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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (March 7, 1911)
Daily Bee I HE Women Best Buyers Th" ft$t that U read by women bring beit returns to advertisers. WEATHER FORECAST. For Nebraska Cloudy. For !o a Threatening. For what her rrport oe Faso 2. VOL. XL-NO. 224. OMAHA. 1TKSPAY M()HNlX(i, M 7, 11)11 -TWELVE lV(JKS. SINULF. COl'V TWO CKNT.S. Omaha SIXTH DISTRICT WILL BE GAINER Act to Regulate Distribution of Sur plus Waters of Vast Importance. ( to Irrigators. SESSl X XEW LAW OF LAST New Contracts Also to Be Allowe Leaseholder! in Difficulties. EE-SURVEY OF XINKAID LAND Bom of Fifty Thousand Appropriated for This Purpose. HITCHCOCK ON EXTRA SESSION Thlak Democrni 'Will Plot Prolong t and Will to bat Mltle With Tariff Herlalon la Ml Hearnlar lon (From a Staff Correspondent.) WASHINGTON. March . (Special Tele gram. )-Judge Klnkald 1 f till In the City and an yet In undetermined whether he can go to Nsbrsska In the short Interval before congress merits until he ha cloied up some departmental matter of lmiortance to hi district. Among several thing he has ac complished during the recent session and Which ha derma moit worthy of mention I legislation for the North riatte Irrigation project under the national reclamation law. Beside other matter of Importance to this Important project, Mr. Klnkald, by reason of hl position on the house committee on lirlgatlmi, became one of the leadinR fac tors In the consideration of the bill to provide for the distribution of surplus water by means of facilities possessed by the government In the existence of reser voir and canals which the government ac tually owns and also by reservoir nnd canal to be constructed under specified condition. This Mil constitute one of the most Important amendment o far made to th national Irrigation law and contain possibilities of great benefit to Irrigable land contained In the North Platte project as well as to sever 1 other Important pro ject on the western states. w Contracts for Old. Mr. Klnkald regurds as only second In Importance to the irnsotion legislation, the bill recently pasci , authorizing the sec retary of the Intctiui- to withdraw land tinder Irrigation projects, where contract have been let, but with which contract the entry men or water uaera on account of mis., fortunes have found theniselve unable to comply with, and to let new contract In lieu of th old giving the entryman longer time In which to make payment for their water right. Already, the proposition Is under consideration to grant to many entry men and water user under the North llatt project more time In which to make payment of their water rlghta, and thus sv to them their Irrigable homestead which otherwise, they would forfeit and at best might only sell their relinquishments. Anvm other otefflnlutlve benefits Intended' exclusively for bis district. Mr. Klnkald deems worthy of mention the appropriation b securing for Sfio.flUO, ready for Immediate use, for the resurvey of lands scattered throughout th territory covered by the Klnkald act. Heretofore he ha assisted In pr6vld!ng a general law for the making of such reaurveys and he means to keep ample funda on hand to defray the ex panses and Is urging the Interior depart ment to Increase the force which will now be warranted by the greatly Inrreaeaed allowance he has received over and abova what he has secured In former year. Congressman Klnkald secured alao an appropriation In the sundry civil bill of ).() for payment for a building site for Alliance, and the name amount for a public bulldlug site for Chadron, which sums were authorised, but not appropriated at the former aesaion. Of Importance to the homesteaders In the Sixth Nebraska district Is the bill passed by Mr. Klnkald authorizing the secretary of agriculture to furnish from Its nurseries at the Ilalsey forest reserve young trees free to settlers. Haymond It. Morgan, cleric to the anate committee on Pacific railroads, of which Senator Burkett was chairman, with Mr. Morgan will sail for Europe on March 28 on the White Star steamer Cretic. taking a Mediterranean trip for his health. On his return to the states Mr. Morgan will engage In newspaper work in this city. lon L. Iiusseil. assistant secretary to Penator Burkett, leaves for his home In Uncoln tomorrow to engage In business with his father. Senator Hitchcock, with Mrs. Hitchcock and daughter, will leave for Omaha on Thuraday. It Is Mr. Hitchcock's Idea that the extra sens! on will be short-lived. The democrats will pass the Canadian reci procity bill Immediately after congress con venes and will then report bills making change In one or two schedules, leaving general revision of the tariff to the regular session next leretnlwr. "My Idea, said Mr. Hitchcock, "Is that th democrat will make such changes In the schedules as they know will meet ap proval of the president, leaving to the long session the bulk of revision." Senator Burkett end family will leave fur the west In the late spring, touring overland In a new sixty-horse power au tomohlle. He will probably be accom panied by Bcnatur and Mra. Scott. Representative Mondcll of Wyoming left Washington tonight for New York, where be wUI Join a congressional nartv which satis on the steamer Colon fur i'anama tomorrow afternoon. This is not a "Junketing" party, but Is composed of some twenty-odd members who Aslre rest through a sea. voyage and, Incidentally, to See tor themselves how work on the "big ditch" Is progressing. Through an inadvertance the aum of t&.OM was appropriated for the Battle Creek sanatorium. South l'akota, and car ried In th sundry civil appropriation bill. This Item was disagreed to while the bill Was In conference, but when the bill was enrolled and finally signed by the presi dent. It waa there la bold black type. It Is not known exactly what will be done regarding this particular Hem. but a aim liar case la recalled where the clear In tent of congiess waa that a certain mat ter Involving nearly 13,000,004 slipped past through clerical errors and In that case the treaaury officials merely ignored the Item. Thla will probably be what may likppen to the Battle Creek appropriation. Postmasters appointed are as follows: Nehraaka-Martlaiid. Kllinore county, D. L. Baker vice P. K. Woodard. resigned. Iowa Kin eld, Marlon county, J. J. Woody vloe Q. Carver, resigned. Carl Hint was appointed rural carrier nd Herbert liefleld substitute, route J. l Bmt o. Western Union Will Cut Off Information from Handbooks Vice President Carlton Replies to , Message from Foreman of Grand Jury in Cincinnati. INCINNATI, March Following the id Jury Inquiry Into alleged gambling tncinnatl County rrosecutor Henry T. ,C ' today received a message from New ? 'arlton, vice president of the Western ' Telegraph company. In response to Vi that unlors the company ceased vj," handbooks with race track In- . h tne grand Jury would be asked U take the matter under consideration. Mr. Carlton's reply read: "The Western L'nlon company Is obliged for the Information. Any such participa tion as ou report in directly contrary to Instructions snd will be investigated anu stopped If possible.' . The grant. Jury resumed its sessions, with Michael Mullen, a political leader, here as a wltnt.se. A motion filed recently before Judge Frank Gorman to quash the Indictments against Hairy J. Sundmaker, Olrector ol public service, and A. J. Ilenkcl, Conrad llenkel and W. W. Coney, contractors, of having used or permuted the use of an Inferior grade of material In paving work. Howard Elliot May Succeed George Gould Head of Northern Pacific Considering Offer of President of Missouri Pacific System. ST. LOUIS. Mo.. March 7. Howard Kit lot t. president of the Northern Taciflc railroad, said today he would not deride until he returns to his home In St. Pail Tuesday whether he will accept the presi dency of the Missouri Pacific railroad, which has been offered him. During the day he conferred with W. K. Blxby, a MIs rourl Pacific director. "I am highly gratified at the confidence the director of the Missouri Pacific re pose In me In offering me the place," Mr. Elliott said. "If I accept my aim will be to build up the southwest. Just a I have ought to do with the management of the Northern Pacific. I should require com plete control of the affairs except in the mnlter of road extension. That, of course, should be left with the directors." A Post dispatch today says that It his learned from authoritative source that Mr. Elliott haa accepted the presidency of the Missouri Pacific. Courtesy to James J. Hill and other Northern Pacific official prevents him from making known his de cision until he ha formally resigned from his present position, his friends say. Kansas Drainage Law is Declared Valid Federal Court Upholds Right of State -to Take Lands Needed for Flood Protection Improvements. KANSAS CITY. Mo., March .-In a de cision filed in the United States circuit court In Kansas City,' Kan., today Judge Smith McPherson of Red Oak, la., upheld the constitutionality of the Kansas law enacted lesa than a month ago giving the governor the light In the name of the stats to take possession of lands needed for flood protection Improvements. Judge McPherson vacated a temporary retraining order secured three weeks ago by certain Wyandotte county property owners against the Kaw Valley Drainage board and denied an Interlocutory Injunc tion asked by the land owners. The effect of the decision Is to permit the Kaw Valley Drainage board to proceed under the law to acquire lands needed to widen the channel of the Kaw river, leav ing the question of compensation In case of dispute to be decided by the courts. Bailey and Lorimer on Purity in Politics Resolution that Senators Be Asked to Address Texas Legislature Ruled Out by Speaker. AUSTIN. Tex., March 6. In the house today Kepresenlatlves Terrell and Shannon Introduced a resolution Inviting Vlilted States Senators Bailey and Ixrimer to come to Texaa at an early date and ad dress the legislature on the subject of "Purity In Politics." Senator Bailey's friends Instantly pro tested against a second reading of the resolution, which the speaker assured them would not be permitted. JUDGE MERRILL IS STRICKEN Former Justice of Wyoming Is Crit ically HI la Kaasas City Hospital. KANSAS CITY, Mo.. March . Judge Homer Merrill, who was supreme Judge of Wyoming when that state was admitted to the union Is seriously 111 In a hospital here. He was stricken with paralysis here last night. Judge Merrill was recently aptMilnted censua commissioner for Wyom ing. He l Si eoi old and has large prop erty Interests st Bawllns, Wyo., where his home Is sltusted. Captain Michael Dempsey Seizes Officer for a Burglar Burglars, tried to rob the home of Cap tain Michael Dempaey of the police de partment Sunday night. They got ncth Ing but Mike goat. Thl Is another of th big family of metaphorical goat. "Somebody' trying to break in." Mrs. Dempsey telephoned to th station. "I'll teach 'era to Insult (he law by dis turbing the peaceful home of an officer," exclaimed the captain, ordering his force to man the emergency auto. The big machine whlsxed silently up to the Dempsey residence. Thirty-third and Charles street. Officer Nichols of the emergency crew, more sglle than the ro tund captain, leaped from the car aa It pulled up. Ha gumshoed to the rear of the nous. Captain lempey, believing Nichol oe blnd him, started around th house la th NEW COMMITTEE ON RULES NAMED Democrats Formally Create One of Most Important Organizations of House. SEVEN MEMBERS ARE SELECTED Four Republicans Will Be Chosen Later by Leaders. GO SLOW ON TARIFF PROGRAM Expect to Complete Plan to Report to Congress Early. CHANGE TO TAKE FORM OF RIDER Committee Is Now Con stderl n m the Dlachara-e of Hundreds of Poor Employe Labor! In HnmMe Capacities. WASHINGTON, March . The rule com mittee, one of the most powerful of the house committees of the sixty-second con gress, with Representative Robert L. Henry of Waco. Tex., at Its hesd, waa for mally created by the new house way and means committee at It first meeting to day. The following were announced as the seven democratic members: Robert Lee Henry, Texas; Edward V. 1'ou. Smlthfleld. N. C: Thomas W. Har wlck. Sandersvtlle, Ga.; Augustus O. Stan ley, Henderson. Ky.: Finis J. Garrett. Dresden, Tenn.; Martin D. Foster. Olney, III., and. Matthew R. Denver, Wilmington, O. The committee will consist of eleven members. The four republican will be chosen by the republicans later on, along with the other republican members of com mittees of the new house. The ways and means committee, which Is charged under caucus dictum with the function of select ing the committees Is not empowered to name the chairman, but It recommended to the new rules committee that It elect Mr. Henry an chairman. The member were named In order of their seniority of service Mr. Hard wick and Mr. Stanley had served In congress the same period and the ser vice of Messrs. Foster and Denver has been Identical and to choose the priority of rank of these, In each case, the members of the ways and means committee drew tots, resulting In the order given. The committee will meet tomorrow morn ing to confer over its preliminary work. Tariff Proa-ram Important. There was some discussion by the com mittee on the program of tariff revision, but the committee Is deliberating carefully over that problem, which Is considered the greatest task before It and which It ex pects to complete In time to report to con gress soon after It convenes on April 4. The democratic members realise there Is considerable difference of opinion among the house membership In their party as to the methods of revising the tariff, some favoring a wholesale bill and others sched ule by schedule In accord with the views of leaders like Maura C'lar kand Under wood. There la no conclusion yet as to whether the schedule are to be tacked on to the Canadian reciprocity bill, so that a vote In the senate against the schedule revision would be a striking blow at the reciprocity agreement, though the bill will carry out the terma of the agreement In good faith. One of the things the committee has con sidered Is the elimination of useless offices at the capltol, mostly In humble capacities. There are upward of 600 places which have Salaries attached to them at the capltol and some of the democrats believe a weed ing out of the useless ones might save SIOO.000 a year to the government. phatrmrn Already Selected. The committee has not yet passed upon the committee chairmanships beyond those of the ways and means and rules, but In many Instances more or less complete as surances of Individual members of the ways and means committee have made the chairmanships largely a matter of ratification by the formal action of the committee. One of the most conjectural Is the com mittee assignment of Mr. Lloyd of Mis souri, who Is chairman of the democratic congressional committee! Mr. L.loy Is a leading member of both the postofflce committee and the territories committee. He would prefer the postofflce chairman ship, but both Moon of Tennessee and Flnlcy of South Carolina, who Is vjee chairman of the democratic congressional committee, outrank him. It la possible Moon may be transferred to the rivers and harbors committee, where Sparkman of Florida Is the ranking democrat. Following Is a tentative list of chair manships, some of them being fully as sured: Appropriations Fltxgerald, New York. Ways and Means Underwood, Alabama. Rules Henry, Texas. Judiciary Clayton, Alabama. Interstate Commerce Adamson, Georgia. Foreign Affair Flood, Virginia. Military Affalr-Hay. Virginia. Public Land Robinson, Arkansas. Naval Affairs Padgett, Tennessee. Insular Affairs Jones, Virginia. Indian Affairs Stephens, Kexas. Postofflce or Territories Lloyd. Missouri. Banking and Currency Pujo, Louisiana. Pensions Richardson. Alabama. Printing Flnley, South Carolina. Agriculture Lever, South Carolina, or Beall, Texas. Census - Wilson, Pennsylvania. (Continued on Second Page.) opposite direction. "Go to the front door and flush 'em out," was his order to the chauffeur, Claua Maus. The captain waited at the back of the lot. A dark form approached on tiptoe, silently, suspiciously. One man. Demptey refused to use a gun. He would vengo himself with his bar hands. lie leaped at the dark form and seized It by the throat. Down they went. "Come on bos, I've, got him," th cap tain shouted. There was a struggle on the ground and the chauffeur came up with a flash light. "Yep, you'v got Nichols, all right," re marked Maua. Dempsey lew go. Nichols got up. The two officers glared at each other. But th marry burglars got away. 1 x '., 'Ji, From tha rievalanil rialn Dealer. Why Not HUNDRED THOUSAND STOLEN Aged Broker In New York Loses Valu able Securities. PACKAGES SWITCHED ON HIM Was Taklaar Stok to Secorttr Vaalt When He Was Tripped by Tall Maa Old TlewnpasMsr Fonnd In Envelope. NEW TORK, March , Aaron Bancroft, a broker, 86 years old, was robbed last Thursday afiernoon of eecurltlea worth approximately $100,000 In the vestibule of Produce Exchange Safety Deposit and Storage company, but he did not discover his loss until today. For tha last twenty-five years It has been Mr. Bancroft's habit every Thursday afternoon to deposit the firm's valuables In a box rented from the Produce Exchange Safety and Storage company. The dis tance from his office to the vaults Is not more than 200 feet and any one making the trip Is In constant sight of the office win dows. Thursday Mr. Bancroft placed securities worth about $100,000 In a large envelope, tied with red tape and with the firms printed card In the corner. Alone he walked from Ms off!.. Mr.. Bancroft sav he noticed a young man whom he only re members aa rather undersized leaning against the corridor wall. Just as the broker was about to turn the corner at the end of the corridor, a tall man came running around the corner In the opposite direction and collided with him. Tha shock threw Mr. Bancroft off his feet and In falling he dropped the en velope. The undersized young man who had been leaning against the corridor wall stepped up to Mr. Bancroft, assisted him to his feet and was solicitous to tuck 'he fallen envelope under his arm. 'At 'east Mr. Bancroft thought It was the envelope. He went on to deposit It In the vaults. This morning, when his son, George Ban croft, unlocked th box to check up the securities before the opening of business for the week he found that the only en velope there contained three old news papers. Trick Cnrefolly Planned. The robbers knew on what day It was the firm's custom to deposit Its securities and at what hour. They knew that Mr. Bancroft habitually carried them In an envelope of a certain appearance, for they provided themselves with so close an Imi tation that It deceived the broker. The securities were made up of railway and Industrial stocks which could easily be hypothecated In any stock broker's house In the United States having connec tions with the Stock exchange. The stocks included 100 shares of Lehigh Valley, 320 shares of Smelter, 30 shares of New York Central, 200 shares of Brooklyn Rapid Transit, BOO Distilers" Securities, 60 shares of Steel, common, 10 shares of Atchison, 30 shares of American Beet Sugar, 40 shares fczfik 1 i-vVu jS&si i J of Amalgamated Copper and 100 shares of ! pense accounts alleged to have been In Missourl Pacific. j fiated are said to figure largely In the Sharp Shock for Police. So bold a robbery in daylight, In the very heart of the financial district, shocked the police like an exploded bomb shell. Years ago Inspector Byrnes had drawn a deadline across the city at Fulton stret, below which he ordered that no crook or pickpocket should go on even an Innocent errand under pain of Instant trouble with the police. The order waa tested and found to be seriously intended. Having tried It the criminals obeyed and for years the finan- clal district was the safest place in the world for a man with large sums of money or valuable securities on his person. William M. Sullivan, attorney for the Bancrofts, said this afternoon that the numbers of all thu missing certificates were In the firm's possession. Part of the securities had been transferred to the name of Barcruft, he said, and less apprehension ! was felt about the robbers realizing: promptly on the securities so transferred I than on the others, which had not under-1 gone the transferring process. RECOUNT ORDERED IN CHICAGO Bollot Boxes In Beirut Primary to He Opened on Petition of Jadae Dunne. CHICAGO, March . County Judge Owens today ordered a recount of the ballots cast at the primaries last Tuesday. The order was Issued ut the Instance of E. F. Dunne, who, on the returns waa de feated for the democratic mayorallty nom ination by i'arter 11. Harrison. IOWA LEGISLATURE BALLOTS Several Members Are Absent, but Rrl. alive Vote of Candidate I I nrbauaed. DES MOINES, la. March .-Today' Joint ballot on United State senator In the Iowa legislature follows: Iemmer, 35; Kenyon, S2; Porter (dem.l. M; absent, 41; paired, II; necessary to elect, 5L Who's Afraid? Its' r 3m f . Come Right Out and Be Done French Socialists Jeer the Manifesto of New Premier Conservative Tone of Ministerial Declaration Astonishes Radicals, Whose Support is Expected. PARIS, March . Premier Monls read the ministerial declaration In the Chamber of Deputies today. Its conservative tone astonished the socialists and extreme rad icals, who had been expected to support the new government. These members In terrupted, Jeering the reference In the man ifesto to the church and the schools In which It stated: "We will apply without feebleness and without violence the lawa dealing with religious orders and the separation of the church and state. We wll protect against all attacks our public schools." It I Impossible to determine the precise strength of th ministry In the chamber until there 1 a test vote, which may not be taken today. The declaration sets forth that tha rail road employes who were dismissed follow ing the recent strike will be taken back unless they have been proven guilty of gross Insubordination and the destruction of property. Chief Stamp Clerk Traverse Dismissed Officer Found Ouilty of Selling Con demned Stamps He Reported Destroyed." WASHINGTON. March 6-Arthur M. Travers, chief clerk to the third assistant postmaster general, was dismissed from the service by Postmaster General Hitch cock, who. In a statement, declared that Travers had been guilty of manipulating postage stamps for his own financial ben efit. According to the inspectors Travers to day confessed to them that he had manip ulated certain rare stamps so as to create a fictitious market value. He also, the inspectors declared, admitted changing the records of his office to bIiow that the stamps had been destroyed after the con demnation when they actually were not destroyed. The value of the stamps disposed of ex ceeded $10,flu0, but the government will suffer no pecuniary loss. Travera came Into the postal service from Michigan. CHICAGO, March 6. Chief Deputy John Wolfe of the United States marshal's office and Deputy Walter Walnwrlght, It was learned today, have been suspended as the result of an Investigation of agents of Attorney General Wlckersham's office. Ex- charge. TWO MEN KILLED IN DUEL I,. K. Marbnl and J. K. Strong Shoot Each Other to Dealk at HI In sr. Ala. BIRMINGHAM. Ala.. March S.-L. K. Marhul shot J. E. Strong and was hlmstlf shot by Strong last night In the presence of the former's wife at the Marbul nome j at Rising. Each man emptied a revolver at the other and both were fatally wounded, ' dying at a hospital later. The cause of the trouble Is a mystery as both men were on good terms thirty minute before thu shooting. FREE THEATER TICKETS Ten pairs of seats 20 in all are given away with this issue of the Omaha Bee, See if your name is in any of the classified ads appearing on those pages. TODAY. Al so five sacks of FLOUR. You need not advertise to get these gifts the I5ee (lift Editor uttends to the prizes. Just find your name and the gift is yours. with It? WOMAN ON TRIAL FOR MURDER Mrs. Edith Melber of Albany, N. Y., Charged with Killing Her Son. BODY FOUND IN CLUMP OF REEDS She Confessed that She Gave the Hoy Carbolic Acid II era oar She Could No Longer Fay 111 Board at Institution. ALBANY, N. Y.. March 6 Charged with the murder of her own child, Mr. Edith Melber of Schenectady wa placed on trial before Justice Howard in the supreme court today. On the afternoon of January 13 the body of a boy was found, almost concealed In a clump of reeds, on the outskirts of Al bany. The face had been terribly burned by acid. A half empty bottle of carbolic acid and a bag of chocolate drops were the only clues. For two day th authorities unsuc cessfully nought to learn the boy's name, and then George Melber of Schenectady, a blacksmith. Identified the body a that of hi grandson, George Melber, whom he had thought to be In an orphan asylum. Following this lead the pollc Instituted a search for th child' parents and found that Mra. Melber had left tha house where she was working In Schenectady. She was traced to the tatlon In that city and thence to Rochester, where she wa ar rested, charged with the murder. After denial of her Identity, he finally confessed. Sh declared that she was ordered to take the boy from th Schenectady Orphan asylum because she could not pay his board and that she came to Albany to put him In an Institution here. Admission was refused, she said, nnd she purchased some acid and the candy, walked to the place where the body waa found and poured acid down her boy's throat when he complained of being thirsty and had asked for water. Then, she said, she kissed him, laid his body on the ground and took the next, car for Schenectady. She resumed her posi tion as housemaid and did not leave until nearly a week after the commission of the murder, when she read of the finding of the body two days before. LAWYER PLEADS GUILTY New York Attorney Charged With Subornation of Perjury Tarns State's Evidence. NEW YORK. March .-Whlle Colonel Robert J. Halre, once a well known west ern lawyer and for many years one of tne most prominent practitioners In the criminal court of thl city, was sitting in the supreme court today waiting to be placed on trial, charged with subornation of perjury, his partner, Harold W. Trlp pett, Jointly Indicted with him. appeared before the bar and pleaded guilty. Immediately on Trlpjett' plea of guilty the court granted a motion that Colonel Halre' trial, which was cheduled to go on today, be put over until Wednesday. Trlp pett. who haa turned state' evidence, waa remanded to the Tomb. Colonel Halre came Into prominence In the west many year ago, when he de fended Jeso James, the bandit, and later helped to obtain the release of Frank James. Halre and Trtppett are charged with entering Into a conspiracy with John Rog ers, who was waiting trial on a charge of picking pockets, whereby he was to be freed by false testimony on the payment of $2fi0. ' INITIATIVE BILL FACLNG DEFEAT Forty-One House Members Pledged tt Vote Against It on Third Beading-. ENOUGH TO KILL AN AMENDMENT Measure Almost at Vote When Mem bers Adjourned. PLAN TO CHARGE SENATE BILL Purpose Was to Incorporate Them in Other Measure. AGREEMENT SI ILL HOLDS GOOD ote Will Come 1 i Today When Cull of llnusr Will lrol.alil He ll o I rr Every Member Presence In Deride. (From n Staff Correspondent.) LINCOLN. Neb.. March S.-iRpeclal Tel-.r-grnm.-An lit tempt to kill the Initiative nnd referendum bill, now before the house, was foiled this afternoon by an adjourn ment Just before It came to third read ing and a vote. DurltiK the last few days a petition has been rcpcnUvlly circulated among the member of the house and the men who signed pledged themselves to vote against the bill. There were forty-one of these when the petition was ' withdrawn from circulation and. as It Inkes sixty votes to pass a bill for n constitutional amendment, these men could huve defeated the bill. Tho Mhcmc was to take up the senate Mil now in the committee, and having got the house bill well out of tho way the senate bill could he amended and robbed of Its decisive features. Th Prince amendment, to Incorporate a provision which would preclude any abrogation of the bill of rights, nnd the Ink amend ment, which mines tho percentage of total votes necessary to pass constitutional amendments from 33 to 40, were tha Im portant change that the people behind the scheme seemed to have had In mind. Agreement Still Holds. The petition or agreement which pledged the wets to bang together and kill the house bill will hold overv of course, but there were a number of absentees and It seemed that a favorable opportunity had been lost. Tomorrow morning when the bill comes up It will probably full' by at least on vote of having the sixty necessary for passage. It will get a majority, however, and the majority will probably demand a call of the house. The forty-one men can defeat the bill, but they cannot raise a call of the house, and the matter will hang In the balance until every member Is brought to the bar of the house and put on record. Then It will be seen whether the wets can carry out their plan to throw the bill Into tha scrap heap and pas an altered senate bill. Tlbhet'a Street RaUwar Bill. A new street rallwajvUw Introduced by' Senator Tltroet of Aflam eoutity and now , In the hand of the'comnilttee on miscel laneous corporations ha attracted consid erable attention because It seventy-two lengthy sections provide for numerous fun damental changes In the present street rail way laws. The bill If passed will help the street rail way companies of th state to accomplish the absorption of a number of more or less hypothetical lnterurban lines and will help the companies In both Omaha and Uncoln to make certain change In their systems which they have been prevented from mak ing by the present law. In the first place the bill does not pro vide for a street railway franchise as a basis of existence for a company. A com pany may operate under a "location" a very Indefinite sort ot privilege which Is to be Issued by the city council and no provision Is made for restrictions by the city excepting those specified In the law. Section B0 of the law authorises any street railway using electricity as a motiva powei to sell It for commercial lighting and power, a right at present denied such com panies. The Omaha Council Bluff com pany ha had long and Involved suit over Its right to furnish electricity to other com panies. No flerapatlon Tax. The occupation tax upon street railway will be practically eliminated by section 66, which prohibits the levying of an occu pation tax which shall exceed the excess of the net earnings of the company over 8 per cent on the capital stock. Few com panies earn more than t per cent on their capital stock, and there Is nothing to pre vent their turning back such excess Into Improvements ow the physical property. It Is a possibility that a street railway company under the new law might con tract with a railroad company to carry freight for U over the lines through any part of the city. The forty-sixth section allows any contiguous line to run bag gage, freight or other article of transpor tation and ther la nothing to prevent a street railway from carrying for a steam railway. A street railway Is allowed to go upon private lands with the prac tical right of eminent domain If In that way the line may be Improved. For the Omaha Street llallway company one of the most Important provision's Is the one In section 17, which allows one company to lease the line of another for operation. This will, If practically car ried out. give the Omaha company tha right to take over th Halston lnterurban line, ot which It Is thu heaviest creditor. It baa been prevented front this absorp tion by the law aa It has stood. The Lincoln Traction company would be enabled to abandon the line on Twelfth street In Lincoln which It has been com pelled to keep going because of Its fran chise and which It has wished to give up. The power of absorption would allow th Omaha and Lincoln companies to absorb the lUilstoii and Bethany lines. Under the provisions of the bill the companies are subject to the Mtata Hallway com mission, which could present tha execu tion of any or all ot the matter per mitted In the bill. Kill Nrhool Bond Bill. The school land bill, offered by Lee of Koyd, H. F. 97, to enable tne state to sell the lands now under lease, was Indefinitely postponed by the senate. In favor of hi bill Senator Lee stated that In hi county lands were leasing for ttt a quarter sec tion, while lands lying next to them wer bringing the state 170 per quarter section In taxes. It was urged that selling them would lead to their Improvement. Th op ponents of the treasure urged that the state had already lost large sum of money by selling lands which soon after ro materially In value. Senators from th wr i a-n oart cf Ul atjtt. I and Hay-