Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-02-09
LONG, HEATED DEBATE OCCURS
Opposition Brands the Measure as
Unfair to Lincoln
CITY OUT OF SECOND FIGHT
Other Towns Will Then Have Field
to Themselves.
FREAK AMENDMENTS ARE LOST
Prince Declares whole Proposition is
Question oC Allowing People Go
Decide for themselves rs
to New site.
cFrcm q SD corresrondenll

tFrom q staff CorrespondentO
LINCOLN. Neb. Feb. S-tSpecial) )-Capi-
tai removal was approved by the house
this afternoon after a long and heated dis
cusslon IN which Lancaster county was
arrayed against the western part OF the
state The vote against the decision OF the
committee Of the whole to indefinitely post
pone the bill was a 90 i5. Douglas county
voted for the bill.
Prince of Hall county. ayowedly fight
ing for Grand Island for the grand plum.
led the debate for the bill, lie was forced
to respond to dozens OF questions that were
hurled at him from every direction. Nc
Kelvie and Mockett OF Lancaster, and
Smith OF Boone, all spoke against the bill
and Il was branded by the opposition as
unfair to Lincoln. Mockett also declared
that most Of the agitation for II was the
result OF brewery influence and that II was
brewery measure gotten up to punish
Lincoln for excise structures.
Lincoln Has One Chance.
The accusation Of uufairness came from
the fact that the bill provides that the
capital removal must first he voted on
as question Of removing II from its pres
ent position west OF the ninety-seventh me-
ridian. This made the first fight between
| Lincoln and the whole field. After that
lis settled the towns west of the meridian
can fight it out between themselves and
Lincoln has no chance TO compete, Prince
Of Hall answered that the friends OF Lin
coin can simply vote against removal and
that IL the principle Of removal should
carry Lincoln has then no right TO expect
another chance at Il and be considered
along with the rest of the candidates.
When the bill was first brought up I'm
the committee Of the whole an effort was
made by the Lancaster delegation. aided
by Filley OF Gage. Candy OF Custer and a
few others. TO inject into the bill amend
Inents that would change the character
of II or make II too absurd to pass. Candy
wanted IL put in the geographical center
Of the state. which would be within a few
miles OF Broken Bow, Filley offered an
amendment which would throw open AL
the territory west Of the ninety-seveRth
meridian and north Of the forty-flrss parr
ael which would cut out Lancaster and
the southeast portion of the state, but
allow Omaha and the northeast TO COM
pete This was defeated by acclamation.
People 10 Decide.
Prince, in a long speech. declared that
the whole proposition was simply ques-
ton of allowing the people to decide for
themselves whether or not they want
new site for the capital In reply to a
statement by McKelve OF Lancaster that
the Initiative and referendum would do
this just as welL he replied that that
measure, even II It passes, can not be et-
fectiye until two years from last fall and
that the question is urgent.
Mockett OF Lancaster made threat of
opposing the bill in the courts. His asser-
tions that brewery interests were back of
the bill brought a suggestion OF Kisses from
thethe north side of the house but he per-
! severed and declared that Lincoln people
decide things for themselves and will con-
tinue to regulate their own affairs in ac-
: cord with their consciences no matter what
is done against them. lie said the bill
was unconstitutional because the constitu-
h ton places the seat Of government and a
a constitutional amendment Will be necessary
- before It can be removed
a Aside from the efforts made by the dele
a cation Lancaster county has taken very
n small trouble TO keep the capital in ia
e present location. No delegation waited
upon the committee either OF legislators OF
e citizens, and no pressure OF any kind ha,
e been brought 20 kill the bill, When Prime,
r OF Hall called his statement that breweries
O were back Of II an insult he refused to bs
a put in the position OF lmpugning any mem
Y bers motives. but declared that the evi
=. dences OF 1t we're everywhere.
l. Minor Bills Pissed.
e The senate this afternoon passed a mum
! ber of minor bills and put BartlinEs bil
against gift enterprises on general file
% The senators decided TO accept the invita-
ton OF the Omaha Elks TO attend the ceie
bratlon OF their twenty fifth anniversarJ
Is at Omaha February 10, and appointed Tan
Il ner, Tibbets and Morehesd to make ar
II rangements.
" Both houses will adjourn tomorrow morn
,s ing to attend the funeral Of Bishop Bona
F. cum.
lie A number Of mo" votes were explains,
k by the belief that the bill Is unfair. Bas
E sett said,
is Speaking for Buffalo county. which
lt have the honor 10 represent, there is L
my knowledge no pronounced Iegitlmat
In public sentiment I'm favor OF relocating tn
~ state capital. Outside the county seat o
Buffalo county. voter OF the county ha
- directly or indirectly requested me to vot
for this measure. The Commercial club q
Kearney and comparatively few citizen
OF the city OF Kearney have wired OF writ
ten requesting me TO vote for this bill
I'm my opinion the bin IL unfair IN Il
7 provisions and does not permit the peopl
I Of the state 10 vote fairly and squarel
upon the question Of relocation. Agains
my best judgment. but in Difference to IN
expressed wishes OF those OF my constit
% uents who have expressed their wishes
ns this matter, on this motion TO indeflnitel
- postpone, ! vote no"
o. o. MONEI FOR GUARANTY Law