, 1889-02-05
IN THE SENATE.
The Pacific Railroads Again
Under Discussion.
A Lot of Talk but no Definite
Action Taken.
A Strange Petition from Wash
ington Territory.
The Pacific Railroads.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 4.-The senate re-
sumed consideration of the antitrust bill,
Frye giving notice that at 2 o'clock he
would ask the enate TO take up the Union
Pacific funding bill.
Mitchell gave notice that he would at
the proper time move to commit the bill
with instructions to include legislation in
reference to the Central Pacific Railroad
company.
Frye stated that the Central Pacific had
not been included in the bill because the
attorneys who had appeared for that com
pany had not seemed to manifest any
great desire for settlement and because
there was not a parallelism between the
cases. The Union Pacific and Central
Pacific question had been again raised by
its president. Huntington, who had ap-
peared before the committee and had
presented a bill which had been intro
duced by Mitchell as a substitute for the
pending bill. adding ten or twelve sections,
Tor a settlement with the Central Pacific.
1t seemed to him that those matters could
be settled in separate bills a good deal
better than in one bill. lie recognized
Nio III Wao hu hlulChoC ulhCICuCC pt-
tween the situations of the Union Pacific
and Central Pacific; that very much more
l%eniency must be granted to the Central
Pacific than to the Union Pacific. If the
government expected to get its debt paid
by the Central Pacific that company should
have a very long time to make tie pay
ment.
The report OF the committee was then
sent to the clerks desk and read.
Mitchell made a motion, of which he
had given notice, to recommit the bill,
and stated his reason why he thought the
motion should prevail. He spoke of the
enormous amount that would be due by
the Pacific railroad companies to the gov
ernment at the time of maturity OF the
debt-$l45, 924, 600. Any legislation
having for its purpose the payment of
that almost fabulous sum had to be re-
garded . OF the very utmost importance.
1t was his purpose, however, to attract
the attention of the country to the general
situation and inaugurate inquiry as to the
propriety and Justice OF proceeding to
consideration of the pending bill while it
omitted to include matters relating to the
least of the whole controversy.
Frye ought to say injustice to the
Central Pacific that in the last month
that company has shown a disposition
and a great desire to make some settle
ment and adjustment Eof its debt with
the United States and there is now pend
ing before the committee an amended
bill which the committee is called to con-
slider tomorrow morning.
Mitchell-That is all right; that shows
a disposition on the part Of the committee
to do hat which it had omitted. | insist
that it is not wise to have the roads forked
at that stage of the game and to proceed
with one branch of controversy leaving
the other branch untouched and uucon-
sidered. If any part of it was to be
postponed it should be the Union Pacific
part.
At this point Mitchell yielded the foo7
on a motion to adjourn.
A conference was ORD cred on the con
sular and diplomatic appropriation bill
and Hale, Allison and Cockrell were ap
pointed conferees on the part of senate.