The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1923-04-01
Bloc Plans
to Increase
l. X pen ses
Group in legislature Organize
in Effort to Put Through
Special Appropria-
ton Bills.
Would Aid Institutions
by L. G. POWELL.
staff Correspondent The Omaha Bee

Lincoln. March 3l-A new bloc
an appropriations bloc-is IN process
OF formation in the legislature
This bloc has one object in view. It
is to increase the blanket appropria-
tion bill introduced in the lower house
Thursday by Representative Grant
Mears. Its members include. in most
instances, members representing dis
tricts In which state institutions are
located and members with pet bills
who are willing TO trade votes on ap-
preparations sor votes on their bills.
The bloc so far is working Two lines
Of strategy. one Is to get the state
institutions committee to introduce in
dependent appropriation bills for Ger.
tain expenditures after attempts to
get such appropriations in the. bian-
ket bill fail.
This has been tried in four specific
instances. Early in the session sepa-
rate appropriation bill for 5000 900 for
eradication Of bovine tuberculosis was
fought over for two weeks. Finally.
It was killed.
Special Car Chartered.
More than a month ago the cltv Of
Beatrice chartered a special car and
took the entire legislature, including
empioyes and newspapermen. 10 the
city. Arriving there the visitors were
dined and motored and shown the
state institution for feeble minded.
Two weeks later an appropriation
bill calling Tor $35 e0e for purchase OF
additional land for this institution
made its appearance in the lower
house. il was done absolutely in.
dependent Of the house finance com.
mittee, which is expected 10 make
such recommendations.
-Four days ago this bill was ad.
vauced 10 third reading n The lower
house. 80 one doubted that the nna
vas needed. The opposition was
based on the fast That a business was
refused 70 expand during times OF
financial stress and public business
should be conducted in the same man
ner.
About the same time Two other
bills. one calling for $50, 100 for al
cltional land for the state asylum a.
Norfolk and the ether demanding
100000 70 build a new home for
dependent children u Lincoln. made
their appearance. Neither q these
bills was recommended BY the finance
committee and bore signatures Of
members 4 the committee on state
institutions Both Governor Bryan
and former Governor Mckelvie re.
fused to recommend these expendl.
tures in their budget estimates.
big Surprise
Yesterday. the two bils We're al.
yaneed 10 third reading. One favorite
explanation made BY members in
voting to advance the two measures
was the fact that II Beatrice was 70
get Ia appropr then Norfolk
and Iincoln's home FOR dependent
children should receive consideration.
To-Day. there Wis big surprise.
The sS5. 600 appropriation hill for the
Beatrice institution came Up for third
reading. As this appropriation. like
the Norfolk and Lincoln appropria-
tloHs. was not included in the gov
ernols budget it required two.thirls
vote II the houso membership. So 10
pass #.
Members disappeared when the all
came up. ike flies before the
onslaught of an angered housewife.
Tie members who stood by their
guns demanded a call Of the house.
This means the sergoantssat arms
must so ont and bring back ali absent
members to vote
Tire c3n was maintained for an
hour. At the end Of that time there
still we're 10 members missing. The
call was raised. The vote vas IS 10
A.. r. below the requEed number
necessary.
Tine sudden change uf front on the
Beatrice bin was accepted by leaders
~ The appropriations hloc 20 ring
death knen of the Nor9lk and Lin
coin bills when they came up Tor
third reading
However. the other strategic move
Is at The loc's command. This is 10
attempt to insert these appropriations
ln the blanket appropriation bill al
the roer time. Meantime. there Is
much foot Wotk' going ON as Il IS
admittedly "A light To the finish
The blanket Appropriation bill rs now
tn the hands OF the printer. IL pro-,
ably viii be considered IN The house
uoxt week Each item Viii be cen.
sldered separately.
II tho bloc fails In the hoase. /, WI
retreat to the senate. II llsfau mus.
tor sufficient votes in the senate te
raise and insert appropriations in the
bin there then the hill must go TO
a conference committee 81 both
branches
The result OF these conferences Is
usually compromise. Tire results
are referred 10 tho two branches Tor
connrmal bon or rejection II rejected.
ntw committees are appointed and
this continues until an agreement Is
reached
All during this time the corn plant,
ING time Is getting nearer and nearer.
tho farmer mcmhers are getting
wcarlor and wcarier and tho wives
ard sweethear,s' back home are set
uns loucllef and lonelicr
Then. after it Is all done ana an
agreement reached, tho It'll goes 10