Omaha daily bee., 1907-03-18
TLis Bill will Probably Rs Passed Over u
Senate to Gut Down to Fit
CHEF INTEREST IN TERMINAL Bill
Railroad Lobby Actively Continues Itl
Campaign of Misrepresentation.
BILL TO ABOLISH COUNTY ASSESSORS
Measure Recommended for Passage
by the House Last Week with
Little Discussion or COH-
sideratton.
CFrom a star CorrespondentD

(From a Stan Correspondentl
LINCOLN, March 17.-(Special.)-Whils
the terminal tax bill overshadows every
thing on the legislative program at this
time and while the members who arc here
and the hangerson are talking OF nothing
else, many other important matters will be
settled the coming week. In fact only one
Of the republican platform pledges has
reached the governor, the employers ha-
blity bill, which he signed recently That
leaves for settlement this week all OF the
other pledges made to the people, besides
the big appropriation bill, and because OF
the other important matters It looks as
though the house will run through the ap-
propriation bill and leave the senate and
the governor to cut II down to it the cloth.
An important action taken by the house
last week with little discussion or apparent
thought of the consequences, was the rec
ommendation in the committee of the whole
that the bill abolshing county assessors be
passed. Such a bill as this has had to be
killed ever session since 1908, when the rev.
enue law was enacted. The fusionists have
sponsored such a measure, and this year in
duced enough republicans TO vote with them
to get II recommended. che campaign Of
1896 was fought out on this issue more than
any other, and the republicans won.
Whether the bill will secure enough votes
to pass the senate is another question.
Railroad Lobby stnI at Work.
In the matter Of the terminal tax bill the
railroad lobby is working overtime, and
yesterday the railroad-controlled Lincoln
Star came out in column and half
railroad prepared article knocking on the
bill and urging the Legislators to repudiate
their pledges The article was prepared by
| the railroad lobby and inasmuch II at
tempts to show just how much each town
will lose, 1t Is taken to be too silly by the
! friends of the bill to even demand an an
swer How It figures that these towns will
lose any money is not explained, and
neither does the railroad man who wrote II
attempt to show what the local assessors
will do when they assess the local railroad
property.
The terminal tax bill will be in the lime
light until 1t is passed because 1t is the
one measure the railroads are determined
to kill. and inasmuch as It is a part of the
republican state platform, those members
who think anything of a pledge are going
to see that it passes Consequently the
fight is furious one. Friends of the bill
believe when the members who have gone
home return they will be in still better
mood to keep their pledge, because their
| constituents wil doubtless tell them that q
pledge is really meant to be kept Tho
weekend trips home have in the past
been a good thing for the people, because
they show the legislators just how closely
every vote is being watched The fact that
with one or two exceptions those who are
fighting the bill live in towns where the
railroad tax is only a nominal sum has
given rise to the belief that the reason
OF their antagonism is because OF their al
legiance to the railroads rather than to
their desire to serve their constituents.
FusIOnist Lenders in bad Light.
| The attitude of the leaders of the fusion-
lists on the terminal tax bill has put them
in bad light, because Richard L. Metcalfs
is heartily in favor of the bill, while Tom
Allen, the democratic chairman. who is
working against 1t, had notorious connec-
tion with the railroads during the late
campaign and is looked upon as their
henchman. II fusion leaders go back on
Metcalfe and W. J. Bryan, they viii have to
do 1t to help the democratic chairman settle
up campaign promises made to the rail-
roads Tom Allen, however, will not be
able 10 control the entire bunch Of fu-
sionists, and some OF them at least will
be for the bill. George l.. Loomis. who led
the fight for terminal tax for the fuslonists
in 1903, was here the other night and It is
understood he urged the minority to keep
in line for the bill.
Fight on Third House.
The fight against the third house. other
wise known as the lobby, will come TO a
head this week, partly a result Of the
governors special message last week and
partly as a reaction against the pernieious
activity of the special interests the last
week or two In trying 10 prevent certain
legislation. Joe Burns and others who
oppose any attempt to curb the activities
of these agents Of the corporations do so
on the ground that every man should have
a right to come to Lincoln and discuss
bills of special Importance to him with
the members OF the legislature from his dis
trict. Those back OF the Jenison anti
lobby bill declare this Is no argument
. against the measure. They say It is not
, designed TO keep any person from lobby
, ing" for or against a bill in which he Is
, personally Interested, but Is intended 20
strike at hired agents, who have no per-
sonal interest IN legislation, but who are
, paid a lump sum or a salary for securing
! the passage of certain measures or having
them killed.
I It is this class, It is pointed out, that is
the menace to legislation. They are re-
sponsible usually to a corporation and II
Is necessary for them to make good to holS
their Jobs. In order to accomplish wha.
they come TO Lincoln to do, many OF them
will resort to methods that reputable men
would not follow II the Jenson bill
p passes the business men themselves, whose
] interests are at stake. would have to do
5 the lobbying" This fact. II is asserted
I would improve conditions. because business
4 men Of standing would hesitate 70 DO
things that the professional lobbyists will
i sometimes stoop TO in order TO gain their
b end II would also prevent the railroads
J from importing prominent" citizens from
various localities 10 work on their leglsla-
tors IN the guise OF disinterested business
. men, when. in fact. they are IN the employ
5 OF the railroads and are really trying "a
9 defeat the will Of the people.
: Conspicuous examples OF the action Of the
l. gv,