The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-02-01
IN THE HOUSE.
Further Debate on tho Funding BIZ
Other Matters.

uTtn6r O6DhLe on Inc
Other Matters.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 81. - In the
house bills were passed to adopt
special rules for the navigation oil
harbors, rivers and inland waters of the
United States, supplementary to the
act to adopt regulations to prevent COL
lisione at sea; to fix the time for holds
ing district court in North Dakota; for
the relief of D. F. Fulford: for the re-
lief of the Glenmore Disabling COM
pany OF Kentucky; and for the relief OF
the First State bank of Mound City,
Ill. An attempt to pass q bill for the
detail of 80 army officers to give military
instructions at high and normal schools
failed, whereupon, under the terms of
the special order adopted yesterday. the
house went into committee OF the whole
and resumed the consideration of the
Pacific railroad funding bill.
Mr.. Harris, Populist of Kansas. COM
pleted the remarks against the bill.
which he began yesterday. His idea
was that the property of the roads
should be foreclosed and cold; that the
government should enforce its claims.
BY the expenditure of 100000 tho
government could acquire the roads,
and then either by lease or directly OPP
crate it,
Mr.. Boatner, Democrat OF Louisiana,
followed with a strong speech in opposi-
ton to the measure. He called particular
attention to the fact that the conspicuous
feature of every legislative plan pro-
posed for the settlement OF the Pacific
railroad debt have been the abandon
msnt of the proceedings begun against
the officers and directors OF these CONS
panies under the act of 1873. In 1873
two members OF this house had been
expelled because they had been de-
bsuched by the officers of those roads.
He was not opposed to government
ownership Of the roads, but he preferred
to see his substitute passed providing
for an amendment to the original act by
which, in CASE of the default of the
roads, the companies should forfeit
their charters. He was willing to see
the government purchase the property
and protect its interest. but only on
condition that it should be immed lately
resold to private individuals.
do you mean to say the property is
worth as much as the governments
first mortgage debit" asked Reilly.
~ am inclined TO think it u.s." re-
piled Boatner; but il it is not you can
rest assured theae railroad people will
never discharge the debt if your bill is
passed."
Powers. Republican, of Montana ar
gued IN favor of the passage OF the bill,
which he said would secure the pays
ment TO the government OF $4,000, 900.
He denounced the methods employed
by the opponents of the bill to compass
its defeat. The mail OF members. he
said. MAS gorged with letters from GER
tain persons and certain sections no
have grievances against the roads, or
certain former officials of the roads who
were correctly or incorrectly supposed
to have profited enormously by their
construction.
In response to the question Powers
said il the mortgage of the government
was foreclosed the property would cost
the United States $3.50, 000,0 900, and he
expressed the opinion that the govern.
ment would not. after the endless litige-
ton which would follow, realize So,
600 900 from the property.
Harris begged to remind the house
that six years ago Jay Gould had offered
$6S .000 600 for the Union Pacific section
alone.
Mcguire, Democrat of California. pre-.
sented to the house the petition of the
San Francisco Examiner. signed by
1000 persons, against the bill.
Messrs. Suodgrass, Dam, of Tennes-
see, and NJ. Cooper. Rep, OF Wisconsin,
con tiDued the debate in opposition to
the bill. Mr.. Cooper combatted the
idea of the provision in the bill copied
from the bill prepared by the commits
sion oil 1887 to permit the government
to pursue legally the officials, directors
and stockholders who defrsuded the
road under the act OF 1878 would prove
effective. As the passage OF the bill
would be An acceptance of a new mort.
gage by the government, the United
States, he maintained, would not be
able to go beyond that mortgage. This
was, he said, we'll established princi-
pie of law. Cooper said he did not
pose as an anti-monopoiist, an anti.
corporation man or a retormer. He did
not believe in the government control OF
railroads. and only believed in the
government taking this road because it
was the only way to do justice to all
parties concerned.
Mr.. Lock wood, Democrat of New
York, closed the debate for the day in
advocacy OF the bill. He declared the
question of the alleged crlmnality Of
the original constructors and officials OF