The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1894-06-13
Drop The stanford suit.

WASHINGTON, June THE action Of At
torney-General Olney in bringing suit for
SIS, ,00o 900 against the estate Of the late Le-
land Stanford on account of possible liabili-
ties arising out of Central Pacific Railroad
bonds was brought to the attention Of the
Senate this morning by Mr.. Hoar rep,
Mass who offered resolution directing the
Judiciary Committee 10 inquire into the
justice and equity of the claim. and to re-
port whether it was exPedient that ii should
be forth with relinquished.
1t seemed to him. Mr.. Hoar said that the
Government ought at once to consider the
question of absolutely relinquishing and
putting the claim at rest. he did not sup
pose that anybody had ever seriously i'm
agined that Mr.. Stanford's estate was liable
for the debt of the Central Pacific Railroad
Company to the Government. But whether
there was technical claim or whether there
was claim founded in law and equity, Mr.
StanfOrd's great estate bad been devoted to a
public purpose. IL was one Of the most IL
lustrious examples of public benefaction.
He had met their late esteemed colleague in
the south of France the year before last-a
few months before his death, and when the
disease which terminated bis life was already
becoming master, and Mr.. Stanford had
then expressed his feelings in relation to the
great property which he had accumulated,
and declared, in his simple fashion, his sim
pie religious faith. He said that he did not
care much for the creeds of the Churches,
but that Of one thing be was certain-that
the Creator Of the universe was benevolent
and benefcient, aud had designed all His
creatures for happiness.
He said that he believed that with the
great resources of this country every Ameri-
can citizen ought TO have, without severe and
degrading labor, the necessaries and com
forts of life, and that his children ought to
receive good education at the public charge.
Mr.. Stanford had spoken ofthe devotion of his
property to that great end, and had express
ed the hope that every child on the Pacific
Coast, of the poorest as well as of the richest,
should receive good education.
Whether the Government had claim
against that estate or not, it was certain that
it would take twelve OF fifteen years to have
it settled in the courts. Its prosecution
would not merely distress the closing years
of the life of Mr. StanfoEds widow ,that was
personal question, which might not be con-
sidered in the performance of public duty
but it would postpone, imperil, embarrass
and perhaps entirely destroy that great bene-
faction. II there was Socialism, which had
truth or justice in it, it was the Socialism
which devoted the wealth Of the rich to the
education of the poor. The Government Of
the United States ought, as soon as the prop
er legislation could be devised and enacted,
10 put theq1ss'i0n at rest, aud say that,
without affecting in the least the Govern
ment's claim against Others, the devotion of
Mr. Stanford's wealth, to the education of
the poor of the Pacific Coast, should take
immediate effect, without embarrassment
and without delay. He hoped that the Ju-
dietary Committee Of the Senate would deal
with the question at once, and that the Sen
ate would DO the same.