The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-01-25
WASHINGTON.
The PucsGc RuiIrn-.ts

WASHINGTON, Jan. 24.-The Senate commit
tee on railroads today agreed to recommend the
passing of the bill to extend the time for COM
pleting the Northern Pacific Railroad with
to the main line and to period of eight years
instead of ten years. The section proposing to
repeal the law requiring the company to pay
the costs of surveying and couveyaneing will
be admitted in the bill as reported.
The committee took up Senator Vests bill
to recover certain bonds and coupons alleged to
have been issued to the Union and Central
Pacific roads in excess of the limitation of the
law, and referred it to a sub-com mittee con-
sisting of Senators West, Dawes, Mitchell and
Eaton. Tomorrow evening was assigned for
hearing Mr.. Scott in advocacy Of the Texas Pa
cfc bill.
Hurlburrs Cheap Transportation Bill.
The following is synopsis of Hurlburt's bill
introduced il the House to day to cheaper the
transportation of freight from the Atlantic to
the Ohio or Mississippi valleys. 1t provides for
the appointment of five commissioners who are
to be the operators of the line and who are to
subscribe for all the stock and to hold the
voting power forever and to manage with two
directors of their own selection the entire bust
ness OF the corporation, thus make it strictly
speaking good road. The stock certificates
are to be used for construction expenses and
the completion OF the road, which is to be done
in six years. The government IS to receive an
only mortgage on the road and fixtures, except
the rolling stock, and is to guarantee per cent
interest on 1000 per mile on 46 years con-
struetion bonds. These bonds are not issue till
double the amount to be guaranteed has been
actually expended on each section. The con-
struction is also to mortgage to the government
as trustee its rolling stock at $4,000 per mile
and to issue thirty-four year equipment bonds
at per cert. No bonds are to be sold at less
than 50 per cent.
Fifteen thousand dollars per mile is to be
obtained on per cent interest bearing stock
payable in 16 years, which stock is to be re-
ceived in payment of freight at the rate of not
less than SO, 900 per annum. The equip
ment at the outset is to consist of 875 locomo-
tiVes and II, 800 cars One-third of all the
work done and materials furnished is to be
paid for in this coupon stock at par 1t is es.
timated the road will cost $50, 10000 per mile of
single track, making its cost $135, 000, 1000, of
which the government is to guarantee interest
on $40, DOC, 900 at per cent,
Various Matters
The President sent in the following nomina-
tons to the Senate today: Chas. Bartell of
Maine, for consul at Martinique, and Frederick
b. Foster for consul at Manila.
The select committee on the Texas border
troubles today examined two citizens of that
state who gave detailed accounts of the cattle
thleylDg by Mexicans on the Texas side of the
Rio Grande.
Major Joseph f. johnson has arrived here
as special messenger from Montgomery,
Alabama, bringing with him the memorial OF
the Legislature and other papers alleging the
illeSality of the election of Spencer to the Sen.
ate.
The Postmaster General was before the
House postoffice committee today giving infor-
nation concerning the working Of his depart.
ment and replying to inquiries on various points
of the service.
The Commissioner of Indian Affairs was be
fore the ways and means committee today ask
ing for $21600 as a deficiency owing to the
fact that extraordinary issues were made for
subsistence of the numerous bands of Sioux
called together at the Red Cloud Agency to
treat for the cedng of the Black hills, the sup
plies having become exhausted.