Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1916-11-20
STIRRING TIME AT
LINCOLN EXPECTED
Changes in Primary and Elec-
ton Laws Likely 10 Be
Considered.
OTHER QUESTIONS ARISING
From a s.an corresponaentl

Lincoln, NED, NOV. l''-Nopes'"''J
Prospects are pretty good that the
next session of the legislature will
be one OF the most interesting for
wears il rumors going about indicate
anything. ...
Changes in the present primary law
and also in the election law will be
something which will engross the at
tention OF the members. That the
primary law needs revision so that at
least a majority vote Of any party
will be necessary to nominate the
party nominees, is the prevailing
opinion. 1t is understood, however,
that one member has already pre-
pared bill, which will be introduced
which will abolish the statewide
primary, keeping the county primary
about as it is and providing that at
the county primary which nominates
candidates for county Offices that
delegates to state and congressional
conventions shall be selected directly
by the voters.
Favored by Many.
That there should be some method
devised to get quicker return on
election results is also being discussed
and the double election board appears
to meet with favor by many. This
in the minds OF those favoring It
would do away with much of the de-
laws in results and would not be any
more expensive, with the possible ex-
ception that it would require dou-
Bile set OF ballot boxes.
The idea OF those who favor the
double election board is that It takes
lust about so long to count the ballots
anyway and il a second board was
put on about 10 o'clock In the morn
ing to take charge OF the balloting,
the first board could take charge Of
their ballot boxes and count what
, ballots had been cast. These boards
could change about from time to time
with the result that when the polls
closed. there would be but few bal
lots to count and the result known in
an hour or two after the polls closed
They would suggest that heavy pen.
atty be assessed against election Of
ficers giving out the result OF any
count before the total result was
given out OF the days balloting at the
c!ase OF the count. This system Il
uscd in many states and Is said to give
good satisfaction.
Would Promote Accuracy.
Friends Of the plan insist that thu
double election board would assisl
materially in getting more correct
count as with one board, as at thu
present time, workers are pretty wei
tired out when the polls close, having
put in twelve hours Of hard work witt
responsibility that is firing, and ther
to have to keep on with count i
likely to result in probable error
which would not be made were th'
count to be made by men with plent.
OF time to do II.
Question Of Capitol Wing.
Another important proposition |
the state house controversy, involving
repaires Of the present dilapidate'
east wing, or the building Of an en-
tirely new state house. That the cas-
wing is in bad shape, most anybod,
acquainted with the facts knows, bu
whether there is immediate danger,
only conjecture.
Representative Henry c. Richmon,
Of Omaha, who was in Lincoln las
week, proposed that the lower brancl
OF the legislature hold its sessions ]
the city auditorium. II there was an
immediate danger, this might b
necessary, but rs the old building
not likely to settle any more, Will
the ground. Is frozen, the inconver
fence Of holding one branch Of III
legislature in the state house, Will
the other is several blocks ava,
would be so announcement that
would in the minds OF some, be In
practicable in the face Of the fact thu
there Is so much intefrningling Z
members from both branches and {
the committees from both branche
that the session would be greatly prt
longed. II would be much better, al
cording to some, to hold both Sc,
sions downtown, rather than to spl
them up.
Unsafe For Amy, So For All.
Then again attention is called |
the proposition that II the buildin
is unsafe for the house to hold i
sessions, how about the different d,
partments OF state, which are alread
occupying the east wing. There
the state superintendent Office, II
board of control and several 9th,
minor departments. II the building
unsafe for the legislature it is ais
equally unsafe for the people VIII
work in the wing and provision shoul
be made for their safety, as well ;
for the members of the legislator
whose lives are no more precious pc
llaps than those regularly employs
by the state.
According to these men, il thel
is going to be any moving at all, tina
both branches Of the legislatu
should move out and the sena
chamber in the west wing be fit,
UP for the occupancy Of those depar
ments now holding in the damag,
wing. In that way work could b
gun at once in tearing down the o
wing, as soon as the weather pc
mits and the erection OF new wiz
begun, should the Legislature Co
rItda that WAS uerassarv