Omaha daily bee., 1907-04-01
SIDE LIGHTS ON THE LEGISLATURE

pledge ana come nome with clear con-
science.
Tobias Express: Last Saturday morn
ing's Bee announced that Culdice Of Saline
was among the republicans that voted
against terminal tsxation. Wonder n he
calls that doing all IN my power to help
regulate the railroads." as he expressed
himself in the convention last July. or
does he suppose the men who nominated
him and the men who voted for him have
forgotten his words?
Lexington Pioneer: The railroad cappers
IN Dawson county who worked 80 hard last
fail and accomplished the defeat Of the
republican nominee for the legislature, NJ
w. Gregory, don't appear to have gained
much by their labor. Mr.. worthing ap-
pears TO be lined up squarely against the
railroads and so far has cast his vote in
the interest of measures that are for the
benefit Of the people.
Springfield Monitor: II is to be regretted
that Representative whitney Of sarpy was
unable, through sickness, to be present to
record his name against the railroads in
the vote on the terminal taxation bill
His heart was with the measure, though
and had his vote been necessary TO carry
the bill "Old Whit" would have been there
even II he had to be carried on a stretcher.
He is built that way.
Grand Island Independent: No little
credit should be given to those Of the
fusionists who seeing meritorious legisla-
ton undertaken by the republicans of the
legislature, have been broad enough to drop
party advantage and join the republicans
for the benefit of the people OF the state
and have voted with the republicans
Among these are Quackenbush of Nemaha,
Mr.. Fries Of Howard and several others.
Grand Island independent: Il Is to be
doubted IL there are two other members
of the Legislature who stood up under as
fierce fire during the last two weeks, and
who yet refused to yield an inch. as did
Representatives A. l.. Scudder and f. o.
White of Hall county. When their fellow
citizens placed them in nomination they did
so in the belief that these two men would
carry out the platform Of the party. The
Messrs. Scudder and White upon their
nomination, promised they would. They
have done so.
Loup City Northwestern; The legisla-
ture is making good this week by passing
the terminal tax measure, the statewide
primary and the anti-pass laws, three Of
the principal things asked for by the re-
publican state convention. While Brother
Brown slipped from the path of reotitude
on the terminal he partially redeemed
himself on the other two measures by CIV
ing them his vote, and we are prepared to
forgive him for his sidestep, especially as
the terminal question won out in spite of
all.
Bloomfield Monitor: The Monitor is not
little surprised at the vote Of State Rep
resentatfVe George w. Saunders on the
10
passed by the legislature. 1t Is even more
surprised, that in voting the way he did,
he chose to repudlate the republican state
platform, on the strength OF which he was
so easily elected to the position of honor
he occupies. While Mr.. Saunders never
signed the pledge to personally sustain the
state convention platform, he was never
theless in honor bound to assist in the
redemption Of it's each and every pledge.
His vote on this bill is taken to mean not
alone a clean cut reputation OF those
pledges. but positive betrayal Of the conf
dence imposed in him by the republicans
Of his district.
Crete Vidette Herald: Last week we gave
our full representation credit for having
faithfully stood by the several planks of
the republican platform and by the plighted
pledges made to the people last fall. But
before the ink was dry word reached us
that Representative Culdice had slipped
a cog" He went over TO the McMullen-
KiIlen-H amer-W Wilson crowd, voted against
the terminal taxation bill, and received
the applause Of the railroad lobby. The
sound that will greet their ears from their
constituents will be Of a different variety.
Sixteen republicans locked with twenty
four fusionists and made the sum total of
forty, but fifty-one stalwart republicans
and FIVE fusionists voted for the bill. The
twenty-four fusionists are partly excusable.
were not pledged by their platform, and had
the bill been defeated they would have
charged its defeat to the wicked repub-
lcans, who violated their party pledges.
Columbus Telegram: At last Omaha has
won its stout fight for terminal taxation
of railroad property for city purposes, and
the railroads will now be compelled to pay
share Of taxes for the support of the
city government. 1t is still contended by
some politicians that this new terminal tax
law will rob the country districts Of the
state in order 10 help Omaha. The Tele-
gram regards the principle Of terminal taxa
ton as Just right, and It will work right
not only In Omaha, but in Columbus and
every other town where the railroads own
property other than rails and ties and the
ground on which the tracks are laid Many
owners of homes in Omaha have been com
PEELED to pay as much city tax on the home
as the great railroad companies have paid
on their 100000 depots. Many home own
ers In Columbus are now paying as much
city tax on the home the Union Pacific
is paying on all its buildings in this city.
The terminal tax law means that the rail
roads must pay city taxes on all such
property. The principle OF the new law
must be right. It cannot be wrong TO say
by law that a great corporation must pay
city taxes In proportion as the small home
owner pays such taxes.
Friend Telegraph' When the present Ne
braska legislature adjourns they will have
pretty thoroughly redeemed the promises
made the people prior 10 their election !
About the only one there will be to regret
their action during the present session will |
be the ward heller the corporate pass
distributor and the corner road politicians !
whose only occupation has been to run |
caucuses and conventions. The people have !
no inclination TO injure the corporations |
doing business IN this state by adverse !
legislation. The refusal 10 pay their pro- |
portion OF the taxation by two Of the great |
corporations doing business in this state |
has been the straw which has broken the |