Omaha daily bee., 1915-03-12
GREATER OMAHA
BILL HAS CLEAR
way AHEAD NOW
House in Committee Of the Whole
Recommends the Bill for Pass
age After an Exciting
Debate.
SEVERAL TEST VOTES TAKEN
Amendments for Submission to Vote
and to Kill Are Voted Down
After Argument.
FINAL ROLL CALL IS DECISION

ttTOm otdlI correspondent
LINCOLN, eNb., March 11.--(Spe-
cial Telegram. 1T will be Greater
Omaha very soon, If the house ac-
cepts the recommendations of its
committee of the whole, made today,
and passes senate file No. 2, the
Howell measure, which provides for
the consolidation of South Omaha,
Eenson, Dundee and Florence with
The city Of Imaha.
The bill went through the commit
tee of the whole only after a hard
battle and stubborn resistance
made by its opponents. Amendment
after amendment was offered for the
purpose of submitting the consolida-
tion proposition at a special election,
but they were of little avail. the
friends of the measure. under the
leadership of Henry Richmond, ably
assisted by Miner, Chambers, How
ard, Larsen and others of the Doug
las county delegation, holding their
forces we'll in hand and refusing to
bulge all inch.
Hunter Away for One Vote,
Hunter strayed from the reservation
long enough to get behind an amendment
offered by Broome, giving the people OF
ali the territory affected, including
Omaha itself, a chance to vote upon the
proposition, but when that went down
with only five votes to supporti, he got
back in line again and voted for the bill
oil all other propositions.
Barrett stood out against the bill to the
end and, though beaten at every point
took his defeat good-neturedIy.
The house went into committee of the
whole Immediately after called to order
by the speaker. this afternoon, and on
motion of Richmond, Cronin went to the
chair. The first amendment offered was
by scott of Hamilton. calling for spe-
cial election to be participated in by
the people of the territory to be annexed
bu Scott withdrew 1t for an amendment
covering the same proposition, offered by
Barrett, calling the election two weeks
after the passage Of the bill
Broome's Amehdment KILLED.
Then Broome got in an ameddment
Calling for the election to be participated
in by all the people 20 be held at the
next regular election. This was defeated
by vote of 80 to 5. The Barrett amend
ment came in for general discussion,
the proposition of force being the point
at issue.
Barrett Speaks Against Bill.
Barrett was the main speaker ia sup
port of his amendment. though Green
walt got in one of his Characteristic
speeches, which brought down the house.
Peterson of Lancaster made the prin-
cipal address in support of the bill,
though about a dozen others Joined with
him.
The addresses appeared 10 be along
the same lines, the speakers believed that
it was only a question of time, when the
consolidation would come to pass and
that the quicker it was settled the bet
ter. The Barrett amendment was de-
feated, "a to 62.
Conley of Gage urged the indefinite
postponement of the BILL and the
roll call showed the bill in danger of
defeat down to the last six, but these
voted solidly for the bill and against
indefinite postponement, . and then the
changes began to be made. which finally
landed the measure high and dry with
twelve votes to spare, the vote stand
ing, 4s nays to So ayes, ON the indefinite
postponement Of the measure.
The only amendment which materially
affects the bill is one dealing with. the
saloon licenses of the smaller towns for
CONTINUED on Page Two. Column Three.)