The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-01-31

IL
Washington, D. c., Jan. 3O.-The
House today entered upon the consid-
Grafton of the bill to fund the debt
due the government from the Union
Pacific and Kansas Pacific railroads,
with 3 per cent fifty year bonds. A
special order was brought in, giving
today and tomorrow for debate, but
the opposition to it was SO intense and
determined, that a compromise was
forced, by which the time for debate
was extended one day.
I Mr.. Reilly, the chairman of the Pa
cific Railroad Committee, consumed
most Of the remainder OF the day with
the opening argument in favor of the
measure, which ancluded detailed
history of the roads and their indebt-
edness, an explanation of the bill and
the advantages which would accrue to
the government in the event Of it's pas
sage.
! Mr.. Harris. of Kansas, made the only
other speech Of the day. He was bit
! terIy opposed to the bill, claiming it
would allow 'the scoundrels who had
plundered the road and government;
who had debauched public morals and
public men, to keep their ill-gotten
gains" lie preferred to see the govern
ment take charge of the roads rather
Than this should happen.
MI. Boatner, Of Georgia and Mr.. Ma
CURE, of California, protested strenu-
ous-y against the brief time allowed for
debate.
'OnIy a Few of U.s."
! MIR. Mcguire declared but a, few mem
! bers understood the scope of the 1egfs-
lation proposed by this bill. The time
/ the plundering and thieving of the Off
Gals of that company; it condoned
thirty years of crime besides Which the
/ crimes Of the East Indian company
paled into significance-crimes (which
the people and the government had
been trying to reach for years.
Mr.. Bryan, (DemocraD of Nebraska
followed in the same strain, saying the
! people had been plundered of S278. O0O.-
900, which plundering this bill would
allow to go on.
Mr.. Cooper, (RepuIbEcan) of wiseon-
sin, also Joined in the denunciation of
the bill and the gag rule.
Mr.. Reilly Democrat, of Pennsylva-
noa, chairman Of the Pacific railroads
comnz1ttee, agreed with the opponents
! of the special order as to the magni-
tude and Importance of the bill, which,
he said, involved 500, 00O, 900 belonging
TO the people Of the country, but the
effort Of this committee in reporting
the Did, he said, was to protect the in
tterests Of the government. His commit
tee had not asked for the time limit set
by the rules committee.
IF you didn't ask for cloture," inter
Tupted Mr.. Mcmillan, OenlocraD of
New Jersey, why did the rules com
Imittee give it?'
we asked for a rule" replied Mr..
Reilly, "and the committee deemed two
days al the time that could be given
in the present condition of the public
business
No Occasion For Excitement.
Mr. Catchings deprecated the frantic
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 govern
ment take and operate the roads.
God forbid such a calamity" said
he. 1T is not a question Of condoning
past offenses, but Of securing the gov
ernment'S just dues If we fail to
make an effort to do so. we will be
recreant to our duty
Mr.. Catchings then demanded the
Pi QutSllOIl WHICH WAS OrQ6n6Q
by a rising vote-134 to 104.
Mr.. Holman Democrat Of Indiana,
1 demanded the yeas and nays, and the
roll was called. The previous question
was ordered-132 TO 121.
! After the previous question was or
ldered, Mr.. Catchings modified the
lrules SO as to give two days for gem
eraI debate, with provision for a final
vote at o'clock on Friday.
This neceSSitated a poStponement Of
the eulogies on the late Senator Col
quit until the third Saturday in Feb-
ruary.
AS modified, the special order was
adopted without division. and the
House under its terms, went into conn
mitteee of the whole, Mr. Dockery
Democrat Of Missouri, in the chair,
and began the consideration Of the bill!
To Settle the Trouble.
Mr.. Reilly then opened tha.debate in
favor of the bill, which, he said, was
aimed at the settlement of the vexed
land troubled question of securing to
the government its due from the Union
Pacific railroad and its branches. He
said he believed this bin offered the
best solution Of the question presented,
Unlss some adjustment was effected,
he declared that foreclosure was iney-
, liable, and the government would be
compelled, in order to protect itself, to
: pay o.f the first mortgage, involving
an outlay Of $4,000, 900, which would
make the roads cost the United States
S170, O00, 900.
In reply to a, question by MIR. Dunn
: OemocraD of New Jersey, Mr.. Reilly
denied that this bill would prevent the
government from proceeding against
. the -four robbers" as Mr.. Dunn
termed them. He said the bill specific
ally reserved to the government every
right of redress it possessed
At the conclusion of Mr.. Reilly's re-
marks, which occupied almost three
hours, Mr.. Meiklejohn (Republican) OF
Nebrask gave notice OF an amend
lment he should offer at the proper
time in place Of section 10 of the pend
ing bill, to add to section of the act
Of March 8, 1887, the provisions of a bill
| to further designate the securities in
which the Union Pacific Railroad COM
pany's sinking fund might be in
vested.
, Harris is Vehement.
!; Mr.. Harris PopulisO, of Kansas, OPP
rpca7 +1,o Hill cnooob Al,