The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1895-11-23
UNION PACIFIC REORGANIZATION
senator 1hurstou believes the Govern
ment Should sell TO Highest Bidd.r.


senator 1hurstou Relieves the Govern
meut should sell TO highest Bidd.r.
Omaha, Nov. 1T.-Local railway cir
cles were given a new insight into the
various plans Of proposed reorganiza-
ton of the Union PACING today. The
matter comes in the form of an author
lied statement from Senator Thurston
through Colonel James b. Haynes. Sen
ator Thurston left this evening for
Washington. In an interview the SEN
ator said:
MY resignation as general solicitor
of the Union Pacific railway has been
forwarded to Judge Dillon in New
York and will not be presented to the
receivers of the road for about a week.
1 have little idea what the prospect is
for successful reorganization of the
Pacific roads under the plan proposed
by the present committee. l have an
other idea for the readjustment of this
government matter and reorganization
of Pacific properties, somewhat in line
with the recommendation of the gov
eminent receivers, but not according
to their method of reaching the result.
l believe it would be a great thing for
the country at large to have the Union
ated together as one property. At pres
ent the whole country is largely al the
mercy of the Pacific line west of ogden,
operated by the Southern Pacific, which
! has the choice whether its traffic shall
go via the Union Pacific or the South
ern Pacific. l think it was one of the
purposes of the government in charter
ing the roads that they should continue
as one line, operated together, and /
! think reasonable legislation can be en-
acted to assure that result
81 have prepared a bill which I shall
introduce in the senate, the general
| plan of which is this: Take a state
ment of the governments claim against
/ the main line from the Missouri river
to San Jose as it will stand July l, 1896,
and offer that claim as a whole for sale
! to the highest bidder who will give 40
or so per cent of the principal or in
/ terest make the minimum so the gov
/ eminent would get nearly half OF its
entire claim; sell that claim to one pur-
chaser, giving the purchaser all the
rights of the government, including its
right of entry, possession and foreclOs-
ure. Give to one court of the United
States, presumably of Nebraska. juMs-
dictiOn over a suit to fOreclose on the
entire property and on the foreclosure
sale provide that the property should
be sold as a whole, a purchasing com
mittee to be created as a corporation
and as such to possess all the corporate
powers to congress conferred upon the
several lines
THAT, in brief, is my ideal solution
of the Pacific roads controversy anc
reorganization of the roads as q
through line. I think a committee
could be organized within 80 days tC
buy the claim for so per cent of the
entire amount. The sale would eXcit,
spirited bidding and the amount real
lied might be greater than so per cen
of the governments claim. The gov
eminent would certainly get all tina
it could hope to realize from any meth
Cd of enforcing it's claim.
Il think republicans should try t,
organize the senate without a combin
alton with the pOpulsts. When the tw,
5 Utah senators come in in January, tn
. republicans win be able to organize tn
senate. if not before.
= 81 think the republicans in congress
ought to pass a general tariff act il
2 harmony with its idea of American pro
lection and on which we would b
willing to go to the country in the presi
z Dental campaign. l do not believe il
any temporary eXpedient to increas
the revenue"