Omaha daily bee., 1907-02-13
PRIMARY LAW READY
General Provisions Of Bill Blocked Gut
through fubcCmmittea
oUNN OPTION BILL NAY Be REVIVED
Some Senator's Profess to Be Ready to
Vote for Measure
GREATER OMAHA MEASURE REPORTED
Bills Reported Back BY Committee with
No Amendments Proposed.
eLARKt's CHILD LABOR BILL IN SENATE
Supporters of the Proposed Law
Appear Before Committee and
Argue for Passage of
House Hill.

Argue for Passage OF
House BiII.
LINCOLN, Feb l2-(special. 1.-THE state
wide primary law pledged to the people by
the republican. democratic and popuiist
state convention will be introduced in the
legislature the first Of next week. The bill
has been blocked out by the subcommittee
ana may be sent to the joint committee
within few days. and is sure 70 reach the
mouse and senate by Tuesday or Wednesday
IL not before. The bill as prepared in the
rough provides that the general election
officers shall be the officers Of the primary,
the same machinery being used at both
elections. II has been decided that instead
OF electing the precinct and county commit
tees that task will fall to the lot of the
nominees, II having been agreed that under
the latter plan people will be selected for
those important places who win have soma
interest in the election and who will not
leave all Of the work 20 the chairman and
secretary. Both Dodge of Douglas and
Brown of Lancaster. where the COMMITTEES
is selected by vote, agreed that the re-
suits had not been entirely satisfactory and
both were willing TO accept any change
which might tend TO better conditions.
The state committee. in all probability.
will be elected, though some members OF
the committee favor allowing the candi-
dates TO even select this committee but the
question has practically been settled In
favor OF election.
Making of the Platform.
The rough draft OF the bill provides the
platform shall be drawn by the nominees
for the legislature of each party candi-
dates for United States senator and for
state offices. These are to meet in conven-
ton at Lincoln and regularly adopt the
platform the same as convention would
do. II was desired by some members OF
the committee 20 include the county chair
men in this convention. but II has been
agreed this would not bring the platform
any closer TO the people and II was not be-
lieved these men would care 70 spend their
money coming to such a convention. es-
pecially as the legislative candidates are
to be present and It is presumed they can
interpret public sentiment.
The matter Of the form of the ballot
probably viii 60 to the joint committees for
Ieettlement. The subcommittee has taken
sections from, the Dodge ana ollsn bfna
and from bill prepared by r. p, Brown of
Lancaster. which has not been introduced.
Mr. Dodge is preparing bill now for
constitutional amendment to do away with
the annual election and TO provide ex-
clusively for biennial elections A bill pro-
vidIng for biennial elections was passed
two years ago. but was declared pncon-
stitutional by the supreme court Should
this amendment be carried II is expected
TO answer any argument which may be
raised as to the costs of the primary.
Railway CommissIon Eli.
The senate this morning displayed a dis
position to push the railway commission
, bin through as rapidly as possible when It
voted 70 take the bill from the standing
a. 80
/ been referred, and place II directly on gen.
eral file. This will advance II more rapidly
than the regular course, as ordinarily II
would have to be considered by the rail-
road committee. The action was taken on
motion OF Chairman Wilsey OF the rail-
road committee, who said his committee
Z had already considered the OIL at the ses-
sions of the joint committee and was willing
II should go TO the general file without FUR
ther delay in the committee room. The
: bill will be printed at once and may be
: reached on general file the latter part OF
this week or the first OF next.
. RevivinE County option.
A movement to revive the county option
bill. which was killed in the senate last
I Friday, has come 10 light and is being
aided and abetted by some OF the senator's
who voted against the MEASURE last Fri
day. The plan is to have the house amend
the measure providing for election once
every four or Ave years instead of every
two years and providing that the county
election shall govern the entire county
until the next election. AS the bill was
drawn It allowed cities and villages to
I, vote no license even after the county had
4 gone wet. Senators McKesson. Burns and
Wilson. in interviews published today de-
clare they would support a bili amended TO
I'm m ~
\ FridAy It would require two more senators
: TO give the amended bill a majority ana IL
: is possible these could be found
h Just what position the friends OF the
original bill would take in case OF an at
= tempt TO pass the amended bill has not
y been announced. BY some OF those who
e discussed It 1t Is considered that Il would
be a weakening OF the present law in some
:. | counties. at least.
In answer to this attention has been called
to the statement made by both sides when
the bill was before the committee that II
the county option bill passed four-hfths OF
; the counties in the state would go dry.
A large number OF the senators will make
strenuous objections 20 the revampinR Of
the bill after Il has once been disposed OF
and any attempt 70 bring It up again viii
n precipitate as hard fght as the original
II bill met with when It was killed.
n Greater Omaha Bill.
y The senate Judiciary committee this after
e noon voted 10 make a favoTable report on
J. the Thomas bill. providing for the Oonsol-
;. idation OF Omaha and South Omaha ana
e its companion measure providing for .
special election this fall. The bills were
n both recommended without amendment, but
4 II Is considered probable an amendment 70
,s permit the officers OF the two cities 20 serve
x out their terms will be offered when the
le bill comes before the senate.
e sunday Base Ball.
ie Local option 10 Sunday base ball was
a killed in the senate judiciary committee
q this afternoon and in its place a provision
is was offered in the form OF an amendment
le prohibiting the disturbing Of the peace
le by playing base bali on Sunday. As
= amended by the committee the bin does