Los Angeles daily herald., 1875-02-17
DEFEAT OF SCOTT.
The Texas Pacific Railroad Subsidy
Proposition Probably Lost.

The Atta of the 14th inst. contains
the following important and to the
people of Southern California unsatis-
factory dispatches:
WASHINGTON, February 18th. The
action of the Senate to-day in defeat
ing the Portland, Dalles and Salt
Lake Railroad proposition was dis
cussed tonight with great interest by
railroad men. The debate gives an
opportunity of free expression of opin-
ions on the subsidy questions. The
opposition to the subsidy was of the
most pronounced character, only two
votes could be obtained to support the
second reading of the bill. Some one
took the opportunity to test the
strength of the Texas Pacific In an in
formal manner, by mutual consulta-
ton. 1t was reported that forty
seven Republicans shook hands on
the proposition that no railroad subsi-
dy of any kind should be passed this
session. 1t was reported also that ten
Democrats agreed to support subsidy
measures, while others declined to
commit themselves.
WASHINGTON, February 18th. The
action of the Senate yesterday in the
Oregon Railroad subsidy bill, together
with the report that more than forty
Senators had been approached in
formally, and had stated that they
were bitterly opposed to any bill
granting subsidy at this session OF
Congress, has created violent sensa-
ton among railroad men.
The Senate Committee on Railroads
has been awaiting for several weeks
the arrival of Senator Stewart, Chair
man of the committee, whose action
would decide his course. His vote in
favor of the Texas Pacific bill would
secure q majority report, and he
friends of Scott confidently expected
such action. Stewart, however, took
occasion yesterday, when the Oregon
bill was up, to speak to each Senator
on the subject of subsidies, with direct
referepce to the Texas Pacific bill.
He made a tally list of all present, and
soon after it was announced informal
ly that more than forty Senators
would oppose all efforts to bring the
subsidy question before the Senate
This decision is given by some as a
reason of the popular sentiment
against subsidies; others, of the de-
pleted condition of the Treasury, and
others, constitutional objections and
pledges.
About twenty announced them
selves in favor of the Texas Pacific;
others refused to commit themselves.
Stewart says this shows the senti-
ment of the Senate so forcibly that it
is unnecessary for him to decide the
question of the Texas Pacific in the
committee, and no report will be
made. This accounts for the state
ment by Frelinghuysen yesterday,
that the committee would report no
subsidy bills.
The friends of the Texas Pacific are
very bitter against Stewart, and claim
they will yet pass the bill in the
House. The Central Pacific and
Southern Pacific men are confident
that Scott is defeated.
Your correspondent has succeeded in
obtaining the following list of Sena-
tors, recorded on Stewards list, st,against
all subsidies this session: Anthony
Bayard, Boutwell,, Edmunds, Ferry of
Connecticut, Ferry of Michigan, Flan-
agan, Frelinghuysen, Hager, Hamil-
ton, Hamlin, Morrill, of Maine, Nor
rill of Vermont, Sargent, Schurz,
Sherman, Thurman, Wadleigh, Wash
burne, Wright, The names of the
other Senators could not be obtained
to-day.
The Chronicle has the following un-
der date of Washington, February
18th: "Tom Scott threw up the sponge
and retired from the field to-day, and
his army of retainers are sad and de-
Frelinghuysen of New Jersey, men,
ber of the Senate Committee-the
subject under debate being the Port
land, Dallas and Salt Lake Railroad
yesterday said they had before them
six or seven bills providing for subsi-
dies. They have carefully considered
the subject, have had repeated meet
ings and heard arguments, and they
will not report any such bill favorably
to the Senate; and further, that these
bills which have been thus treated
have infinitely more merit than the
bill before the Snate. They state that
there are roads having already land
grants of great value which they offer
to surrender if the Government will
guarantee their bonds-roads which
are in a good measure constructed and
have large amount of other property;
and they offer, in addition to surren-
dering their land grants, to mortgage
that property to secure the guarantee
which the Texas Pacific Company ask
OF Government; yet the Railroad
Committee, in view of all the circum-
stances of the country, have deter
mined not to recommend one of these
grants. Scott is a veteran lobbyist
and knows when he is whipped. He
went home to-day to Philadelphia on
the o'clock train. Reqaiescat in