
bill. with some amendments. will be re-
: ported favorably to the house tomorrow.
One amendment provided the penalty shall
be paid to the state and any damage to the
shipper.
! McMullen's employers liability bill has
been made special order for Friday morn
ing in the house, and tomorrow the primary
election bill is a special order. McMullen
probably will substitute the Gibson senate
! bill for his own. as they are practically the
: same.
Amendments 20 Commission Bill.
A movement is on foot TO amend the rail-
. road commission bill. which has been rec
commended for passage In the house, so that
It will be more specific in some Of its sec
tions Friends OF the measure are anxious
. that II be so worded that there will be nc
doubt of the authority OF the commission
to change any single rate without chang
ing a schedule or classification. This wal
the plan Governor Sheldon mapped out
during the campaign. He argued then thai
the commission, n II desired. could chang,
e the rate on corn from any given point t.
4 Omaha without affecting any other rate. Or
t for that matter. change any given rate
y Those who stand sponsor for the bill claim
: it gives the commission that power now
n but as II Is not clear TO others II II
thought the senate will amend the bill Il
r make II 30 clear there can be no question
Inasmuch as the 2-cent fare bill is now
4 law. the railroads have turned their atten
/, tion to defeating the passage OF the term
: inal taxation bill and a commission bill
which win be effected. They have already
begun 10 suggest 10 the members that the!
y have satisfied the people in the passenge
Z rate bill and therefore there is no neces
sity for the passage OF rate bill or neet
to pay much attention to the commission
bill. Tonight the indications are the re
publicans will receive no help from tn
fusionists in their efforts TO pass a goo,
E commission bill, and neither win they neceiv
help on the terminal taxation bill SOM
OF the members have consulted with Gov
ernor Sheldon about the commission bill
and he is OF the opinion this is the rea
: meat Of the whole business and it mus
e be clear and TO the point in all that it pro
e videA
7 aGA~ -an.-