The morning call., 1893-01-26

bCO ocnt IOl tio anu Nv ~
peared before us and gave full
statement of tho condition of affairs
on the Pacific Coast, and especially in Cali
f0rnia. with reference to the question OF
trans pOrtation. Mr. Geary explained that
Mr.. c. P. Huntington had formerly owned
aj0rity of the stock nf the Panama Rail-
road. but had parted with il, most OF the
stock now being held in France. Geary
thought that Huntington had realized his
mistake, and was now anxious to regain
control of the road in order TO again operate 1t
in connection with the Pacific Mail and freeze
out the rival North American Navigation
Company. BY causing an investigation in
Congress he hoped TO "bear" the stock and
buy it up. Geary also told them that part of
Huntington's plan might be to raise row
so that receiver might be appointed for the
Panama Railroad. The latter. although
most of the stock is held in France. is an
American corporation and under the juris-
dicion Of the United States courts.
Mr.. Geary, speaking for the Panama
Railroad Com pany and the people of Cali
fornia, said that the road did not wish 10
suppress an investigation, but to encourage
one. having nothing 10 fear. but ne thought
that an investigation. if determined upou,
CATION that the Pacific Mall Company after
accepting a subsidy from the Government
to promote commerce. had accepted bond
OF nearly S1,000,000 from transcontinental
railroads.
A member OF the Committee on Rules
said tonight: at seems quite prUba ble
that Fellows resolution will be reported
favorably to the House, but this will not be
a 4
meeting Is held. which may be to-mor-
row. If an investigation is had it
will be made to include the
ness with such resolutions is as follows;
They are. under the rules OF the House, re-
ferred to the Committee on Rules, which
must either directly authorize an investgs-
ton or report the resolution to the House
with recommendation that it be adopted,
at the same time recommending that it be
conducted by certain committee. In the
present case if the house adopts the rec
Ommendatien tLat Investigation be had the
matter will probably be placed in charge of
the Committee on Interstate and Foreign
Commerce. the Foreign Affairs Committee
or the Committee on judiciary. A sub COM
mittee of either one of these three
VIII Uo QtslEudtcu ~ CUHuutb
the inquiry. They will be empowered to
send for persons ard papers and will prob
ably sit in Washington. though it may be
necessary 10 visit New York City to ex-
amino the flee books Of the company CT.
as you suggest, it might possibly be neces-
sary to make trip away out to San Fran
cisco to examine the books of the Pacific
railroads to fud out about this alleged
mo, ToD
Steamship Company.
''If trip to San Francisco is TO be made
the inquiry should be put under way at
once, as Congress Is rapidly nearing its
close, and of course a committee of this
Congress cannot sit after March next"
There is some speculation as to who Will
be chairman of the investigating comm T.
tee. II the matter is referred to the Corn
mittee on Foreign Affairs Blount of Georgia
will be at its head, If the judiciary Corn
mittee handles it Culberson of Texas will le
its chairman, and If the Committee on :
terstate and Foreign Commerce is to ha
charge Of the matter Wise of Virginia 4
conduct the inquiry. All of thesear e.
men, vho cannot be Influenced by a.
sinister means brought to bear by Hunting
ton or his man Houston.
boTNiOAO
be appointed If so Geary Will probably be
chairman, as he was the mover of the reso-
luton to-day. At any rate, whether ap-
pointed co the investigating committee or
not. Geary says he intends to use his best
endeayors to secure fair play for the
Panama road and an investigation OF the
Pacific Mail. johnson, Cromwell, Open
heimer. Reeves and Geary had a long con-
sultation to-day
The other California Representatives in
Congress have not As yet given any indica-
ton by word of mouth as to which side of
this controversy they will be found on
Bowers. having secured what the people Of
San Diego were fighting for, will probably
not be very aggressive against the Pacific
Mail.
The information telegraphed to San Fran
cisco in THE CALLS dispatches about the
proposed investigation has evidently re-
suited in the arousing of merchants and
shippers, as they have been busy all day
sending kilograms to California Representa-
tives in Congress. urging them to stand by
the people of California in their fight against
the monopoly.
Barry Baldwin, president Of the Traffic As
sociation of California. telegraphed the CAL
iiNtha" hOiN boAipu 40 lUiiO0Ss y uispdlEU
in morning paper from Washington says:
The Pacific Mail. through Representative
Fellows, will endesvOr to enact legislation
prejudcial TO the Panama Railroad Com
pany and thereby against the North Ameri-
can Navigation Company. which will su-
persede the Pacific Mail Steamship Com
pany. Our hopo for immediate cheap trans
portatiOn is dependent upon the success OF
thu Nnrfh Amarfaop
and against Congressman Fellows action,
so far as 1t interferes with the Panama
Railroad COmpany's freeing itself from
Pacific Mail coutrol. VIII you please take
up this fight for the public good
1t remains to be seen how many OF the
California representatives will respond to
this appeal.
Upon the receipt of a telegram from
Baldwin. Congressman Cutting saw Repre-
sentative Fellows. who gave him the fol-
lowing in writing: "My resolution strikes at
no private interests and favors none, but
seeks only TO ascertain the condition OF
affairs on the isthmus and whether anything
shall be done to protect the interests OF the
United States"
Notwithstanding Mr.. Fellows assertion.
ii is easy enough TO read between the lines
oil his resolution that the inquiry is directed
chiefly against the Panama Railroad. The
Panama Railroad people do not hesitate 10
declare that the Pacific Mail is back of the
whole business.
Frank S. johnson Is greatly pleased over
his success so far. He gives THE CALL
credit for the way it has stood by the
shippers. merchants, and the people
generally of California, and says it deserves
to win this great fight. Mr. johnson has
sent h. San FrancIcco for 300 copies of The
CALLS pamphlet entitled "Fettered Com
merce," which tells all about how the
Pacific railroads and the Pacific mail have
combined to rob the people of California.
These books will be distributed among the
Senators and Represent .tives