The Washington times., 1894-08-27
MRS. STANFORD TO SUB.
Claims - Attorney General OIney
Against the Stanford Estate.

Claims - Attorney General Olney
Against the Stanford Estate.
There Is a possibility that steps may be
taken by Congress early next session to re-
lieve Mrs. Leland Stanford as speedily as may
be ofthe embarrassment placed in the way OF
a settlement of Senator Stanford's estate by
Attorney General Olney's claim against it on
behalf of the government for the Pacific Rail-
road debt
A new method of procedure heretofore not
contemplated has been outlined at the sag
gestion of Representative Mcguire, of Cali
Iornia, who has advocated the enforcement of
claims against the personal estates of the
four great directors Of the Pacific roads, and
has been one of the strongest opponents Of
any plan for an extension of their debt
The proposition. briefly stated, is 10 author
ize Mrs. Stanford to bring suit against the
United States Ca reversal of the plans which
have been proposed). and thus cause an i'm
mediate adjudication OF the governments
suit. Under this proposed method of pro-
cedure Mrs. Stanford would become the
plaintiff and the government the defendant
Tor the purpose of the suit.
There has been a strong movement by the
friends in Congress of the late Senator STAN
ford 10 facilitate as much as possible the set
tlement OF the cllim, and to relieve Mrs.
Stanford OF the incubus upon the property.
So long as the government suit is pending
the trustees OF the estate cannot make dis
tribution, and the funds OF the Leland Stan
lord. ir., University are in certain measure
affected.
In the regular course of litigation the At
torney Generals proposed suit could not be
tried until the bonds OF the road on which
default of payment is inevitable, have ma
tured. Senator Hill, however, introduced re-
Gently a bill 80 require the prompt proseeu-
ton and speedy determination of the claim OF
the United States against the estate OF the late
Leland Stanford" which would make it the
duty OF the Attorney General to cause TO be
instituted in the circuit court of the United
States for the district of California such suits
as may be necessary to enforce the claim di-
rectlng the court TO give such suits precedence
over all others, and also directing the Attor-
ney General to first prosecute the claim
Ia any State court, if that may be
necessary. When Representative Culberson.
Chairman of the Judiciary Committee,
brought the bill up in tho House Saturday,
Representative Mcguire sdetrackedit i by an
objection to its consideration. MIr. Mcguire
says that he objected TO the bill because it
was loosely drawn. Afterward he told Mr..
Culberson that he wonld draw q bill under
which the same object might be accomplished
partially. The Mcguire bill will enable Mrs
Stanford TO bring suit against the United
States in The circuit court of California, to de-
termine the validity of the governments
claim. 1t will contemplate a suit of the same
character as the proceedings in equity, which
real estate holder might institute to quiet
title against party who asserted title to
his land.
Such suit can be authorized by special
act. Mr.. Mcguire thinks that none of tie
rights of the government would be endan-
Gered by it, while he thinks they may be by
the enactment of Senator Hills bill. The suit
would determine the standing and validity of
the governments claim ana remove uncer-
tainty upon that point.
Mr.. Mcguire will probably not introduce
the bill himself, but says he will see that the
measure offered is an iron-clad one in its pro-
lection of the governments interests.