New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-01-25
THE PACIFIC RAILROADS.
A PECULIAR DEBATE IN THE SENATE

WASHINGTON Jan. 24.-The Senate TODAY aoopo
ed by a vote OF "a to Is the resolution recen1S
offered by Mr.. Hoar providing for tne appo,nv
ment of a Special Committee to deal wi'ii U"0
oues,ion Of the IAcifc Railroad Indebtedness. Inc
resolution was not adopted, however "i'nouV
giving rise to what must be characterized 10 u"
extraordinary debate. The Judiciary commute"
IL appears to whom the consideration Vi 'hc'o
euestions has been assigned ever since 1t arose.
have been deeply hurt by the rehectlons anu
criticisms directed against them in certain news
Gamers Especially is this true in regard to their
action in the XL1Xth Congress. Both Mr. Ed
runds and Mr. Vest declared to-day that they
wished nothing more to do with the whole busi-
ness Mr. Edmunds saying that he wished some
other men 10 try their hands at It, ana MT Fest
asserting with much vehemcnce that under no
circumstances could he be induced ever again
IN serve on a committee that had charge OF these
matters IT, notwithstanding his protest, the
Senate should decide TO send the matter back 10
the Judiciary Committee. he would refuse 10 serve
on that committee and conine himself simply TO
the duty of voting upon such measures as mlght
be laid before the Senate.
SENATOR HoAR's PRANK STATEMENT
Mr.. Uoar acknowledged in q perfectly frank
and straightforward manner how he happeLed TO
report in the XLIXth Congress bill which, after
a careful examination of experts, disclosed the
fact that il would have given, II passed, an undue
advantage to the railroads over the Government,
and have reduced by many millions their Just and
lawful Indebtedness No one knowing MI h doat
character could have doubted the perfect honesty
of his intentions, and enc owes him almost an
apology for making such statement lie de-
ciarcd to-day that no to blame Tor the
report of that bill except himself. lie had pre-
sentcd il to the committee, and they had adopted
II upon his statement, as indeed any committee
might have adopted the statements OF one OF us
members if it covered o complicated array OF
figures and data The discovery OF his error
was due TO Nh. Sherman, who pointed 1t out TO INN
e. L. 4 tod
else.
Mr. Patt deprecated the attitude assumed by
the members Of the Judiciary Committee; Other
committees, he thought, his own among inc mum,
Der were constantly being made the subject or
criticisms in the public press, in many cases un-
deserved or wholly unwarranted: III every com
mttec. like the Judiciary Committee were TO re-
fusc to do work because i was being criticised,
no work could be done Besides what would he
the result OF appointing a special committee 10
that committee would be transferred the criticism
now directed against the Judiciary committee.
MeSSrs Coke and George both members OF the
Judiciary Committee, expressed views similar to
those OF Messrs. Edmunds and Vest.
ANXIETY OF sABIN's COMMITTEES.
Mr. Sabn chairman of the Committee on Rail
rosds asked the reason why the matter should not
be referred to his committee. That committee, he
contended. had originally had jurisdiction over
the subject and should be entrusted with 1t now.
He offered a motion to that effect, and it was
put TO a vote Mr.. Mitchell. also member of
that committee, managed to put in a strong plea
Pacific Railroad legislation. Rather biuntly ne
declared that the result OF the labors Of the
Judiciary Committee on this question had been
complete failure from beginning to end. The
Thurman act. ne asserted, had proved hasco;
1t had never accomplished what it was designed
to accomplish The Supreme Court of the United
States ny only a bare majority of one declared
The act TO be constitutional Upon the admission
OF Mr. IIoar himself the Judiciary Committee was
RESPONSIBLE for another blunder. Now II. Mr..
Mitchell contended the bill rrDOrted from the
Railroad Committee by Senator Matthews now an
Associate Justice Of the supreme Court, had been
adopted instead Of that reported by Mr. Thurman
from the Judiciary Committee. the sinking fund
OF The Pacific railroads would contain thirty
million dollars instead OF only twelve thousand
dollars Mr. Mitchell saw reason why this
Imattcr involving it did not single legal
point but merely question of accounts. could
NO he successfully dealt with by business men as
well as by lawyers This lie meant without disre-
spcct TO The judiciary Committee which, as every
BODY knew, contained the best legal talent IN
Mr. Edmunds declared with much feeling and
great carncstness that if nothing more was &C
comDliShcd by the Judiciary Committee than 10
establish the principle that these railroads arc
subject TO the control Of the Congress and the
GeVcrnmcnt. that was great deal, and he de
clarrd that this rot achieved without
determined and persistent opposition on the part
of the railroads.
pee a. was lost without division, and the
amended motion of Mr. IlOar increasing the special
committee to seven was passed shortly aiterwaM.
by vote Of "a TO >; The power to appoint
the committee rests with the President pro tenn,
Mr. ingalls,. who undoubtedly VIII announce >h'
ommittee in a few days.
PRINTER BENEDICTS PREDICAMENT.
ASKED 20 EXPLAIN WHY VETERAN SOLDIERS ABE
DISCHARGED DURING THE RUSH oF WORK.
WAsnIxGrov. Jan. "a tSp'cio')- any
division in the Printing Committee or in the
House the resolution calling upon Public Printer
Benedict to explain why he was discharging en-
ploycs while the work Of the House was far in
DIV
seems to foreshadow an investigation of the affairs
of the Government Printing Office, which Mr..
Benedict appears 10 have msmanaged to the best
of his ability since he appointed at the
Recommendation Of Private Secretary Lamont.
Both sides Of the House recognize the fact that
CongresSi0nal action IS belhg seriously crIppie 1
mittccs General CutchcOn, who introduced the
resolution of inquiry, explains the motive OF II
thus:
4 veteran of the war came to my house sunday night
and explained that he had just been discharged from
the printing Office without any cause pehs IT,
look into his case found that some hity Others I
assigned II seemed quito remarkable, considering
the fact that before TO my recollection has the
House printing been far behind There arc some
100 bins imprinted and we have as Yet hardly had
single report printed in TIM to be used when the o
RESOLUTION was reported today, Thought the public
had seen sne u bs ana bS as
is exhausted And yet ] cannot understand how such
an excuse can DC made because me Pubic PrnIer mas
yet Rounds used to keep 400 more men at work. 1t
will bear explanation.
The resolution passed not only asks an ex-
PLANTATION as to the discharges during the rush Of
work but calls for information as to the dis
missal Of Union veterans in violation of the law
giving them preference other things being equal
The Investigation has grown from the discharge
OF the veteran who sought Mr.. Cutcheon's as
sistance and it is understood that other ex-
soldiers were treated In the same way.
DENYING A GOVERNORS CHARGES.
WAsHINGToN.: Jan. "a (Specar.-Tho resolution
offered by Mr. Woodburn, Of Nevada yesterday,
90 IL 10