The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-07-04

roads; whether the Union Pacific has
PAID out OF its surplus earnings, or other
wise, the Indebtedness or anv part thereof
OF the other companies; and if SO
whether such guarantee or payment. or
ooth, are in accordance with the law and
consistent with the obligations of the Tn
ION Pacific to the United States. Edmunds
suggested to add the words "and that the
secretary of the interior communicate all
the information in the possession of his
department on the subject" Piumo ac-
cepted the amendment. Butler sarcastic
caiiy suggested that the secretary of the in
terror also report if he had any knowledge
why the senator does not proceed TO the
consideration OF the report of the select
committee on Pacific railroads. He sup
posed the caucus had acted on the matter.
This led to tilt between Butler and Ed
munds, which consumed some time. Ed
nunds said that as far as he was concerned
he would be glad to have the resolution
embrace call to know whether the interior
department is in possession of information
that at least one of the government-aiaed
railroads has not, ever since the passage of
the Thurman act. deliberately ignored
Its inJunctlons in respect of increasing obli-
cations and making dividends. If it be
true that in spite of law, with penalties i'm
posed. there has not been force enough in
the administration, either under the DEM
ocratic or Republican auspices, to compel
these companies to obey the law, he did
not know that it would be of any use to
spass the settlement bill at all. The resolu-
ton was finally agreed to.
The subject of the bin passed yesterday
as to land patents remaining undelivered
and facilities offered firm of Washington
City attorneys to take list of them, was
brought UP by Berry, who had letter read
sent by these attorneys to the clerk of CO.
iumbia county, Arkansas, offering TO sup
ply patents in that county for s4 eacn of
which fee the clerk was to receive 81. A
letter from Assistant Commissioner Stone,
then acting commissioner. to this firm, ex-
tending such facilities to it, and a letter
from Assistant Secretary Bussey certifying
to the reputable character of the firm, were
also read. Berry said that if any explana-
ton could be given of that transaction. or
any excuse for that most scandalous con-
duct on the part of the government officers,
he would be glad to hear it. There were
95o,000 of these undeivered patents. and
this firm would, at the low rate mentioned
i'm its letter, wrench a million dollars from
citizens unjustly and without authority.
He understood that one member of the
firm. Thomas II. Mckee, was an officer of
the House OF Representatives. The matter
was discussed at some length by Teller,
Paddock and Cockrell. Paddock stated
that under the present administration the
number of uudeivered patents had been
reduced by some 10000.
The Senate bill to establish United
States land court was then discussed until
= O'Clock in the afternoon, when the postal
and ship subsidy bills came up. Vest con-
tinued the arguments against the bills. He
was as anxious as Mr. Blaine to bring back
the supremacy of the United States on the
ocean and to open the ports of South Amer
lea to American products, but the question
was as to the means of bringing about that
end. The senator from Maine (Frye)
wanted subsidies. He (Vest) opposed them
in toto. Vest went on to speak of the late
Pan American conference, and sent to the
clerks desk and had read clipping from
the New York HeyuM of Buenos Ayres
correspondence to show what Senior Pierra,
who accompanied the Argentine delegates
to Washington City, thought of the confer
ence, of Blaine and the United States dele
gates AS soon as the clerk finished read
ing this very caustic criticism, Hawley
asked Vest whether he knew who wrote
that; whether it was quite fair and decor
Gus to have printed such Ness of irre-
sponsible blackguardism. Vest replied
that the gentleman's name was given In
the communication.
Hswley-I reaffirm what said: that The man
who speaks as he does of honorable gentlemen
and who says of American colleges that degrees
can be obtained for $50. says wiliully that watch
is false.
Vest-He is secretary of a society in Buenos
Ayres, ana accompanied the delegation from the
Argentine Republic to this Pan-Amerlcan con-
ference.
Hawley-And you may add TO that description
that he is a liar and a blackguard.
Vest-The article is q criticism of q public
assembly, ana l have il read to show the Inn
preston on prominent man who attended that
conference in respect TO the personnel of the
conference and its objects. IL was in order to
show that no winning and dining. no public ex-
hibition, nothing but selfinterest would effect
our commercial relations with the people of
south America. / have had that article read as
a communication published all over the coun-
try and in South America to show that the men
who came here from South America are among
the keenest, shrewdest and NOSE farseeing mer-
chants of the world, and that when we, by an
international American conference. or b. any
other spectacular means, seek to draw them
away from self-interest we simply fooling
ourselves and throwing away the money of the
public.
Vest went on to say that if the subsidy
system was established it should be made
equal. Cattle ralsers should be subsidized.
Ii he wanted to emasculate and enervate
the people he would teach them to depend
upon the government
Wilson of Indiana addressed the Senate
in opposition to the bills, which went over
The conference report on the agricultural
appropriation bill was presented and agreed
to. Adjourned till Monday.