The Omaha Daily Bee
WEATHER FORECAST.
For Nebraska Thursday, fair. rmr.
For lows Thursday, rising temperature.
For weather rt port see Page S.
THE OMAHA BEE
A clean, reliable newspaper that Is admitted
to each and every borne.
s
VOL. XXXVIII NO. 218.
OMAHA, THURSDAY MORNING 'vBRUAH V '2o, 190D TWELVE PAGES.
SINGLE LVVY TWO CENTS.
HOUSE PUTS ON
ITS WAR PAINT
ill Senate Amendment to the Exec
utive Appropriation Bill
Are Rejected.
Roosevelt Writes
FLOOD AND WIND
J)0 GREAT DAMA'v J
Thirteen Persons Are Reported Ki.cd
and Many Injured in Eastern
v Part of Arkansas.
OMAHA CHARTER
BILL IN 3IID AIR
.5
Eulogy of Taft
-
Sets at Rest All Talk of a Disagree-
Effort to Get it Placed on General File
is Blocked by Taylor of
Caster County.
ment Between the President
Elect and Himself.
'..'
1 '
lW'.
SALARY INCREASES ARE CUT OUT
It ii Voted to Fay President $75,000,
Including Traveling Expenses.
BATTLE WAGES FOR SIX HOURS
Speaker Cannon Hai Hit Name Called
and Vote Aye.
NO UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE
Previsions for This Olllcer mn4 for
Foartk Assistant errelary !
State Are Stricken froaa
the Mcmra.
WASHINGTON. Feb. 34. With Ha war
paint on the house of representatives today
by sweeping majorltfrs many timet defied
the senate by rejecting Its amendmenta to
the executive appropriation bill providing
for salary Inrreaaea for the prealde.nt. the
vice president, the apeaker, the Judiciary
and fr the creation of the office of under
secretary and fourth assistant secretary of
at ate. party llnea were obliterated com
plet'ly.
The battle waged for more than six hours,
at the end of which the bill wa aent 1 to
conference. So much time waa conaumed
that a flight session waa made necessary In
order that further discussion of the aundry
civil appropriation bill, which had dragged
along for several days, might be had.
President's Salary Hedaced.
The houae today began considering the
senate amendment to the executive, legla
latlve and judicial appropriation bill. The
paragraph Increasing the president's salary
to- tl'v.rtu) waa atrlcken out. Thla vote resulted-yeas
111. naya 10. Before the an
iirunceinoiit waa made Speaker Cannon di
rected that his nm be recorded In the
af flrnvitive.
An unuiual scene followed, (Members
were on their feet In a general scramble
for recognition for motions of one sort or
anothrr. The apeaker, unruffled by hie
beaelger. held that a motion by Mr. Wat
aon (Ind.) to recede from the amendment
and amend It ao aa to make the salary
S75,00O, was preferential. Mr. , Wataon
ought to shut off debate, by moving the
prevloua question, and on that proposition
the roll again waa called. '
The previous question was ordered, and
on the vote being taken, on the adoption
of the amendment It waa carried, 1G3 to 149,
amid republican applause.
The amendment will make the presldent'a
alary equivalent to the present salary
plus the 1-4. appropriation heretofore al
lowed for traveling, expenses, the latter
appropriation being stricken out-
o fader Secretary of State.
: A long debate was precipitated by Mr.
Bingham offering an amendment to tbe
amendment of the senate designating the
proposed new official ot the Bute depart
. ment as "vice secretary" Instead of "under
secretary," and reducing the aalary from
110,0O to f7,O0O.
Strenuous objection and ridicule even
came from all sides to both the titles. Mr.
Fltagereld (N. V.) In defining the word
"under" said it meant, among other things
the under dog or goat, and In International
uac.ige, the nation that had been defeated
In an International settlement.
The charge having been made In several
quarters that the United States was trying
to "ape" foreign powers, Mr. Denby
(Mich.) disclaimed such a suggestion. The
Idea, he said, waa to make the department
conform to the diplomatic uaage of alt the
world. The amendment waa vigorously
supported by Mr. Watson (Ind ),' while Mr.
Mann (III). In opposing the proposed crea
tion of both the office of under secretary
and fourth -assistant aecretary, maintained
that It was almply another way of giving
office to two additional people.
Without opportunity being afforded to
vote on the Bingham amendment, the house
by a vote of f to 134 rejected the whole
amendment.
All remaining senate amendments per
taining to the Slate department were like
wise rejected.
The next battle waa waged on the senate
amendment Increasing the salaries of
Judges, including those of the supreme
court of the I'nlted States. Finding them
selves In a helpless minority, the confer
ence committee moved a noncencurrence
In all the amendmenta. Thla action was
taken and the bill sent back to confer
ence. '
PROCEEDINGS OF THE IE.KATE
Mr. MrCaaaber ' Speaka Right te
Fix Standards far Grata.
WASHINGTON. Feb. Si-The agrlcul-
tural bill Waa under discussion In the senate
durilng practically the entire aesslon today.
Senator McCumber of North Dakota, dis
cussed at length the right of congress
under the constitution to fix standarda for
grain and- declared that present practices
make Impossible the sale of western grain
at the prlcea tj which U Is really en
titled. Senator Heyburn denounced the methods
of administering the forest service In a
speech which occupied two hours. Con
sideration of the bill was not completed.
Senator McCumber made an extended
argument In the aenate today to sustain
the constitutionality of legislation author
ising the grading by the federal govern
ment of grain entering Into Interstate com
merce, In connection with a provision of
the agricultural bill which was under con
sideration. The fixing of definite grades of
grain, waa. on motion of Senator Aldrk-h,
strkken from the paragraph, which, as
I finally adopted, authorises the secretary
rf agriculture to "Investigate the handling-,
grading and transportation of grain and
to make a atudy of factors entering Into
the usual operation connected therewith,"
. for which t52.4 WM appropriated.
Senator Heyburn opposed Increasing the
appropriation for the forestry service as
proposed by the aenate cummittee on ag
riculture and thla phaae of the discussion
was participated In by several senators.
Mr. Heyburn attacked the forestry ad
ministration and urged restoring to the
people' the right to locate on any public
lands. He declared that each year addi
tional funds were demanded for the forestry
service with the promise that next
year it would be stlf-aus laming.
WASHINGTON'. Feb. 24. The remark
able feature of the "Inaugural souvenir'
used by the committee In charge of the
Inaugural ceremonies la a biographical
sketch of President-elect Taft by Presi
dent Roosevelt. It has peculiar aignifl
cance In view of rumors that have been
published to the effect that friction ex
isted between Roosevelt and Taft. The
keynote of the president's sketch may be
found In these words:
"No man of better training, no man of
more dauntleaa courage, or common sense
and higher character has ever come to
the presidency than William Howard
Taft."
The president In concise terms precedes
this statement with a history of the
president-elect. In one place he says,
teferrlng to Taft as solicitor general:
"He won an enviable reputation and
succeeded to a remarkable degree In com
bining entire fearlesneaa In stating and
upholding Ills own convictions with the
ability to avoid giving needless offense
to those whose convictions differed from
his. It Is one of Mr. Taft's great gifts
of usefulness that he possesses exactly
the ability unflinchingly to atand by the
right, and yet to do It with the minimum
of of fenslveness toward those who do
not see matters as clearly as he does."
The president refers to Mr. Taffa
Judicial record, saying:
"It fell to Mr. Taft to decide a number
of cases In which he blaied In advanct
the trail that all Judges must In the end
follow. Tills was notably the caae both
as to corporations and of the rights of
labor."
Detective Sees
the Bribe Pass
Sensational Testimony at Pittsburg
Trial Involves Eighty-Eight Mem
bers of Former City Council.
PITTSBURG. Feb. 34.-At the trial of
Counctlmea Klein, Wesson and Brand and
Banker Ramsay on charges of conspiracy
growing out of the recent graft charge
today. Detective T. 8. Huff ling testified
that he had seen Detective WUaon pay Wil
liam Brand, president of the common coun
cil, and Councilman Klein S600 each to In
fluence their support In the council to
secure legislation.
Detective Iluffllng told how he had also
seen Councilman Waaaon take $300 from
Detective Wilson, and how he had. at
tempted to take a flashlight picture of
Wesson In the Fort Pitt hotel.
The accused councilman ran down the
corridor, Iluffllng said, and was brought
back and placed under arrest. The picture
waa then offered in evidence, but did not
show Very much. ' ,
The Jury this afternoon visited the Du-
quesne and Fort Pitt hotels to Inspect the
holes In the doors of the rooms through
which the detective claims he watched the
defendants.
The testimony has directed suspicion
against eighty-eight members ot councils
and It Is persistently rumored that this
number will be Indicted by the next grand
Jury.
FARMER KILLED BY TRAIN
Two
Mea
Body
Reejalred . to
froaa Front
Easier.
Extricate
of
, SCHUYLER, Neb.. Feb. 2. (Special Tele
gram.) Charles Horakv a fanner living
twenty milea north of here, was Instantly
killed thla morning when a train on the
Union Pacific struck the wagon he was
driving across the tracks at the Wright
lumber yard. One horse was killed and
the wagon was demolished and tbe remnants
scattered to the four winds.
Horak's body waa ao tightly wedged In
the front of the engine that It required the
combined strength of two men to extricate
it
The fireman on the engine asserted
Horak would have escaped injury If he
had not loat bis , head and tried' to back
off the track when he saw he was In
danger. Instead of going ahead.
NEGRO LEADERS FIGHT SALOON
Colore Tesaperamee Workers Hotel
Ceaajreea at Atlanta, with Prosa
iaeat Speakers Attending;.
ATLANTA, Oa.. Feb. H The southern
negro anti-saloon congress convened here
today. Many able speakers of the negro
race are present and much Interest la being
manifested tn the proceedings by both
whites and negroes.
Thla afternoon Prof. Kelly Miller of How
ard university, Washington, D. C, will dis
cuss "The Saloon and Society." At the
night session Dr. B. F. Riley of Dallas,
Tex., will discuss "The Saloon and the
Negro Problem."
Edward Fitch's Mind Blank
About His Wanderings
NEW YORK, Feb. J4.-A special cable
gram to toe New Tork World from Naples
contains the following concerning Eda-ard
P. Fitch, the Omaha man who disappeared
while traveling In Europe:
"I scarcely know where I have been or
what I did." said Edward P. Fitch when
the World correspondent visited him today
at the American consulate hero and en
quired about hia expenencea since he mys
teriously disappeared Ust October after
leaving Paris for the announced purpose
of undergoing an operation In a London
hospital.
"The fact la." Mr. Fitch continued. "I
waa so 111 whea I reached England that 1
only remember beng there. I have a faint
recollection of returning to the continent
and visiting Belgium, Swltserland and
Italy.
"1 had no Idcr that the State depart
ment at Washington waa making auch a
seven for sne.
."I neglected writing home because of ill
ness. "On reaching Kaf.?cs last Saturday I
ONE TOWN ENTIRELY DESTROYED
Wire Service is Suspended and Fall
Extent of Ravages it Unknown.
HEAVY RAINS IN KENTUCKY
One Man and 500 Head of Cattle
Drowned at Louisville.
RAILROAD TRAFFIC THREATENED
Ohio River Is Near Danger Pol at at
Claelaaatl and All Trlbatariea
froaa the Sooth Aro
Rising Rapidly.
MEMPHIS, Tenn.. Feb. St. That the
atorm and rain which prevailed tn eastern
Arkansas, northern Mississippi and western
Tennessee was most severe hi confirmed by
advices received early today. In the coun
ties of Lonoke, Woodruff, Prairie and
Poinsett In Arkansas the force of the
storm, which apparently originated In the
first named county, was left. The town of
Fisher In Poinsett county, was practically
destroyed, reports received, stating that
but two buildings remain Intact, while six
persons were killed and a number of others
sustained more or less serious Injuries.
Near Augusta the dead number six and
others were Injured.
In Lonoke a child waa killed.
Telegraph and telephone wires through
the storm swept section, however, are
prostrated and the full extent of the storm
damage Is not yet known.
In Mississippi considerable damage waa
done to property. Near Greenville several
substantial structures were wrecked and a
number of smaller buildings were de
molished. At New Albany two electrical and wind
storms prevailed and several houses were
struck by Ughjnlng.
Aa Tunica a number of buildings were
damaged and aeveral completely wrecked.
In Memphis and vicinity the storm was
quite severe. At Aulon. Mrs. C. E. Bald
win was caught among the wreckage of her
home and seriously Injured.
At Greggs Station a church building was
raxed and aeveral small houses were
wrecked and W. T. Barnum was Injured.
At Blnghantpton aeveral Buildings were
damaged.
In Memphis trees were uprooted and
telegraph and telephone wires tangled, but
no casualties occurred.
Daanaare aa Death by Flood.
LOUISVILLE. Ky- Feb. . The flood
of rain which raged' during the last
twenty-four hours over nearly alt of Ken
tucky and portions of Indiana has done
thousands of dollars' damage In Louls
viM a rone, -caused -the death-early toduy
of John Price, a negro, and the loas of
over 500 head Of cattle In and around
thla City.
. Every river and creek throughout the
deluged territory is bank full and many
have overflowed. The i damage in the
Green rtver district and along the
streams In the western part of Ken
tucky Is heavy. The lower Ohio Is ris
ing rapidly at all points and a big flood
Is predicted.
During the last twenty-six houra five
Inches of rain fell. Conditions today are
Improved somewhat, although the rain Is
falling at Intervals, with a much lower
temperature.
Bear Grass creek Is responsible for
most of the damage Inaide of the city.
In the vicinity of the Ballard mills at
Broadway and Underhlll It spread out
fan-ahape, carrying destruction In lta
path. It was here with the . greatest
difficulty that 100 famillea were taken
from their homes by the fire department.
On the west tne water from the swollen
stream reaches as far aa Campbell street.
The Louisville Nashville's Cincinnati
line la under three feet of water.
Forecaster Wall today Issued the fol
lowing special bulletin:
"From two and one-half to five Inches of
rain lias fallen over practically the entire
watershed In the last thirty-six hours. The
river haa risen nearly twelve feet at Cin
cinnati and seven and a half to eight feet
from that city to Louisville during the lat
twenty-four hours, while the rise In the
Kentucky river has been from sixteen to
eighteen feet from High Bridge down.
'The river will go above the flood stage
in this entire district during today and to
night and reach atagea of from fifty to
fifty-two feet at Madison and thirty to
thirty-two feet at 'Louisville tomorrow
morning."
Railroad TraBo Threatened.
CINCINNATI. O., Feb. M-Wlth a forty-nine-foot
stage today and promise of fifty
feet before night river conditions tn thla
section today were very serious. A contin
uance of present conditions means a fifty-five-foot
stage by tomorrow, which will
drive tbe railroads from the Grand Central
station and compel the abandonment of
(Continued on Second Page.)
found I needed money and I was much
surprised when I called at the consulate
to learn that auch effort bad been made
to find me.
"I shall return to America, as soon as the
money I cabled for ai rives."
Sir. Fitch haa the appearance of a man
who has had a severe Illness and evi
dently 'he haa not yet entirely recovered.
The American consul, Casper 8. Crow In
shield. Is showing him every possible at
tention. Mr. Fitch left bis home In Council Bluffs
last August for a vacation In Europe, After
spending six weeks In London be went to
Paria From there he wrote that he ahould
aall for New York from Southampton Oc
tober 2L
Hia family later got a letter that b had
fallen 111 la Paris and was going to Lon
don to bo operated an tor appendicitis.
The family applied to the State depart
ment for help to find htm' and tho London
hospitals were searched In vain. Nothing
more was heard from him until he cabled
home from Naples last Friday for money.
l,M.''t
MM.:
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H
From the Brooklyn Daily Eagle,
SUMMARY OF 1UE BEE
Vedaesday, Febraary 24, 10O.
SOMXSTia
Quartet arrested at LUtle Roxk. Ark..
In connection with alleged Council Bluffa
swindle believed to have had agents In
every state. 'age a
Colonel Duncan Cooper goes on ' the
witness stand and tells his story of the
shooting of Senator earmark. Page 1
WASKTBTQTOV.
The house ' yesterday rejected the aen
ate amendments, jto i'Jipeec'jf e, . lexis.
Tatlve and Judicial bill increasing salaries
of president, vice president, speaker and
Judges. ' Pags 1
Mr. McCumber made an extended speech
in the senate on the tight of congress
to fix standards for grading grain enter
ing Interstate commerce. Facja 1
ITEBBASXA. '
Effort being made to close all Heat
ings saloons before the date of the spring
election. Fags 3
Grand Island people tender a banquet
to editors attending the state convention.
Page 3
X.OCAX
Lent commenced yesterday with spe
cial services- In Cathollo and Episcopalian
churches. Page T
Opticians to take examinations In
Omaha Thursday and Friday. Pago T
Greeks who have not been naturalised
to hold federal government for losses In
South Omaha riots. Pegs 1
comcEmczAXi aitd nrourraiAL.
Live stock markets. Page
Grain markets. Pages
Etocka and bonds. Pago
stOTXMSjrrs or ocbajt vtxamsxips.
Fort. Arid.
NEW YORK K Wllneua II ...
t
BRRmBN. .k. P. Cscelis
LIVERPOOL
ST. JOHN'S Monletums
MARSEILLES... ,Vnl
GIBRALTAR Bsrbsroua
GIBRALTAR Canoplc
PORT SAID Mongolia
ALGIERS Grower Kurrurat.
BOULOGNE
EtllH.
iTsrnts.
DRYS BEGIN FIGHT IN IOWA
Move for Sahaalaelosi of Prohibition
A mead meat Started la
Lower Hoase.
DES MOINES. Ia., Feb. t4.-What la re
garded as the beginning of the fight for
the adoption of a prohibitory amendment
tn the state of Iowa was formally launched
In the lower house of the legislature today
by the presentation of the favorable report
of the committee on Intemperance upon the
Meredith reaolutlon calling for resubmission.
The resolution. If adopted, muat be aub
mitted In its exact form to the next gen
eral assembly, which. If It passes, must
then be submitted to a vote of the people.
The prohibitory campaign is being fathered
by the Anti-Saloon league and a committee
from the Ministerial association of the aUte.
The bill was placed upon the calendar and
will be called up for consideration In lta
regular ' order.
Everythingon the
want ad pages from
pianos to poultry.
Speaking of pianos,
some of our big piano firms
tell about their best bargains
on the want-ad page under the
head of "Offered for Sale
Pianos." Tbey kiiow that want-ad readers
look tor real bargains there. Often
' they, or other people, have slightly
used pianos, too, that may be
bought for a fraction of what a new
one would coat.
Have you looked at the Bee
want ads yet today t
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THE UNCONQUERABLE POLEt
Cruise After
Derelict Ship
Captain Pickard, with Mates Traioor
and Kennard, Sail to Lincoln to
Sink the Enemy.
Commissioners Pickard and Trainer have
been on another cruise, sailing Itbls time
to J4pcolnwith CqiRmlasloncr Kennard In
tow. The voyage was undertaken In tht
hope of scuttling a derelict bill which pro
vides that road taxes may be paid In half
by service. . Slrhting the skipper of the
committee in charge, they hove to and
explained to him why the craft ought to
be sunk.
"Itis like this." said Captain Pickard.
giving a hitch to his trousers and adjust
ing his knotted 'kerchief. "The landlub
bers I mean the farmera along the public
highways are generally willing to work
only at certain seasons of the year and the
reat of the time would fain holystone their
fields. Moreover, road building Is now
adays mostly done by machinery, and it
requires able seamen to operate these ma
chines. Furthermore, supervisors are apt
to play politics. I have known of cases
where a man waa given a certificate that
his poll tax was paid when ha had only
mowed down a few weeds In front of his
house. We shall have another meeting
when the whole committee la present, but,
even at present, the bill Is listing badly to
starboard."
Sklppr Bruning, deemed a pirate by cer
tain of his fellow seamen. Inquired anx
iously Wednesday If Commissioner Bed
ford Is home, the absence ot that supporter
being extremely disturbing.
Keelhaul my tafrrail." exclaimed
Tralnor, as Bruning made an Inquiry, " but
that old bowsprit Is getting lonesome, eh,
mate?"
SECRETARY WILSON DEFENDS
BLEACHED FLOUR DECISION
Fllea Answer la Salt, Deaylag Juris
diction of Coart and Insists Per
oxide of Mtrogen is Harsafal.
WASHINGTON, Feb. z! -Denying, tho
court's Jurisdiction to review his final Judg
ment, Secretary of Agriculture -Wilson to
day filed his answer in tbe supreme court
of the District of Columbia In the suit
filed by the Alsop Process company of
St. Louis, asking reversal of the ruling
that bleached flour Is an adulterated prod
uct violating the pure food law. Secretary
Wilson reiterates that bleached flour Intro
duces peroxide of nitrogen' into the result
ing product, with deleterious effect.
Eagles Fix Exact Dates
For Big Roost in Omaha
KANSAS crTT, Feb. :i-Speclal Tele
gram.) Datea for the national meeting of
the Fraternal Order of Eagles, which Is to
be held in Omaha, have, been selected and
announced by tho grand worthy secretary.
The national aerie will meet In Omaha Sep
tember 13 to 30, inclusive, and It la estimated
over 32.VOO members and delegates will at
tend. The Joint committee of Eagles from tbe
local lodge and business men of Omaha met
Wednesday noon at the Commercial club
to discuss further plans for entertaining
the visitors to the national meeting to be
held in September. Tbe general committee
will be uivldeU Into subcommittees and al
most every member will be made a chair
man of a committee on something, sucB us j
music, decoration, drills, badges, transpor
tation, entertainment and other departments
neceaaary to tbe handling of such a crowd.
The buslneas men feel the national meeting
ot the Eagles will be an opportunity for
Omaha to "make good" and they Intend to
go Into ft with more than usual spirit
That the Omaha meeilng will be much
f
.."it ' '!' ' A- S
j'.'.-f V ' -
V y
.'1 ""r
- v'MV -"V.
GREEKS TO HOLD UNCLE SAM
Will Demand Financial Separation
from Federal Government.
BETUBN TO THEIR OLD BUSINESS
Leaders Hay the shopkeepers Will Be
Prepared to Protect Themselves,
hot Will Objry the Uw
First. .
Determination to hold Uncle Sam finan
cially responsible for damages created by
the riot ar.d the return of Greeks to their
business In South Omaha, "prepared tol
protect themselves against similar at
tacks.'" are the chief potnta of Interest In
the situation since the withdrawal of the
militia Tuesday night by the governor
who sent the troops out.
James Rait of the legal firm of Sullivan
& Rait, announced Wednesday that no civil
suits will be Instituted against the city of
South Omaha.
"In the east there is almost universally a
provision In city chartera making the mu
nicipality responsible for damage and loss
by riot, but thla is omitted from Nebraska
chartera.
"We shall make a list of unnaturalized
Ireek who Buffered personal Injury or
property loss, and put In a claim to the
State department of the .United States,
through the Greek minister. It looks to
ha aa If the American property ownera
who suffered will have to pocket their
loss."
Greeks Retsra to Work.
Shoes will be Bhlned for "6 centa" once
more; confectionery made In the basement
candy kltchena; names that look like the
explosion of a language mill will be again
painted on the windows, for the Greeks
are returning to South Omaha and Intend
to resume business in their old stands.
Tbe advice of leadera In Omaha and the
officials of the associations Is being fol
lowed. They are urging tho business men
and the boys who conducted the atanda to
return to South Omaha, hang out their
signs and go to work. They say the call
ing out of the militia proved to them that
they could expect protection.
"We will protect ourselves In the future
until the sheriff and militia arrive," said
a Greek, who conducts the stand In the
Paxton block. "We have told the boys to
return to South Omaha and obey the law
and be good In every way. Then If any
trouble la made, they should protect them
selves and their property.
"If anyone would come to my place of
buslnesa and attempt auch things, I should
expect to protect myself and this Is what
(Continued on Third Page.)
larger than anticipated is the verdict after
looking over the field. The order now has
3U,uU members. More than 25.0CO attmdej
the meeting in Milwaukee three years ago;
an equal number attended the Seattle meet
li g last year, regardless of the fact that tho
meeting was held on the Pacific coast far
from the center of Eagledom. To James
town and Norfolk during the exposition al
most 17.OJ0 K&glea went to the Atlantic
oast, the eastern extreme of Kagh dom. To
Omaha tL'M to B.OuO Eagles will conw, aay
those who are making the arrangenienis.
FUND FOR SHAFT TO ALLISON
Eightieth Anniversary of Birth Set
Aside as Day to Reeelve
Coatrlbatloaa.
DKS MOINES, . la., Feb. 14 Governor
B. Y. Carroll Issued a pruclumallou today
to the people of Iowa setting March S aa
a day for all to contribute towards a fund
for the election ot a monument to the late
Senator Wllluun B. Allison. March S was
chosen because it was the SOth anniversary
of tbo birth of Henalr Allison.
FOOT OF ORDER H0IDS IT BACK
Committee Makes an Effort to Agree
on Some Amendments.
UNABLE TO ACCOMPLISH THIS
Then Tries to Report Measure With
out Any Recommendation.
TOO LATE IN ORDER OF BUSINESS
Members of Hoase Torn Deaf Bar to
Pleas of t rgrency by Doaajlas
Mesa bers and Hold It for
CI ah.
(From a Staff Correspondent.)
LINCOLN. Kcb. 24. (Special. ) Sena
tor Ransom got another Jolt this after
noon In the house when that body re
fused to permit Chairman Thomas, of
the committee on cities and towns to
make a report out of the regular oru r
of business on the Omaha charter bill.
After having held two meetings, at which
no agreement could be reached In the
matter of the election or appointment of
the Omaha Police board, the committee
finally concluded to report the bill back
without rocemmendation for the general
file.
The house had Just concluded the order
of business of bills on third readln
when Thomas asked permission to make
a report on the bill. Taylor of Custor
objected.
"You all know Omaha Is Interested In
a charter. We are now asking that the
charter bill be reported to the house.
This bill agrees with our campaign
pledges. The candidates for office In
Omaha haveunttl February 27 to file,
and we are anxious to get the bill passed
by then. We are all pledged to home
rule In some form and we want to carry
out that pledge."
"I am opposed to suspending tho order
of business." said Taylor of Custer. "We
don't have to pass this bill at this time so
the candidates may file their nomination
papers by Saturday. The candidates can
go ahead and file and If elected this bill
can qualify them to serve. We adopted
tho constitutional amendment creating the
State Railway commission and elected the
commission at the same time. They were
voted upon before tho amendment was
adopted."
"I asked the assistant city attorney of
Omaha about the matter Mr. Taylor has
discussed." said Thomas, "and after a
careful Investigation he tells me that it
la not a principle of law. We want to keep
our campaign pledges and we ask all the
democrats to help ' u.'" ' " . .
Oat Qootea Dahlmaa.
"Mayor Dahlman told ua Just exartely
what Mr. Taylor said." injected McColl,
a member of the committee from Gnge
county. "It Is not necessary to pass this
measure ut this time."
Clark of Richardson, came to the relief
of Thomas Baying that the Omaha dele
gation promised the people of Omaha home
rule and he believed the bill should take
tbe place at the head of the general file.
"It Is the platform," said Clark.
"I am for the platform, first, last and
all the time," yelled Kellcy of Furnas, re
minding the house that It had killed hia
platform pledge for an agricultural school
at Cambridge.
Then 8nyder of Harlan put tho finishing
touches on the motion. "I don't believe
we should put the lill on general file.
Let us put Omaha on probation. Don't
let them get In the clear."
Then Speaker Pool atarted In to explain
the motion: "Tho motion Is not to put the
bill at the head of the general file." he
said." It is simply a request to report on
the bill."
"ell, I object to you entertaining the mo
tion." said Taylor, "ou ara simply sus
pending the order of business."
"You are a poor man to enter objections
on technicalities here." said Kelley rising
up In hia wrath. "You who retused to
vote and violatel the rules of the house."
The motion to sllow Mr. Thomas to re
port was then put and reaulted. yeas, 34;
nays. 4. '
Oatslde Members to Hale.
The action of the house In this Instance
Indicates that the outside members will say
what Omaha wants In the way of a charter
because the Omaha delegation Is not agreed
and cannot agree on "what Is home rule."
It also Indicates that the charter, If It gets
through at all, may be one of the last bills
on tho calander. because the house mern
hrn are Interested In a good many bills
yet to be acted upon In the senate. These
house members know that to put Omaha lit
the clear on Its charter will leave the
Omaha members with a mighty free hand
to do as they please on all other measures.
Incidentally. It Is another echo of the old
scrap between Ransom and Taylor, and is
another payment on the debt Taylor owes
to Ransom because the latter killed his bill
to authorise the State Canvassing board to
canvass the votes on constitutional amend
ments. The action In the house followed two
meeting of the committee on cities and
towns held this morning. At the first
meeting a motion was made to have an ap
pointive police commlsalon. The vote on
this was as follows:
Teas Sink, Stoecker, Holmes, Connelly,
Mi-Uoll.
No Humphrey, West, Howard. Taylor
(Yorkl, Thomas.
The motion was declsred lost.
Then Stoecker moved that two commis
sioners be made elective, and two to bo
appointed by the mayor. The vote on this
was:
Yes Sink. Stoecker, Holmes. Connolly,
W-st and McCkII.
No Humphrey. Wilson, Howard, Taylor
and Thomas.
The motion carried.
At the meeting held at noon fourteen
members vt thee committee were present
and the Hlwcker smendinent was reconsid
ered. Thn Connolly offered an amendment
proidlug for an elective bl-partlaan board.
Thla carried, and then the motion to
recommend the bill for passage as amended
waa declared loat by a vole of 7 to 7. The
motion to recommend the bill for paasage
without any amendments, but as it cams
from the Senate, a as lost by a vote of
7 to T.
Iesalr l Acreeaaeat.
"I move that the bill be Indefinitely
postponed." said Wilson, who bad devklW
