The Dalles times-mountaineer. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1882-1904, 1895-10-26
WANTS MORE TINE.

Coils P. Huntington, the Califor-
MIA railroad magnate who virtually
stole the Central Pacific railroad and
built the Southern Pacific and in
Vulnerable. branch roads with the pro-
ceeds, expresses an opinion concerning
the Central Pacific and the debt II
owes the government as follows:
81 have always said that the Central
Pacific will not be able to pay its gov
ernment debt at maturity. 1t simply
cannot do it. Myself and associates
are willing to pay the last dollar OF the
debt if given the time. We want re-
duced rate of interest and an extension
of time, which would give us breath
ing spell during which we could pay
the debt in installments. | will not
agree to do something impossible. I
will not start out to do something I
know in advance I cannot do. would
not be just to myself my associates or
the government. We can pay if given
time. If this request is refused, have
no objections to the government TAX
ing the roads off our hands. Possibly
some people would be found to whom
the government could sell at its figures.
That would be their business not mine.
If the government is determined to be
an implacable creditor and take the
road with its first mortgage debt I will
not make any opposition. Bonds to
run 100 years at per cent would be
safe, easy and fair means of letting US
settle dollar for dollar with the gov
ernment."
Mr.. Huntington 8 idea of "being just
to himself his associates and the goy
ernment" is decidedly unique. Let
us see. The Central Pacific was COM
| pleted and opened for through over
| land traffic. about June l, 1859, 26 years
| ago. In that time it has not paid
| dollar of the indebtedness of "Mr.
Huntington and his associates" to the
| governments, and there is now due and
owing by this gentlemen who is so
anxious to be just to himself first, his
associates second, and the government
last, about 1000, 600. Mr.. Hunting
| ton and his associates have made dur
ing the twenty-six years since the debt
was created an immense amount of
money, probably s40O, 900, 900 or $780,
OO0,O 900, but they have not yet got
enough to cause them to think that
they could pay their honest debts to
the government and be "just" to them
selves. Mr.. Huntington really feels
hurt at the idea of the government be-
coming an "implacable creditor" and
wanting some arrangement made for
the payment OF the debt. He thinks
the time should be extended, say 100
years, so that he could settle dollar for
dollar like an honest man. He thinks
he could do this, and pay per cent.
interest besides. Thirty years ago,
when Coils B. Huntington was poor
man, he and his associates thought
they could pay the money advanced by
the government in twenty years, but
now that untold wealth has been poured
into the pockets of these gentlemen,
they realize how hard it is to let go
any of it, and suggest that the time of
payment be extended to the third gen.
Grafton of Coils P. Huntington and
their associates. Mr.. Huntington
evidently has the government on the
hip and it is really very patriotic and
very generous in him to allow the gov
ernment to take the road and pay off
its first mortgage without standing it
a lawsuit. What Mr.. Huntington says
he wants is "breathing spell, +" but rs
he fixes the duration of the "spell" at
100 years, it is fair to presume that
the shock to his system caused by the
government modestly requesting
settlement, took his breath away in
very large quantities, and that he
wants his heirs to have plenty Of time
in which to catch it for him.