Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1888-01-18
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
Text of the Presidents Message
Transmitting the Pacific Railway
Reports to Congress.
He Wonders at the Reckless and UR-
guarded appropriation of Public
Funds aud Public Domain.
He 10 Not In Favor OF governments
Control, but Thinks Congress Can
Find Other Means of Redress
THE PACIFIC RAILWAYS.

WASHINGTON, Jsn. 1T.-Followiug Is
the Presidents message transmitting the
Pacific Railroad reports TO Congress:
To the Senate and House OF Representatives,:
On the Srd day Of March last an act
was passed authorizing the appointment
of three commissioners who should IL
veshgate the affairs of such railroads IS
have received sid from the United States
government. Among other things the
contemplated investigation included Ia
history Of the construction Of these roads,
their relations an Indebtedness to the gov
eminent and the question whether, in the
interest Of the United States, any extern
sion of time for the perform
ance Of the obligations of said roads to
the government should be granted,
and II so said commissioners were di-
rected to submit s. scheme for such ex-
tension. The commissioners were further
directed by said act to report in full to
the President upon sll matters submitted
to them and he was by said act required
to forward said report to Congress with
such recommendations or comments IS
he should see 1T to make in the premises.
The commissioners Immediately after
their election entered upon the discharge
of their duties and have prosecuted their
inquiries with commendsble industry,
INTELLIGENCE AND THoROUGHNESS.
A large amout Of testimony has been
taken and all the facts have been develop
ed which appear to be necessary for the
consideration oilthe questions arising from
the condition Of the said railroads and
their relations to the government. The
commissioners have, however, been una
BILE TO report on the manner in which
these railroads should be rated respecting
their Indebtedness to the United States,
or to unite upon plan best calculated to
secure the payment OF such Indebtedness.
This disagreement has resulted in the
preparation Of two reports, both OF which
sre herewith submitted to Congress.
These reports exhibit such transactions
and schemes connected with
the construction of the aided
roads and their management, snd sug-
gest the invention of such devices On the
part Of those having them in charge for
the apparent purpose OF defeating any
chance for the governments reimburse
ment, that any adjustment or plan of set
Element should be predicated upon the
substantial interests Of the government
rather than sny forbesrsnce or gener-
osity deserved by the companies. The
wide publication which has already been
given to the substance Of the commits
sioners' reports obviates the necessity OF
detailing in this communication the
facts found upon the in
vestigatlon. The majority report
while condemning the methods
adopted by those who formerly had charge
of the aion Pacific Railroad declares
that since its present management was
inaugura.ed, In 1884, its aft airs have been
fairly and prutenlly conducted sud that
the present administration "has devoted
itself honestly and intelligently to the
herculean task OF rescuiDg the
Union Pacific Railway from
the insolvency which seriously threatened
it at the inception OF its work, and that
1t has devoted itself by rigid economy, by
intelligent management and by the appli-
cation of every dollar OF the earning ca
pscitY of the system to its Improvement
and betterment to place that company on
sound and enduring financial founda-
ton" The condition of the present man
sgement of the Union Pacific COMPANY
has
AN IMPORTANT BEARING
upon its ability to comply with the terms
of any settlement of it's Indebtedness
which may be asked for by the govern
ment. a majority of the commissioners
are in favor Of an extension of time for
the payment of the government indebted
ness o! those companies on certain con-
ditiors, but the chairman Of the commits
sion presenting a minority report, recon-
mends both upon principle and policy the
institution Of proceedings for the for
fixture OF the charters OF the corporations
and the winding up of their affairs.
have been furnished with a statement or
argument IN defense CT the transactions
connected with the construction OF the
Central Pacific Railroad and its branch
lines, from which it may not De amiss
to quote for the purpose of show
ing how some Of the operations
of the directors Of said road strongly con-
demned blythe commissioners sre defended
by the directors themselves. After speak
ing of the contract for the construction of
one Of these branch lines by corpors-