The New York herald., 1877-11-18
THE PACIFIC RAILROADS,

THE PACIFIC RAILROADS.
The Senate Judiciary Committee to-day heard fur
ther argument the subject Of tho Puciic Railroad
companies indebtedness to tho government and the
best means Of providing for its payment. Mr. Storrs
OF New York, counsel for the Central Pacific Com.
pany and President Dillon, OF the Union Pacific Com
pany, made argument against Senator Thurman's
Sinking Fund BILL and in advocacy OF proposition
submitted IN behalf Of tho companies to-day, which
provides for the creation OF sinking fund to qui.
date their total indebtedness by the year 1905 Tho
material features OF this proposition hayo boon
already published.
Mr.. Storrs presented the draft of a bill embodying
this proposition, which is that tho Central and Union
Pacific companies shall reconvey to tho government
oil the unsod railroad lands between tho 1O3d mcr-
dian and the eastern boundary OF California amount
ing to about 000 acres the government crcditng
the companies with the aggregate price thereof at
81 rs per acre, and that, In addition the companies
shall pay into the Treasury the United Statos sem
annually sum which. together with this amount
and tho one-haf tho cost of government transporta
ton, with interest on all these sums compou dcd
semi.annuay, will be sufficient to quidate thei- In.
dobcdness to the government by tho year 1905 Syd.
ney Dillon, President of the Union Pacific and Mr.
Huntington, Vice President OF tho Central Pacific
strongly contested the right OF Congress pass any
bill altering tho tcTms of the original charter but
each pledged tter respective companies to faithful
performance of tho obligations proposed In tho draft
Of the bill presented by Mr. Sorrs provided Congress
would pass 1t as substitute Tor Mr.. Thurman's bill
The representative Of tho first mortgage bondhocrs
OF tho Kansas Pacific Company said they had no OBJ
lection to Mr. Thurman's bill, but that II any new
Legislation to DO had oonferrpE additional bene-
fits and advantages the Central and Union Pacific
companies by extending the time for the pay.
ment OF their indebtedness till the year 1905.
hc would suggest il should be made condi.
tional upon their constance with tho law of
Congress which requires the main line and branches
to be operated as one connected and continuous line
without any discrimination either IN favor OF or ad-
veree to any OF the companies Tho general impres.
sion to DO that the committee will decline 10
adopt tho draft OF tho bill presented on behalf of the
Union and Central Pacific companies, and that Mr.
Thurman's bill will be reported to tho Senate at an
early day substantially as originally introduced by
him.
ALLEGED FRAUDULENT MEXICAN CL,IMs.
The subcommittee OF the House Foreign Afrairs
Committee to-day held meeting to hear argument on
the question OF investigating alleged frauds Ia the
Well and La Abra claims. Tho counsel for Mexico
expressed the Willingness OF that governments to SUBJ
stantatc tho charges II permitted to do So but sug.
gcsted that the honest claimants should be com.
PEELED to await the investigation, but should paid at
The counsel for tho two claims referred to DC.
ncd tho right Of Congress other to withhold their
money or to on tertain tho charges
REVENUE Al PoINTMENTs.
N. T. Roberts was to-day appointed revenue store
keeper and gaugcr for the Second district Of Ken.
lucky D. q. Bancroft for the Second district OF Geor-
eia W. b. Crosley for the Fifth district OF Tennessee
and Richard Nelson Tor tho Third district OF Georgia.
PATENTS.
Tho Senate Committee on Patents to-day heard
further argument Senator wadlegh's bill provd-
ing Tor revision Of tho patent laws Ex-Commis.
sioner Of Patents ~ d. Lcgget spoke general
OF the proposed to the present laws and
In advocacy OF the bill Mr. J. H. Raymond, member
OF the Bar Association OF Chicago, argued generally
against the present law, mentioning detail its exist
ing evils avoring radical changes therein During
his remarks no gave a history OF the nature and
operation ol the statutes OF Limitation. Tho commit
tee adjourned until Monday next when MIR. Raymond
will make somc further remarks and be followed by
Mr. j. j. Store of Boston, Mass in favor OF the pro-
posed revision large number Of members OF tho
Patent once Bar Association present from vari-
parts OF the United States