The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-12-23

Washington, Dee. 22-Thc Senate was
unexpectedly diverted day from Cuba
to the Pacific railroads. An unusually
large crowd WAS in the galleries, antici-
patinG that Mr.. Vest would continue his
speech begun yesterday on the attitude of
Secretary Olney toward the Cameron res
oluton. The foreign delegation was well
represented.
Soon after the session opened Mr.. Pet
tigrc". OF south Dakota, called up his
resolution relative to the trust notes of
the Pacific railroad. The Senator made
II savage onslaught on the Pacific railroad
system in general, charging that IL com
binntlon of private interests was seeking
to absorb the roads and close out the
Government. He declared his belief that
the Union Pacific was not and is rot in
solvent and that the lloltng debt was
created for the express purpose of con pl.
cacing and embarrassing the Government
liens
MIR. Gear chairman OF the committee on
Pacific roads, asked if Mr. Pcttisrew
favored the operation of these roads BY
the Government
The South Dakota Senator answered
that certainly the Government could not
possibly manage the Pacific roads worse
than they hid been managed
Mr.. Pettigrew urged that the Govern
ment should embrace this opportunity for
an experiment in Government ownership
of n great continental line. He believed
the Government should take possession
ana operate the Union Pacific road and
It's branch lines.
Mr.. plntt spoke of the imperative ne
cessity of considering the important uues.
tion of settlement with the Pacific roads.
The Indebtedness, reaching $l15, 600, 600,
was in danger of being lost, and yet this
vast Ilebt and the peril of its loss seemed
to disturb no one.
Mir Morgan said tho statements made
~ NJ. IGJtigrcw were, OF 4, fSost ..rjt,,c,
character. In eject they meant TINT GER
tain individuals had made fraudulent
combination to load down these Pacific
roads 50 ms to absorb them. 1t was diff
cult for any single mind to grasp the
Labyrinth OF fraud and rascalty'' thar
had made this subject IL perfect ''satur-
MALTA of fraud" 1t was, Mr.. Morgan de-
clared, IL twin brother to the Credit Mo-
hilicr frauds, carried OH by the same
methods of bribery and corruption
Mr.. Vest interposed with Il question AZ
to the meaning Of the President in his
recent message, that unless Congress
acted on this Pacific railroad question,
the executive branch would act b. .Ianu-
AIRY |.
Mr. Morgan gave deprecatory gesture
and said:
"Now, in all Egypt there was only one
man, and he was divinely inspired, who
could interpret the dreams OF pharoah
The Senator ought not to ask me to inter
pref the Presidents message If any
man is capable of interpreting that mes
sage it is the Senator from Missouri I
am not stopping to interpret the mes
sage
Mir Vest, with message in hand, de-
sired II more exact answer and proceeded
to read the Presidents words, but he was
cut Oft amid laughter by Mr.. Morgan S
earnest remark: II wish the Senator
would not bother me with that mes
sage
Senator Morgan's speech lasted until
shortly before , o'clock, when the morn
ing hour expired, thus sending over the
Cutan question until after the holidays.
Senator Butler, of North Carolina. in
PRODUCED il resolution providing for Il spc-
cinl committee cf three Senators To in
qu!rc-into the feasibility of applying the
principle of direct legislation through
the initiative and referendum and legis-
lation OF the federal government
After the executive session, which
lasted until 300 p. M, the Senate adj
lourned to january ), 1897
Special overcoat sale to-day at T..
Wiic's, sssucccssor.to Jos. Cohn; strictly
one price to ALL,
II