Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-03-10
OBJECTIONS TO THEM AS THEY STAND
S'nsts Likely to Send Primary Bill Back
to the HSuse.
CUT IN APPROPRIATIONS MUST Be MADE
HeveHuc of the state VIII Not Pro-
VIDE for the Various Bills of
that Character on the
Calendar.
From a star corre.nondentA

I
ana not one of the platform pledge hi1.
! "uVe YET reached the governor though all
nave made some progress in that direction
lhere is every indication. therefore. tbst
the remaining portion will he tho busiest
part OF the session. There Is no do,ht
Sovernor Sheldon Is very much nut out
win the dilatory way things have been
running and 10 save the reputation of the
party ne may have to take stand IN
lesis'a'IVe aHairs and insist that better
work be done. During the last week onlv
one Dill reached the Office Of the executive.
Much Dissatisfaction with BiIIs.
AS matters stand now a good many %
the mouse members are not wholly satisfied
with the primary election bill as rccom-
nehded for passage, because Il nrovide.
lot an open primary, and so far mons ~
.he senators has expressed approval OF IL,
| some OF the senator's are not satisfied wifn
the King anti-pass bill which the sonata
mas recommended for passage and a lot
more are not satisfied with the anti.pasa
| Dill passed by the house, so as a general
proposition there Is a whole lot of dis
satisfaction about whole lot OF things.
Ihere Is not the least doubt that the
senate VIII reject or modify the open pri-
mary because 1t is said to absolutely ruin
the law, and then will come some tan side
republicans of course to accept the senate
bill and then the fuslonists will charge
they have been double crossed, and II those
| republican members who have been set
| uoWn on take II into their heads to get
| stubborn and refuse to take the senate
amendments a lot of trouble will result.
| or course by the speeches made by McMul-
len and others 1t looks as though they are
ior statewide primary which does not
carry the amendments adopted by tho
mousse and to be consistent they will
! naturally vote for the bill the senate sends
over. Then IL the fusionists insist on the
other republicans keeping their agreement
to stand by the open primary there will be
more trouble. The Indications are, how
ever. that If the senate sends back closed
1 primary, where each person voting must
say what party he belongs TO and votes
that party ticket the house will accept tho
bill, agreement with fusionlsts or no agree
| ment.
Some Of those who made the agreement
with the fusonists claim they had counted
noses and found the bill could not got
through the house without a tieup with
| the fusionists On the other hand, somo
| OF the republicans whom 1t was feared
would violate the platform pledges claim
they would have stood for the statewide
bnl no matter what their personal opinion
| IS on the matter. The leaders OF the tieup,
they say did not consult with them about
| whether they would support the statewide
| primary bill and the first they knew of
| any tieup being made with the fusionists
was when the bill came up for discussion.
Cut in Appropriation Bill Needed.
Unless the legislature cuts down the ap-
| propriations and cuts deep Nebraska is
going to find itself mortgaged worse than
I haa
are away and beyond the dreams of any
conservative business man. The salary bill
alone carries a total appropriation OF $685.
| 500 against S77S,720 two years ago, while
the current expense bill carries a total OF
! 81, 900,260. Two years ago there was ap-
propriated H,9l0,947 showing little de-
! crease this year. The total of the salary
| bill and the current expense bill is 81. 7ss,-
760 for the bennium. On 5-min levy,
based on grand assessment OF $22l 600 900
for 1907 and $S29,0O0.O00 for 1908. which 10
the way the university regents figure Il,
the total revenue to be paid the state for
the biennium will be SS.250.OOO. This will
leave for the deficiency claims bin, for the
claims bill and for all permanent improve-
ments and special appropriations S45s. s40
| There is serious talk of cutting out the
| appropriation of $4,000 for the addition to
! the Kearney Normal school and let that
institution worry along for two years more
! at least with the same capacity 1t now
has, and the same sentiment prevails re-
| garding the enormous amount OF money
/ the university wants from the general fund.
| II is believed under business management
the university can well get along with what
money will be raised under the / mill levy
and there seems to be an impression that
1t is not necessary to give the university
] / cent out of the general fund. Hon. Peter
! Mortensen, who probably knows better
than any other Nebraskan the condition
| Of Nebraska finances. said the university
could get along well without taking a cent
out OF the general fund and he said also
II would not be necessary for the Kearney
school to build a 10000 addition. He was
a member OF the State Normal board and
he handled the university money so is in a
position to know.
Some Explanations Wanted.
State Superintendent McBrien wants a
$4,000 appropriation. when two years ago he
only wanted $1,000. His excuse for the large
sum two years ago was to put into oper-
alton the new certihcation law, which has
required increase OF his office force and
the expenditure OF large sums for special
letters and circulars which he has sent out
Some of the legislators will have TO be
shown before McBrien gets the Increase.
Why the allowance for the attor- ley general
I'm special prosecutions should be Increased
from $4,000 10 $4,000 will also have TO be
explained. Some OF the members believe
| II the attorney general needs another as
sistant II would be better TO hire one than
TO get lawyers for fabulous fees to work
! up ever special case that comes along In
cidentally this special fund was formerly
spent under the direction Of the governor.
but Attorney General Prout manipulated Il
so the legislature allowed II 20 be spent
under the direction OF the legal depart
ment. This may be changed back. There
viii be quite an objection raised 10 paying
the railroad commissioners 5000 a year
each when the supreme judges and the gov
ernor get only $500. especially when a
| high salaEied seoretArY ia TO be arnnlnu.d