Omaha daily bee., 1907-01-26
When 1t Comes, Fight on the Floor TO eave
it is Anticipated.
REGENTS MAY HAVE TO OPEN THE DOORS
Bill in House Which Prohibits Secret
Sessions of University Board,
SENATE IN 1MsLE OVER PRINTING
Discovers IL Has No Authority 10 Let
the Contract for the bound
Copies of the Legislative
Journal.
CFrom a stan Correspondentl


brewing in the legislature over the enact
ment OF an anti-obby law and before the
END or the session some lively times are
anticipated over this matter. A few days
ago the Patrick anti-lobby bill was killed
In the senate and several republicans who
voted against 1t did because Il was a
tusion measure. Now comes information
that the house judiciary committee intends
TO report all the anti-lobby bills which IL
has under consideration, for indefinite post
ponement The excuse for this action IA
said to be the members of the judiciary
committee believe no anti-lobby bill will
ever pass this senate. Many of the pledge
Keeping republicans are anxious that some
sort of measure which will prevent men,
bers from being manipulated to vote against
the public interests be passed and the senti-
ment is so strong among them that a big
| hight is sure to come of when the Judi
ciary committee makes it's unfavorable re-
port to the house. Some fusionists are also
In favor of some such measure and unless
| the committee gives the most convincing
reasons why such bill should not be en-
acted the house may override it's recon.
mendatons.
The growing public sentiment that ell
public business should be transacted under
the eyes Of the public found expression
/ today in a bill introduced by McMullen of
Gage county, providing that the University
Board of Regents should hold open meet
ings and keep n record OF the business
done though It is provided when the regents
| think It to the best interests of the uni
versity they may hold executive sessions.
The persistent refusals of the Board OF
Regents to grant the public demands that
the business of the university should not
be clouded in secrecy has caused consider
able adverse talk regarding the manager
ment
All other boards Open.
Until the last two years practically all
the state boards held their meetings behind
| closed doors. and what the public knew
of the acts of their officials was what the
officials wanted to make known. At this
time all the state boards, including the
State Normal board. hold open meetings
and the public is not barred from any OF
them.
AS a defense for their action the regents
have set up that they have to discuss the
regulations and characters of the teachers
and such things should not be talked of
before the public. McMullen is chairman
OF the committee on university and normal
schools and a graduate of the university,
but the outcome of his BILL of course, is
problematical.
Some legislators arc coming to the opin-
ion t he university 1-mill levy should be
abolished and direct appropriation made
for It's maintenance. Al this time bill is
pending providing that the government
funds given to the university and all other
funds except the levy shall be paid out by
the state treasurer on warrants issued
by the auditor upon certificates filed by
the Board of Regents. OF course this in
cludes the cash fund.- which during the last
biennium amounted to almost $4,000. IL
has been pointed out that should this bill
pass 1t will not be necessary for succeed
ing legislatures to appropriate this money
as has been the custom In the past, and
therefore in asking the legislature for ap-
preparations the regents need not take this
money into consideration. AS the law
stands the supreme court has ruled that
It is not necessary for the government
funds to be appropriated. but II has said
nothing about the cash fund. The idea
is spreading that the university affairs
should be thoroughly explained by the
Board of Regents before any action is
taken on bills affecting the institution.
Railroad Bill Tuesday.
The subcommittee appointed 10 draft
the main bill for railroad regulation. ex-
poets to have the copy ready for the
stenographer by Tuesday. One feature OF
the bill, which has caused the committee
considerable study, is providing for the
selection OF a secretary to the state rail-
way commission. II is the general opinion
that this oficer will be the eyes and prac-
tically the mind of the commission. and for
that reason the committee is desirous that
the commission will be so hedged around
that a competent man will be selected for
the place and not some politician out of a
Job.
Cone Of Saunders came very near start
ing something in the house this morning
when he inquired OF the speaker whether
II would be proper for him to make a mo-
ton TO have certain bills now in the hands
OF committee reported for the general file
without waiting for action by the commit
tees. Under the rules of the house COM
mittees have fifteen days IN which TO re-
port on bills, and Cone was so Informed
The gentleman from Saunders had Il in
mind 10 call for all the railroad bills In
the hands of the railroad committee re-
ported to the house In order to embarrass
the Joint railroad committee, which Is get
ting up measures to cover this particular
pledge in the republican state platform.
However he committed no overt act In
that direction. and the showdown between
Mr.. Cone and the republican members who
want TO carry out the republican platform
is delayed
The anti-sporting element probably will
be all torn up over the bill introduced in
the house allowing base ball TO be played
on Sunday n the city council or the county
commissioners give permission. In any town
or county I'm the state. Back of the bill
are lined up the base ball fans of Lincoln
and some OF the smaller towns OF the state
where the Lincoln ministers. or at least
one OF them. has dipped in and caused
trouble. The bill was introduced by Nc
Mullen OF Gage following a meeting OF fans
at the Lindell hotel last night. at which
the measure was endorsed.
Thursday afternoon the county option
bill will be up before the judiciary com
mittee Of the house and ali who want 70
discuss the measure are invited 70 be on
hand.