The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-01-27
THE TExAs-PACIFTc SCHEME
Arguments ny Gov. brown and Col. Thomas
Scott Befors the Home Committee.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 26.-The argument OF
the Texas Pacific Railway question was re-
sumed this morning before the House Commit
tee on Pacific Railroads. Mr.. Storrs having
finished his statement OF the legal points upon
which the Southern Pacific OF California desired
tho right to build through to Ell Paso. Gov J. c.
Brown, Vice. President Of tho Texas Pacific
road. discussed fully the broad. general ques-
ton which had governed the policy OF the Gov
eminent In aiding the construction Of COM
mercial highways. In this connection. he
argued that all the statesmen. even Of the
school OF strict constructionsts. with Calhoun
at the head. had maintained the absolute
power Of the United States to extend
this aid. and that one Of the main
Inducements " the negotiation Of the Gadsdcn
treaty had been the acquisition Of territory
along the thirty-second parallel. through which
ran the natural route for q transcontinental
railway. He said that the Texas- Pacific had
Of aid from the government. and that justice
required the extension OF the aid asked by II. as
the Union and Central Pacific companies had re-
ceived f54 900 900 Of bonds and $4,000 600 acree
Of land the Northern Pacific A. 000, 900 acres Of
land. and the Texas and Pacific only is,oOo.OOO
acres. no portion OF which could the latter re-
ceive until after II built thousand miles
through the State OF Texas.
and M TaGs r. s2 he on bTs
viewed the grounds upon which Government
aid was asked and the advantages which the
ccmpctns am ns poo s T showed THAT that With he
present prices OF labor and material and the
ability To market the bonds Mt par. which would
be secured by the Government endorsement of
the interest thereon. the whole amount OF the
Of the line would be less than f2.0O0,0O0. while
the present trHnscOntincntal railroad line has
To earn more than four times that amount He
said that under the plan proposed, the interest
Pacific Company. while the sink ding fund would
gradually redeem the principal and leave the
road ultimately without debt; that under the
power reserved to the Government to regulate
capital. these rates would annually be reduced,
to the great benefit of the Government and
the people, and that the Government alone
would save $1,000 600 yearly by the bu lding OF
bonds. IL it nevor earned n cent Mr.. Scott
claimed that the Central Pacific Company had
no intention TO build n line to compete against
themselves but merely offered to build a road
70 prevent its construction that they were not
bound to build mile. and II their bill passed
could simply sit still six years, and during that
time monopolize the entire traffic across the
continent. and tax II Ms GENEROUSLY IA they were
Pacific had spent $4,000 600 in good faith, and
had II not been for the panic of 1873. would
have had the whole line nearly completed by
this time, and under the aid proposed. would
Mr. Scott closed with n strong appeal to the
| committee To- look at the question, not in tho
light OF technicalities. but on the broad ground
| OF the interest Of the whole country. and ex-
| Congress who aided in securing this great
| highway on the basis OF justice t. the people
| and the interest Of the Government, would in
after years regard 1t a. one Of the proudest
achievements OF his political life
The. committee then adjourned until Tuesday
morning.