New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-02-17
THE PACIFIC ROADS.
A not prBATR IN THE sENATE-ACTIoN UNFAvoRA-
BILE TO THE ROADS.


BILE TO THE ROADS.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.1
WASHINGTON, Feb. 16.-The long contest In the
Senate over the Pacific railroads drew near TO an
end to-day The prospect of final struggle INTENSE
fed the feelings of the friends and opponents Oh 'ne
pending measure TO such degree that spirit was
exhibited which is rarely seen on issues OF non
POLITICAL character The two Pacihc railroad COM
nonies have force of devoted friends who stand by
them and fight for their interests on all occasions
nth remarkable zeal and fidelity. Tins faithful
hodveuard is reinforced in the present contest
nv n considerable number of Senators who feel
M special friendship for the roads but who think
Che eompromse they now offer of the dispute about
their obligations to the Government is more advan-
tageous TO. the latter than it would be to leave
ouestions open for further litigation. This party
does not believe that the roads can be forced into
having more than is required by their charters by
any stringent legislation such as is contained IN the
Judiciary Committees bill The courts would they
say set aside such measure as lmpalrlng an exist
ing contract Any law providing for additional pay
ments beyond the five per cent OF net earnings anu
one-half of the earnings from Government trauspor
ration for the purpose OF creating SINKING Iuhd
must il is argued be assented to by the companies
and form a new contract. On the other hand 1t is
asserted by what is known the antiralroad party
that Congress can force the companies to make
eouitabe provision for the payment OF the interest
and principal of the Government loan.
In the course of to-days debate Mr. Blaine took the
floor for the second time since he entered the Senate
and made short speech. He said that when the
bonds fall DUE If no sinking fund has been estab-
Isbed the companies will owe the United States
nearly $3.50 600 900, which together with the S54,-
100000 due to the first mortgage bondholders Will
make total Indebtedness of $4,000 mile on
their roads He favored simple plan for sinking
fund to cancel the debt by the year 1905.
The belligerent feeling provoked by the contest
broke out in a brief personal passage between MI
Booth and Mr.. Dawes. The latter aimed a shot at
the California ant-nonopoly Senator when he SAID
that he (Dawes) had malice against the railroads
and no old scores to pay off Shortly after MI
Booth misunderstood a statement of Mr.. Dawes
about the effect OF an amendment, and the latter
corrected him. Mr.. Booth said, very caustlcally,
that he frequently had the misfortune OF mlsunder-
standing the gentleman from Massachusetts, and
that gentleman, like Talleyrand, had faculty OF
meaning what he did not say and saying what he
did not mean. Mr. Dawes replied to this keen
thrust with considerable feeling. Mr.. Booth was
about to retort when the floor was given to MI
Wadlegh.
A number Of amendments were adopted to-day,
against the opposition of the friends OF the roads
No final vote was taken. Ii is estimated that the
effect of Mr.. Booths amendment, adopted yester
day requiring an annual payment OF $11O0OO from
each company additional to instead OF Ill lieu OF the
per cent on net earnings, and the one-half OF Gov
emment transportation charges will be to add
about 800, 900 to the amount each company must
pay yearly.