Omaha daily bee., 1908-12-23

a charge fixed regardless of distance and
In this case would be discriminatory and
should not be ordered by the commission.
1t suggests a commodity rate between the
two places and offers to help the commits
sion arrive at a just settlement of the case.
Contest for Legislative Seat.
A legislative contest from the Fifty-third
representative district has been filed with
the secretary of state. though not through
the usual channels. This afternoon he re-
ceived from the county Judge of Sioux
county-A. l.. Schnurr-the papers in a con-
test which had been filed with him by Fred
w. Johansen, democrat against Charles H.
Chase, republican, With the papers came
a bill from the judge for $3.50. He wrote
that he dismissed the contest because of a
lack of Jurisdiction, holding that 1t was up
to the legislature to pass on such questions.
And besides Johansen failed to appear on
the day of the hearing.
Hearing on Freight classification,
The Railway commission has set January
Ii for the hearing of protests against the
adoption of the western classification
freight rates No. 40. Several protests have
been made against this classification be-
cause it increases rates on certain COM
modities. '-a' E"
Asks New Telephone Rate. .o
The Nebraska Telephone company has
asked permission of the State Railway COM
mission to reduce it's rates on residence
telephones at Norfolk to compete with the
Independent company. The company asks
to make a reduction from SIS to $l2 a year
on four-party line phones. AS the indie
pendent company has a charge on file of
A.50 a month for these telephones the COM
mission has asked for more information
before taking action.
Petition to Change Rail Rates.
The Burlington has applied for permission
from the Railway commission to cut out
certain rates which 1t Inherited from the
Great Northern. Owing to the Aldrich law
these rates cannot be changed without a
hearing, so the commission set January 10
In the afternoon for the case to come up.
Judges Ask Higher Salary.
Judge John B, Barnes and Judge M. B.
Reese have filed their vouchers for the
fourth quarter with the state auditor, for
salaries. Each asks for $7s1.66. This is at
the rate of 81. $500 a year for October and
November and $4,000 a year for the
month of December. The district Judges
who have filed their salary vouchers for
the quarter, based their claims on a
salary of $4,000 D year. However, some
OF them attached a voucher for December.
because of the adoption OF the constitu-
tiponal amendment relating to the judici-
airy is $12, $685. 70.
Auditor Searle has not yet decided he
will issue the warrants. The quarter for
all constitutional Officers closes on Jam
uary z, SO the warrants are in fact not
due until that time, so mandamus could
not lie against the auditor previous to
that date. which is the time Auditor
Searle quits business. Mr.. Searle may
hold up the vouchers until that time and
permit Auditor-elect Barton to pass upon
the question whether the warrants should
be drawn before the legislature makes
a specific appropriation for the money.
Hamer Wants Another Hearing,
Judge Inner. attorney for w. T. Turley,
whose application for clemency was
turned down by Acting Governor Hope.
well. Monday, has filed an application for
another hearing. The new hearing has
been set for January 2s, Governor Shell
don will be out OF office before the ne
cessary publication could be made of the
application. Turley Is serving a teven-
teen-year sentence for murder,
Commission Goes to Columbus.
The State Railway commission went Il
Columbus tonight to take evidence in &
telephone case involving the connection
Of two systems. While there the commits
ion will investigate the Columbus depoi
whic hthe Commercial club says the
Union Pacific promised to replace with
a new one during 1908. Health Commits,
sioner Wilson went along to see Whethel