Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-03-25

school Ex-State Treasurer Mortensen, who
was a member Of the normal board for the
last four years. said $4,000 would be suf-
dcient 20 erect a wing to this building and
$4,000 should be the limit Superintendent
Thomas OF this school and c. II. Gregg.
member Of the normal board, lobbied this
bill through the house, hut il stnl has to
20 through the senate and then through the
hands OF the governor before the appro-
priation is available. II is likely that in
asking for such an enormous amount the
pair has overshot the mark and the result
will be nothing at all The $4,000 appru-
priation for the Peru Normal school for
heating plant is likely 10 get bumped the
same way. Mr. Mortensen said this is not
necessary, but that II the state buys a
new boiler that will be sufficient for the
next two years at least,
Cut on New Buildings.
Probably II Is true that the Various state
institutions need all that has been asked
for maintenance, so the cuts must come in
the appropriations for permanent improve
ments. The officers fiat at the Soldiers home
at Milford is not a necessity and probably
this appropriation will be Topped of, as
will the appropriations for new buildings
at the Soldiers home at Grand Island and
at the Kearney Industrial school. The
Norfolk asylum is TO get, according to the
house recommendations, S9S, 600 for new
buildings. The house did get busy over
this appropriation and cut II down s. 900
and how II happened has not been figured
out. Inasmuch as the appropriations can
under no consideration exceed So 100000 or
theresbouts unless those demanding and
asking appropriations get reasonable there
will be some tall disappointments when the
smoke clears away.
A bill in the house which is receiving
considerable attention just now is the sem
ate measure providing for the appointment
Of a state accountant. Many of the mem
bers are In favor Of It. but # Is provided
IN the bill that the state auditor shall APP
point the accountant, with the approval Of
the governor. This is where the objections
come. Members OF the house want the
governor TO do the appointing The state
accountant will have TO check up the state
auditor as well as the various state in
stitutions and many members can see no
reason why the auditor should have a hand
In the appointment of the man who checks
him up At this time the only check on
the auditor is the secretary Of state who
has TO sign the vouchers In the last two
years when the secretary Of state refused
10 sign the vouchers because OF an alb
sence OF receipts, the auditor has issued
bis warrants Just the same. The house
probably will not stand for the auditor APP
pointing the state accountant The state
auditor during the last two years has is
sued warrants when there were no re-
ceipts accompanying the vouchers Should
Governor Sheldon appoint a state account
ant this practice WIN eontnpe during the
next two years and for every warrant is
sued there viii be receipts showing that the
money had actually been expended. These
cases, of course were where state officers
and others had spent money for expenses
while serving the state. or while pretending
TO serve the state
Talk of Adjournment.
II any kind Of constipation is given to
important bills now pending other than
platform measures It win be impossible
for the legislature to adjourn next satur-
day night as many Of the members an
ticipate II will take four days at least
for the consideration of the appropriation
bill in the senate. II has to be read on
three different days, which viii take It up
10 Wednesday and then one day for the
conference committee 20 get together and
report back its findings. 1t will take uu-
der the most favorable circumstances
until Thursday night for this bill to get
through the senate. Then, besides these
appropriation bills there are several hun
dred very important bills up. which have
not yet been read a first time. in both
houses, as the house has been passing housa
bills this week and the senate has been
passing senate files all week. In all only
nifty bills have reached the governor II
is beginning TO look now as though this
legislature cannot adjourn and do justice
to the measure pending until about week
from Wednesday or Whereabouts The
tusionists, OF course, may try TO force an
adjournment earlier; for 81 is TO their politi.
cal interests 20 do this but the fusionists
cannot do IL n the republicans desire ia
make good record.