The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1923-03-17
Urged
by Mathers in
Code Bill Row
House Adjomns Until Mon
day After Four-Day De-
bate-Home Folks In
fluence Expected.
BY PAUL GREER.
staff Correspondent The Omaha Bee.

Lincoln. March 16.-tSpecial.)-A
4olea for harmony and for casting par
tisanship aside. made this afternoon
by Speaker A. n Mathers. ended four
days OF hot debate in the lower house
on what form of state government
should be adopted in Nebraska for the
ensuing two years.
Following the address by Mathers
the house adjourned until Monday aft
ernoon.
Lets forget we are democrats Of
republicans and remember We are Ne
braskans. the speaker pleaded
Something must be done"
Il come before you as Nebraskan
in Offering my plan to place the state
activities under the duly elected con.
stitutional officers. l represent Meth
taxpayers and citizens Of all parties in
this"
Questions Democrats.
lie broke off suddenly 10 address
question to democrats who are striv-
ing to block his measure.
DO you believe in your state plat
form?" he asked.
A chorus of affirmation arose. Then
he read the democratic plank which
DECLARED in favor OF grouping all state
activities under duly elected constitu.
tional officers
This Is what I provide Tor in my
amendment" he said
s-NnFs are freapftaer Nrntgr .sfadva
the party and the people II YOU adopt
this plan which | offer neither as a
republican nor a democrat. but as
one wishing TO see constructive legis.
lation and harmony at this session.
The chief argument advanced by
our governor against this proposition
was that i failed TO give him power
over constitutional officers. who
would head the combined department
and select their own assistants.
Disarms Argument.
Il make n specific provision in my
amendment which absolutely disarms
the argument. This provision sets
forth in clear. concise language that
a. any time the governor may with
out cause take from a constitutional
officer activities placed under him
and appoint a secretary who will do
exactly as he directs"
Representative Elmer J. Lamb. re.
publican. expressed disappointment AZ
all plans under debQe. He asserted
that Bryan planned to substitute
only a new code and that the others
,,o,.o t,,arei,- rafrhad nm
II believe the time will come when
my bill. still in the process of
judiciary committee. calling FOR
short ballot viii be tho only solution
10 our government problem. | hope
this bill will be taken from the com
mittee. passed and referred to the
voters as a constitutional amendment
two years from now.
Short Ballot Plan.
The Lamb bill calls Tor election OF
A governor. lieutenant governor and
state auditor All other officers would
be appointed by the governor with
confirmation Of the legislature.
Like sentiments on the impractical
bilty Of any plan suggested to date
were expressed b. Representative y.
NJ. Nelson. republican. AT this time
my idea is TO put the governors bills
through and let him hang himself. .
Nelson asserted.
Representative Oswin kiefer pre-
sented figures showing that Bryan
claims Of economy We're poorly
grounded and that greater savings
could be made under the Maihcr plan.
Brown Gives Argument.
Representative W. a. Brown, dem
ocrat. described Representative r. {.
Dysart. one Of the introduoers OF the
tridepartmental plan. "a n corpora
ton lawyer. lie declared this fact
proved corporations were behind the
trldepartmental plan.
So. with charges and counter
charges. amidst much applause from
the democrats, when their speakers
took tho floor, and equal applause
from the republicans when their ora
tors arose. the long day wore on.
trmn 10 Page Two. Column scven)