The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1894-08-30
CLAIM AGAINST STANFORD.
The Late Senator's Friends Would Like
to See the Widow Win.

The Late Senator's Friends Would Like
to See the Widow Win.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 24.-There is a
possibility that steps may be taken by
congress early next session to relieve
Mrs. Leland Stanford at speedily as
may, of the embarrassment placed in
the way, Of a settlement of her hus-
bands estate by Attorney General
Olney's claim against it in behalf of
the government of the Pacific railroad
debt, A new method of procedure
heretofore not contemplated has been
outlined at the suggestion of Repre-
sentative Mcguire of California, who
has made the enforcement of claims
against the present estates of the four
great directors of the Pacific railroad
and has been one of the strongest op
ponents of any plan for an extension
of their debt.
The proposition briefly stated, is to
authorize Mrs. Stanford to bring suit
against the United States and thus
cause an immediate adjudication of
the governments suit. Under this
proposed method OF procedure Mrs.
Stanford will become the plaintiff aud
the government the defendant for the
purpose of the suit. There has been
strong movement by the friends in
congress of the late Senator Stanford
to facilitate as much as possible the
settlement of the claim and to relieve
Mrs. Stanford of the incubus upon the
property.
So long as the suit is pending the
trustees of the estate cannot make a
distribution and the funds of the
Leland Stafford. Jr., university are
in certain measure affected.
In the regular course of
litigation the attorney gem
erals proposed suit could not be
tried until the bonds of the road on
which default of payment is inevi-
table, has matured. Senator Hill has,
however, introduced recently bill to
require the prompt prosecution and
speedy determination of the claims of
the United States against the estate of
the late Leland Stanford, which would
make it the duty of Attorney General
Olney to cause to be instituted in the
circuit court for the district OF Cali
fornia such suits as may be necessary
to enforce the claim, directing the
court to give such suits precedence
over all Others and also directing the
attorney general to first prosecute the
claim i'll the state court il that may be
necessary.
When Representative Culberson
chairman or the judiciary committee
brought the bill up in the house yes
terday Representative Mcguire side.
tracked it by an objection to its con-
slderation. Mr.. Mcguire says that he
objected to the bill because 1t was
overdrawn. Afterward he told MIR.
Cul berson that he would draw bill
under which the same object might be
Partially the bill will
enable Mrs Stanford to bring suit
against the United States in the
United States circuit court of Cali
tornia to determine the validity of the
governments claim. 1t will contem-
plate suit of the same char
acter as the proceedings
in equity, which a real estate
holder might institute to clear the
title against a party who asserted a
title to his land. Such a suit can be
authorized by special act. Mr.. Ma
guire thinks that none of the rights of
the government would be endangered
by il, while he thinks they might be
by the enactment OF Senator Hills
bill, The suit would determine the
standing and validity of the govern.
Iuent's claim ana remove uncertainty
upon that point Mr.. Mcguire will
probably not introduce the bill him
self but saws he will see that the mans
ure offered is an ironeclad one in its
protection Of the government inter>
ests,