Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-01-30
PACIFIC RAILROAD BILL
The Rule in Regard to Its Consideration
Causes Considerable Debate
Much Opposition Was Developed, bat
After Much Discussion the Order
WINS Adopted.

In the House today, on motion of Mr..
Picker Is. d., a bill was passed granting
a right Of way through the Sioux Indian
reservation to the Forest City and Sioux
City Railroad Company.
Mr.. Catchings tMiss.), from the commit
tee on rules. then reported a special order
setting aside the remainder of the day,
after the adoption Of the order, and tomor-
row until o'clock, for general debate on
the Pacific railroad bill, and an hour and q
half subsequent to that time for debate I'M
der the five-minute rule, with provision for
q vote on the bill and pending amendments
at 43O. Mr.. Boatner ua) and Mr.. Ma
guire (Cal) protested strenuously against
the brief time allowed for debate on bill
Of such gigantic Importance. But seven
hours. said Mr.. Boatner, are allowed for
debate on a bill which proposes to give
away 100000, OOO. and condone offenses and
crimes with which the people have been
familiar for years.
More Opposition.
Mr.. Mcguire declared that few members
understood the scope of the legislation pro-
posed by this bill. The time allowed gave
no opportunity to show the plundering and
thieving of the officials of that company.
1t condcbed thirty years of crime beside
which the crimes of the East India Com
pany paled into insignificance, crimes which
the people and the government had been
trying to reach for years.
Mr.. Bryan (Neb) followed in the same
strain, saying that the Pacific roads had
been plundered of $2Ts,0O0.0O0, which this
bill would allow to go on. Mr.. cooper
wis., also Joined in the denunclation OF
the bill and the gag rule.
Mr.. Reilly Pa.) chairman of the Pacific
railroad committee, agreed with the OPP
ponentS of the special order as TO the
magnitude end Importance OF the Dill,
which. ne SAIL involved $1U,0OO,OO0 belong
ing to the people of the country, but the
effort of his committee in reporting the
hill, he said. was to protect the interests
of the government. His committee had
not asked for the time limit set by the
rules committee.
rCpted Mr.. McMillin CTenn.) hotly, why
did the rules committee give it?"
I'VE asked for a rule, replied Mr..
Reilly, land the committee deemed two
days all the time that could be given in
the present condition of the public bust
ness"
Mr.. Catchings, who concluded the debate
in favor of the order, deprecated the fran
tic excitement aroused by the introduction
OF the order, There was no occasion for
excitement. He well understood that there
were Representatives on the floor who
wanted to see the government take and
lamity,' said he. 1T is not question of
condOning past offenses, but OF securing
the governments just dues. If we fail to
make an effort to do so We will be recreant
to our duty"
The Previous Question Ordered.
Mr.. Catchings then demanded the pre-
vious question, which was ordered on a ris-
ing vote-l34 to 1O4. Mr.. Holman Qnd) de-
manded the yeas and nays, and the roll
was called.
The previous question was ordered-132
to III.
After the previous question was ordered
Mr. Catchings modified the rule, to
give two days for general debate with pro-
vision for a final vote at o'clock on Fri
day. This necessitated postponement of
the eulogies the late Senator Colqutt
until the third Saturday in February.
AS modified the special order was adopt
ed without division, and the House under
it's terms went into committee Of the
whole CMr. Dockery Of Missouri In the
chair), and began the consideration of the
bill.