Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-06-08
SENATE AND HOUSE.
The Claim Against Stanford's Estate-Aid
to Church Schools.

The claim against Stahtords Estate-aiu
to Church Schools.
WASHINGTON, June 7.-SENATE.-It
required twenty minutes OF the morning
half hour to secure a quorum in the
Senate to-day. Then Mr.. Hoar offered
a resolution directing the Judiciary Com
mittee to inquire into the justice and
equity OF the claim Of the United States
against the estate of the late Leland Stan
ford. and report as soon as may be
whether 1t is expedient that such claim
shall be forthwith relinquished and put at
rest
1t seemed to him. Mr.. Hoar said, that
the government ought at once to consider
the question OF absolutely renquishng
and putting the claim at rest. He did
not suppose that anybody had ever Sc
riousy imagined that Mr.. Stanford's
estate was liable for the debt OF the
Central Pacific Railroad Company to the
government. But whether there was a
technical claim. or whether there was a
claim founded In law and equity, Mr..
Stanford's great estate had been devoted
to public purpose. 1t was one of the
most illustrious examples OF public bene-
faction. He had met their late esteemed
colleague in the south OF France few
months before his death, and when the
disease, which terminated his life, was
already becoming master. and Mr.. Stan
ford had then expressed his feeling in re-
lation TO the great property which he
had accumulated. and declared, in his
simple fashion, his simple religious faith.
He said that he did not care much for
the creeds OF the churches, but that OF
one thing he was certain-that the Creator
OF the universe was benevolent and bene-
ficent. and had designed all his creatures
for happiness He said that he believed
that with the great resources of this
country. every American citizen ought to
have. without severe and degrading labor,
the necessaries and comforts of life, and
that his children ought TO receive good
education at the public charge. Mr.. STAN
ford had spoken OF the devotion Of his
property TO that great end, and had ex-
pressed the hope that every child on the
Pacific coast of the poorest as well OF
the richest should receive a good educa-
ton. Now, whether the government had
claim against that estate or not, II
was certain that IL would take twelve or
fifteen years to have IL settled In the
courts. Its prosecution would not merely
distress the closing years OF the life OF
Mr.. Stanford's widow chat was a per-
sonal question, which might not be con-
sidered in the performance Of a public
duty, but II would perhaps imperil, en-
barrass. and perhaps entirely destroy thar
great benefaction.
IL there was socialism which had truth
or justice in il, IL was the socialism
which devoted the wealth of the rich to
the education OF the poor. He maintained
that the Government of the United States
ought, as soon as the proper legislation
could be devised and enacted, TO put the
uf md
affecting in the least the governments
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
Judiciary Committee OF the Senate would
deal with the question at once. and that
the Senate would do the same.
Mr. Blackburn opposed the resolution as
unprecedented in the fact that Ii directed
inquiry 10 be made into q claim already
asserted by the proper officers Of the
government He apprenended that all
senator's shared In hearty admiration OF
Mr.. Stanford. and In the devotion OF
his estate to education. But the question
was whether Mr.. Stanford had given his
own property and his own esta.e. or
whether he had diverted si50O0.000 which
did not belong TO him and did belong
to the Federal Government. The Attor-
ney- General was reported In the public
press to have already taken the preiimi-
nary steps to test the question as to
whether Il was Stanford or the govern
ment that had furnished the 3i50o0.0O
that went to the building and endowment
OF that great educational institution on
the Pacific seaboard.
This was the frst time he had ever heard
Of an attempt being made by either house
OF Congress to stay the hand Of law
officers Of the government
Mr.. Hoar asserted that there were
many such precedenfs.
Mr. Blackburn repeated that he had