National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1885-01-31

Pacific Railways, Interstate Commerce,
PrIyata RIIIs. Ar

In the senate yesterday Mr.. Hoar called up
the Pacific railway bill. He said the news
papers were full of charges and counter.
charges regarding II, and while he would
make no charge against the press OF the coun-
try as body, some Of the statements WERE OF
course, inspired by the interests OF speculative
dealers in stocks. The bill, Mr.. Hoar added
had not been stimulated or instigated by any
railroad company, but was the result of orgl.
nal investigation Of the senate Judiciary com
mittee which had looked very carefully into
the whole subject,
Congress, no said, had originally hoped and
expected to have a railroad from east to west,
which should, In that direction, perform the
function which the Mississippi and Missouri
rivers performed In direction nom north to
south. IL was expected and intended to be
well.ondowed, solvent, and independent line,
which should BIO beyond reach of stock job.
bers. The reasons which caused that expec.
tation 10 fail were, Mr.. Hoar said, well
known. They had been the subject Of inves-
gs,o9 IN doth houses OF GGngrs,s and con
| history which nobody desired needlessly TO
| revive. II had turned out that the bonds given
by the government to aid In the building and
endowment of the road were divided among
the persons concerned In its building, leay.
| ing the road In crippled and embarrassed
condition, without provision for the security
OF its Indebtedness when 1t should become
due.
| Ater referring 10 the evils growing out Of
the difficulties alluded to, Mr., Hoar said that
now the stock of the Pacific roads bad almost
| entirely changed hands. II was now largely
held by persons In humble stations in life-by
| widows, orphans, and the trustees Of chari-
table and educational institutions and savings
banks that held and managed the funds OF
such persons and institutions.
II did not, therefore, seem to Mr.. Hoar to be
| Just or right for the United States to deal with
the question OF the present condition of the
Pacific roads by constantly remember.
ing and citing against them the faults or
wrong doing Of twenty years ago.
| The proposition of the committee, Mr.. Hoar
added, was TO divide the debt. IL was plan
that did not come from the road, nor was II
the suggestion Of the road. IL came, In It's
main features, from the secretary of the in.
terror and tho United States commissioner OF
railroads, aud was maturcd, In It's details, by
the senate Judiciary committee.
Mr.. Garland said the bill, as now presented,
was substantially the same as that reported by
himself last summer from the judiciary com
mittee, except that for reasons then stated 10
the senate the Union Pacific had boon omitted
from its provisions. One particular In which
the present bill differed from the former was
in applying remedy for defect found In ex'
isting legislation regarding the payment by the
roads of current interest.
After brief discussion, participated In by
Messrs. Hoar, sewell, and conger, the matter
The chair laid before the senate the inter
state commerce bill, on which Mr. Pugh de
liyored a lengthy speech, In the course Of
which he was interrupted by questions from
Messrs. Beck, Coke, and Kenna.
AT few minutes past the senate went into
executive session, and when, at 8 p. M, the
doors were reopened, an adjournment unit
Monday was announced.
In the house yesterday Mr.. Keller, of Ohio
rising TO a question Of privilege, sent to thu
clerks desk TO have read telegram received
by him relative to the status of the Hon. jane
s. Robinson, OF Ohio as q member of tn,
house; but Mr.. Converse, OF Ohio, objected.
Mr.. Keller said that he wished to show tina
Mr.. Robinson had resigned his seat, and tina
Mr.. Paige, OF Ohio, when he offered the reso
luton few days ago directing the committe,
on elections to investigate the matter, had
certified copy of the resignation in his pocket
The speaker ruled that the question was no
privileged one.
The house at LOO o'clock went into commit
tee of the whole (Mr. Hatch, of Missouri, in tn
chair on the private calendar.
When the committee rose the house passe,
half dozen private bills.
At O'Clock the house took a recess until
o'clock-the evening session to be for the con
alteration of pension bills.
The house at Its evening session passed thirt
pension bills, and at 1850 adjourned until Il
, day.