The San Francisco call., 1895-10-18
feated one, be brought before the House
it will be fought from the moment it is

feated one, be brought before the House
1T will be fought from the moment it is
filed.
''As soon as such bill is referred to the
Committee on Pacific Railroads | will ask
to be heard against it before the COM
mittee. 1 will doubtless be accorded a
hearing, and whatever action the COM
mittee takes it will take with its eyes open.
We shall see that it is fully informed as to
the demerits of the bill. This applies
equally to the bill authorizing the pay
ment of 81, 5000 for services rendered the
committee we'll and good. If, on the con-
trary, it is reported favorably will fight
it on the floor of the House until the last
and l will not be by any means alone.
There are many men in Congress who
have the rights of the people at heart even
if the railroads do claim they have a
majority.
have clear majority ?''
That will not make our opposition to
the measure less strong. We will fiIibus-
ter to the extent that tilibustering is per-
mitted under the new rules and seek to
convince adherents of the bill of their mis-
take in the position. In any event the
measure will be fought to the last"
"And if you fail?'
"There is still the Presidents veto as a
possibility. We do not know what views
President Cleveland entertains other than
the hope expressed in his message that the
matter should be adjusted by Congress.
OF course, we hope that he will take the
view that the railroad debt to the Govern
ment is like any other obligation and in
sist on its payment.
when the Reilly refunding bill was
before Congress the threat was made that
II 1t failed of passage the first mortgage
would be foreclosed and the Government
left with valueless second mortgage on
its hands. The threat was not heard of
after the Reilly bill was defeated. 1t is
not clear to us why the railroads should
not pay every cent they owe Ger
tainly no obligation was ever more just than
this.
''The Southern Pacific Company does
not own mile of railroad, not even the
Southern Pacific. The Central Pacific
Railroad leased the lines of the Southern
Pacific and the Western Pacific and their
branches. 1t was in operation until after
the Thurman act went into effect. This
act required the Central Pacific to make
payments into the sinking fund to meet
the bonded Indebtedness of the company.
in order to avoid the obligations of the
Central Pacific imposed by the Thurman
act the Southern Pacific Company was in
corporated in Kentucky in 1885. Although
not owning any roads, it took In all the
leases held by the Central Pacific, and
leased the Central Pacific at a nominal
rental for 100 years. After this change the
Southern Pacific Company earned 81, $780,
900 from the Government by carrying the
mails. If this had been earned by the
Central Pacific Company it would
have been held by the Government
under the Thurman act. The Southern
Pacific Company at best is but mere
agency of the Central Pacific Company,
and Congress very properly refused to
allow the money to be paid to that COM
pany. taking the position that money so
earned should be applied to the Central
Pacific debt. A majority of the last Con-
gress twice defeated the proposition to pay
this money to the Southern Pacific Com
pany, and it is now claimed that they
have sufficient strength in Congress to
pass oil. authorizing its payment. l
hope, however, it is not true