The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1895-02-03

relating to the applicability of the sinking
fund, in which case the question may be
presented to Congress in some other shape.
In default it is made to appear that the
fact may be brou ght to the attention of
Congress and appropriate action taken, in
case the railroad may renew its effort to
compromise on cash basis, and perhaps
they will do so anyhow.
MAGUIRPS WORDS NOT IN VAIN.
Details of the Struggle IN Defeating the
Bill.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 2.-The Pacific rail-
road funding bill was recommitted to the
Committee on Pacific Railroads late this
afternoon by vote of 1T to 108, showing
an unexpectedly large majority against
the measure. Although the drift has been
against the bill from the inception of the
debate, its advocates were not without
hope even to-day. The extent of their de-
feat was surprise to both sides. The
debate to-day was of brisk and lively
character Only three of the eighteen sec
tons of the bill had been read when the
hour for taking the vote arrived, but the
substantial amendment ito prevent the
payment of dividends on stock until the
Government debt should have been fully
discharged was adopted.
Mr.. Boatner's substitute to foreclose the
Governments mortgage in case of default
was cut out by parliamentary maneuver,
so that when the voting began in the
House he moved to recommit the bill,
motion equivalent to its direct defeat. A
proposition submitted as an amendment
to compromise the debt, aggregating $780,
10000, for $75, 00O, 900 was defeated, and, as
stated, the bill was sent to its doom by an
overwhelming majority. The opponents
of the measure signalized the victory with
shouts of iubilation.
Proceedings began in the House in COM
mittee of the whole under a special order.
An attempt was made to secure an agree
ment to continue the general debate until
2 o'clock, but it failed, and the bill was read
for amendments under the fve-minute rule.
Bother CD of Louisiana declared that
some sections of the bill were faulty, and
in his opinion if the companies filed their
written acceptance of its conditions the
hands of the Government would be tied
for fifty years. Hepburn Or. Rof EIowa
contested this, pointing out the language
of the stipulation and the compulsory pay
ments of the bill enjoined on the compa-
MES. The amendment was adopted max
ing the debts due the United States bear
per cent interest.
Mcguire of California challenged the
statements of Kyle CD of Mississippi that
the bill authorized the Government to re-
tain in the treasury all moneys due for
mail transportation and apply them to the
extinguishment of the debt.
Grosvenor (R.) of Ohio paid high
tribute to the late Senator Stanford, adj
mi ting fraud in the past. He contended
that it was the duty of the Government to
adjust this debt so it could realize as much
as possible.
The leaders on both side agreed that it
was necessary to the intelligent under
standing of the bill, but Lane (D.) of ILL
nois objected, and Lockwood CD of New
York demanded the regular order.
Mcguire accordingly proceeded, devoting
most of his time to the discussion of the
alleged frauds by which he claimed that
Huntington, Croker, Stanford and Hop
kins as directors had turned over to them
selves as stockholders $50, 100000 of profits
The time was at hand when those men or
their estates could be reached-$15, 900, 900
of Huntington's money and $16,OO0,0OO of
the estate of Leland Stanford could be Sc
cured. Fifteen millions of the estate of
Stanford were now tied up to satisfy the
statutory obligation. The main object of
this bill was to release the property.
Mcguire denounced bitterly the method
pursued in the debate, which had pre-
cluded from participation, except under
the five-minute rule, the members from
the Pacific Coast, who had given more at
tention to the matter than any others. He
maintained that the pending bill contained
no provision for the payment of the debt,
but it did discharge all the debts of the
incorporated pirates," who had raided
the treasury of the roads during the last
thirty years. A long controversy followed
over the question whether the bill would
liquidate the debt in fifty years.
Continuing, Mcguire said:
''The gentleman from Vermont, Mr..
Powers, on Thursday last, and other gen.
tlemen to-day, have denounced the Mayor
of San Francisco for having sent letters
and kilograms to this House charging, or
at least intimating, that corrupt means
might be used to secure the passage of
this bill and denouncing one of the prin-
cipal beneficiaries as corruptionist and a
man ready and willing at all times to bribe
legislators and other public officers.
"These statements have been referred to
as slanderous, and the gentleman from
Michigan (Mr. Weadock) this morning
took occasion to denounce Mayor Sutro as
a cowardly slanderer. What all this has
to do with the merits of the bill under con-
sideration / am quite unable to see. Mr..
Sutro has been Jealous indeed in his oppo-
sition to this measure; perhaps he has
been over-zealous, and this over-zeal may
have created some prejudice where more
temperate methods would have secured
favorable consideration. But Mr.. Sutro in
this matter represents simply the senti-
ment pervading California.
"That sentiment is expressed in a joint
resolution of the California Legislature
telegraphed to me by Governor Budd and
presented by me to the House to-day.
Personally, Mr.. Sutro needs no vindica-
ton at my hands. He has been a citizen
and continuous resident OF San Fran