The record-union., 1891-02-15
WASHINGTON GOSSIP.
Decidedly Interesting Interview
With c. P. Huntington.
He Wants the Question of the Central
Pacific Indebtedness Settled Too
Much Politics-The Shipping Bill
Thomas Jefferson and Reciprocity
Senator Hearst's Condition.
Especial Correspondence of SUNDAY UNION.

Meeting Mr.. G.. P. Huntington at the
capitol yesterday, after usual salutations I
asked him whether his visit to Washing
ton might be invested with blood-curd-
ing political significance, a flank move
ment on the Farmers Alliance by the
heartlesS corporationsts, or tame private
business call such as any other human
being might indulge in. He replied in
his accustomed good nature, 81 am sim
ply here to urge, if possible, some action
on the bills now pending before both
houses of Congress, and favorably re-
ported by their committees, pointing out
some definite method by which the Cen
tral Pacific Company may be able to pay
Its debts to the Government, instead of
keeping us hung up by the eyelids."
. You have plenty OF time between now
and '9S and 80 to do it in,'' 1 remarked.
That is very true,'' replied Mr.. Hunt
1ngton, but it requires great deal of
time to do "a very little here. The COM
mercial and producing forces of this
valuable time as is daily wasted here in
what they call debate.
Il particularly desire the bill to pass at
this session, because it relieves us at once
OF that political incubus which has been
hanging over us so long, When our
debts are adjusted and in process of
liquidation there can be no legitimate or
honest reason for continuing the alliance
any longer.
The bill as it stands allows us seventy
five years to extinguish the debt by q
semi-annual payment, in round numbers
of about half a million of dollars, with
interest at two per cent. per year.
The Union Pacific will have fifty
years time, at three per cent. by a semi
annual payment OF about million and a
quarter. This difference of time and in
tereSt in our favor is considered as an
equitable adjustment growing out of the
greater resources and capacity of the
Union Pacific"
us this arrangement agreeable to both
companies ?" l inquired.
After some hesitation Mr.. Huntington
said: 1T is not exactly what [ would
individually prefer, but the terms are
reasonably f ir, and in order to do
business as railroad company and not
as tpolit cal machine l am agreeable
to it.
1.-THE I'm on Pacific, think, do not
like the b II as 1t stands, alleging as rea-
son thett inability to meet its payments
under the present vigorous competition
at home and in Canada, and the peculiar
operations of the interstate commerce
law.
''Under the provisions of the law as it
stands to-day we are paying the Govern
ment per cent. of all our net earnings,
and 80 per cent. of our earnings for Gov
ernment work are withheld towards form
ing sinking fund. By this bill now
pending, if either company fails to accept
the conditions of the bill when passed
they have to pay 10 per cent. of their net
earnings to the Government.
Il am informed that the Union Pacific
Company will ask for an extension of
time to 100 years at =! per cent. interest
which they will accept, and there will be
meeting of the committee next week
having that object in view. Any arrange
ment suits us.
This legislation, which hope viii be
passed before Congress adjourns, posi-
lively removes the Southern Pacific Com
pany wholly and permanently out of
politics forever. Let that be distinctly
understood
DO you propose to abandon the con-
troll which that company has over both
parties in Cali1ornia?'' 1 asked.
THAT is precisely what L announced a
year ago. Il is demoralizing to the peo-
pie and extremely improbable to us.
''The people of California can now-if
they want to-hold their municipal,
county and State conventions and their
elections Independent of railroad control.
Every man can aspire to position in any
locality now without being aided by that
influence or their money.
''To men elected under those conditions
/ am perfectly willing to intrust the
settlement of any and all controversies in
which the company are interested.
when we get to conducting our bust
ness as railroad men, precisely as other
business men conduct their business, and
in no other way, and the people of your
State come to understand that we are in
earnest about it, that enmity now enter
tanned by many against the company will
change to friendship and the result can
not fail but be mutually beneficial. The
lnd no ha ,c-t
and the people for uS-a most desirable
exchange. Don't think, however, for a
moment, that by ridding the railroad
company of that political cesspool it will
purify your politics in California un-
less the people take hold themselves, not
vanity and sack there you will also
find either open ambition or covert dis
sembling after political power. 1t only
transfers the base of supplies. The rule
applies to every State"
"Do you favor the so-called shipping
bill?"
Most certainly do. It is the opening
wedge for gaining our lost carrying trade
No city and no country on the continent
to-day needs it more than the city of San
Francisco and the State of California.
Mr.. FELTON,, from your State, made q
very practical and strong argument on
that subject last year before the House
Committee. He showed very conclusively
how the English subsidy to her Canadian
Pacific Steamship line on the Pacific
would not only cripple, but destroy both
the Pacific Mail to Japan and China and
the Australian line.
''The warehouse system to grow out of
the shipping bill is an admirable idea.
Warehouses are to be built in every for
eigns country where our vessels go in
which the entire freight of those vessels
are deposited. except such goods as are
SlinDei to order These goods frlIjfs
merchandise, or whatever il may be, are
open for examination and sale, without
extraordinary charge, and there remain
until sold. thus protecting our manu-
facturers and shippers from the dishonest
methods of foreign consignees and for
the ships that carry the mails TO those
points Is q mere bagatelle compared with
this improved system of extending our
commerce and enlarging foreign trade.
''In fact think the Government will
make itself whole in any expenditure
they make through its increased foreign
postage receipts. The Commissioner of
Navigation estimates the expenditures
for carrying our mails under this bill will
be the first year about s., 000.00 all told.
''Great Britain paid last year in postal
subsidies 8, 200; France, 81, 792, 77S;
Italy, S3,505, ,035; Germany, S3,l3l ,6l0;
Spain, 81 ,57l ,0S5; Brazil, Sl.700, 600; Bel
gium, S430, l27: Japan, S590, ,0O0; Australia,
$3.50, ,000 The United States during that
time paid sl09,S2 90 American steamship
lines and S400,000 10 foreign steamship
lines for mail service. The United States
last year made q profit Of S1,100,e09 on its
foreign mail service, while Great Britain
paid over 81 600 eco out of its treasury TO
sustain her foreign commerce.
England paid her steamship line to
Australia for mail service in 1857, Sis, ,652;
the United States paid her American line