The morning call., 1895-01-30
Just Possible That 1t May Be
Taken Up.
HUNTINGTON THROWS OFF HIS MASK.
Letters to Members Of the House in Favor
Of the Proposition to Refund the
Railroad Debt.


Chairman Reilly and Representative Boat
ner met Catchings, Cultivate and other
members OF the Rules Committee in the
Speakers room at the Capitol this morning
and discussed the time for the considera-
ton of the funding bill. Mcguire and
Boatner protested against the short time
to be allowed, asking at least three days.
The Committee on Rules decided, how
ever, to report q resolution bringing up
Reilly's bill tomorrow Immediately after
the morning hour, and that the previous
question be considered, as ordered, at $40
on Thursday, when this resolution is pre-
sented, thus cutting off debate. The OPP
ponents of the bill will try to defeat the
rule, and may resort to filibustering tactics.
If the previous question is ordered at
8 40 on Thursday it will allow about three
hours on each side for general debate, and
one hour on each side under the Give
minute" rule, during which amendments
may be offered. In short the Californians
will only have one hour in which to pro-
pose and advocate amendments or sub
stitutes for Reilly's bill.
Boatner has expressed a willingness to
modify his substitute so as to provide that
after suits against fraudulent directors and
stockholders have been determined and
the Pacific Railway Commission has made
its report and the Secretary of the Treas
ury has taken possession of the road for
the Government the commissioners re-
port shall be submitted to Congress, which
will then decide what further disposition
to make of the roads. This modification
would eliminate that provision of the bill
selling the roads and accepting in pay
ment per cent bonds, payable at the end
of fifty years. The 3 per cent interest
would have to be borne by California
shippers and would be as bad as Reilly's
proposition.
Judge Mcguire manifests disposition to
accept some such modification of Boat
ner's substitute, but Mr.. Geary is averse.
Judge Mcguire, Boatner and the Cali
fornians will have until Thursday after
noon to decide upon some bill upon which
all can unite, as new amendments and
substitutes will be in order until 2:3O of
that day. Judge Boatner says he has an
assurance of support from such prominent
Democratic Representatives as McMilIin,
Bynum and McCreary, and some mem
bers of the Arkansas, Louisiana, Texas
ana MISSOURI QelegaIlOnS.
The opponents of the funding bill are
somewhat encouraged, and there is bare
possibility of getting up some bill that will
command enough votes to beat the fund
ing scheme. Boatner said to the CALL
correspondent he knew the railroad people
were anxious, because they had been try
ing to induce him to withdraw his substi-
tute.
1t has been alleged that Huntington did
not favor Reilly's bill, but if there ever has
been the least doubt as to his attitude it
was dispelled to-day when letters signed
&C. P. Huntingdon were circulated on the
floor of the House urging the passage of
the Reilly bill. The corridors are literally
overrunning with Huntington's agents,
who are busy "enlightening" members
E. w. Ayers, formerly of the Kansas City
Times and an experienced lobbyist, is one
of these, and he whispered to-day to one of
the assistant doorkeepers of the House
that he might need his assistance
Grove L. Johnson, member-elect from
the Second California District is on the
floor of the House nearly every day. He
to-day expressed the hope that this Con-
gress would dispose of Pacific Coast rail-
road legislation SO that he would not be
troubled with it at the next session of Con-
gress. Some of the Californians construe
this to mean that Johnson is a railroader
Those who will participate in debate on
Wednesday and Thursday are Reilly
Powers of Vermont, Weadock of Michigan,
Joe Cannon of Illinois, Blair of New Hamp-
shire and one or two others for the Reilly
bill, and Boatner of Louisiana, Harris
of Kansas, Snodgrass of Tennessee.
members of the committee (Maguire,
Geary and possibly Caminetti) against.
Bowers and Loud (Republicans) may not
be given any time by the Democrats.
The members found in their mail yes
terday copies of the Cotton letters sent by
Mayor Sutro, and they were read with in
terest by members Mr. Sutro is being
roundly abused by members of Congress
generally for his circular letters carrying
the imputation that members of Congress
might be bought for $4,000 apiece and
copying an article from an Idaho paper
declaring that the railroad people had a
corruption fund of 100000 tie purchase
80 members at that figure per head.
His letters on John Boyd, with that
individual carieatured holding ''the
SACK have also been received by members
of Congress.