The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1895-01-31
ITO everybody" responded Jerry simp-

son.
Government ownership has no terrors
for me-" Harris continued, "and l see
no reason why the Government should
not pay off this first mortgage rather than
let these scoundrels go unwhipped OF
justice all over the land. [Applause.]
believe there is higher question under
lying this matter than the mere collecting
of the debt. l believe the inordinate greed
and rapacity of these men have for thirty
years debauched public sentiment and
public morals and public men all over this
country" [Applause.]
A member-And are doing it now.
Harris - If the Government would
simply stand firm and say, you've got to
pay your debts they will pay them.
know something about how railroad direc-
tors have contracted with themselves under
other names for the construction of
branch lines; have guaranteed bonds
and interest, divided profits on traffic con-
tracts, and in that way have sold securities
covering these worthless branches Tor
them. They threaten and say the value OF
their property is nothing without these
branches. We are dealing with company
"built in the eclipse and rugged with curses
dark" 1t was pirate craft launched upon
the sea of railroad enterprise, and there IS
no law that they have not violated, no
pledges to which they have not been
utterly false, and as for their new promises
and pretenses, have no faith whatever IN
them. The executive department has
made haste to comply with whatever these
companies demanded. What pledge have
they not violated? Should they ask SYM
pathy? Should they come before the
American people and seek to have granted
them SO enormous subsidy as is proposed
wears. with a simple promise on their part
that they will comply with the obligation
of the law? am afraid of the new law.
Dunn-Do you believe the railroads
have had hand in molding this bill?
ST do not wish to impute improper mo-
tives to any man." Harris replied, "but
there is a widespread feeling that things
are not as they should be, and we
should be extremely cautious of granting
special privileges. The majority of the
committee don't deny most fragrant and
outrageous abuse of power, and of the
great fund placed in the hands of the Union
Pacific as trustee. 1t may be ancient his
tory, but I insist that we should carefully
scrutinize the character of the debtor who
seeks such an enormous extension, and to re-
tain in its hands such terrific power which
has been exercised from SanFrancisco to the
Missouri River regardless of the rights and
privileges of every citizen of this country.
There has been no contract with individ-
uals that these companies have ever lived
up to; no infamy too great, and no stealing
too small for them to reach out and cover.
Warren Hastings, in justification of the
robberies of the East India Company, ex-
claimed that when he recalled his oppor-
tunities he marvelled at his own modera-
ton. The Union Pacific can never have
any trouble of that sort, for they have
neglected no opportunity. daughter
am in favor of some measure like the
Boatner substitute
Talbert of South Carolina asked: ''Why
not foreclose Immediately and throw the
roads away rather than go on under
present conditions?"
Harris replied: 81 think anythingis bet
ter than to submit to highway robbery.
Loud applause]. Anything is preferable
to permitting this gigantic robbery to be per-
pCIIttSu dG pCIoC VI bLlO pcOpIO VI tI1Io
country. You cannot deal with men who
never stop to violate any pledge they make.
Huntington, before the committee, as
serted that nobody had ever heard of great
railroads paying their debts"
Mr. Weadock-I understand that he said
that first mortgages of railroads were never
paid.
Harris-If the first mortgage is not,
there is a still less probability of the Sec
ond ever being paid. Loud applause
Government ownership is simply a
"bogie" man, by which they are endeavor-
ing to scare this Congress off SO as to facili-
tate their privilege of robbery. Loud
applause and congratulations when he
closed
Harris will close his remarks tomorrow,
when Boatner and Mcguire also speak.
John Boyd claims that the bill will pass
by at least fifty majority. The Californians
make no claims, but are greatly encour-
aged and indulge faint hope of beating the
bill. 1t is probable that their fight will be
for Boatner's substitute, eliminating the
last part, which provides for the sale of the
roads and the acceptance of bonds in pay
ment. The disposition of the roads is to
be left for future action of Congress after
the Pacific Railroads Commission has
made its report and the Secretary of the
Treasury has taken possession of the roads,
crD DTHEDc rVTrcnr,C rn-.