The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-12-23
BURIED IN FRAUD.
Senator Morgan Discusses the
Pacific Railroad Question.
The Subject ''Buried In Fraud
and Crime
ROADS HAVE MONEY
And Yet They Pose as Mendi-
cants and Bankrupts.
CleVeland's Message Likened to
Dreams Of Pharaoh.
ROADS HAVE MONEY

Washington, Dec. 2s.-The senate was
Unexpectedly diverted yesterday from
Cuba to the Pacific railroads. An unusu-
ally large crowd was in the galleries, an
ticipatng that Mr.. Vest would continue
his speech begun Monday on the attitude
of Mr.. Olnev toward the Cameron resOlu-
ton The interest this had awakened
was shown by the presence in the diplO-
matte gallery If First Assistant Saprp-
tary of State Rockhil who is next in
rank to Mr.. Olney in state affairs and
who has had special charge of the reports
coming from cOnsuls in Cuba The for
eign delegations were also well repre-
sented-
Soon after the session opened Mr.. Pet
ugreW of South Dakota called up his res
0lurlon relative to the trust notes of the
Pacific railroads. The senator made q
savage onslaught on the Pacific railroad
bination of private interests was seeking
to absorb the roads and close out the gov
ton and Mr.. Morgan of Alabama followed
with a bitter arraignment Of the Pacific
roads, charging them with fraud and
crime on gigantic scale
The subject had been 50 deeply buried
yond the possibility of Intelligent consid-
Grafton As TO the pending funding bill
It came up he would insist on the fullest
latitude of debate. He particularly de-
sired TO see the interests of the people of
the Pacific coast protected against this
monopoly and against combination OF
and central PaelIlc under private control
No section of the country had been
bound SuDSeTNlenT those
nOpoly. He believed the pending funding
bill should be re-cOmmitted to the COM
mlVtee ana more adequate remedy pre-
scented. The Union Pacific had enough in
its treasury TO pay the interest on the
hfsJ mortgage bohqs ana YET IL came 70
congress as a bankrupt and mendicant
asking for pity 1t was not only payins
interest on ITS own bondS, pql was pay
dividends to the bondholders- Three
roads were pursuing what had become
the United States-the running down ana
wrecking Of roads in order to manipulate
Mr.. Vest interposed at this point with
question as to the meaning OF the pres
congress acted on this Pacific railroad
question. the executive branch would act
Mr.. Morgan gave a deprecatory gesture
and said. Now in all Egypt there was
only one man and he was divinely in
spired who could interpret the dreams
OF Pharaoh The senator ought not ask
me to interpret the president message.
If any man is fapables of Intervening that
message it is the senator from Missouri.
I am not stopping to interpret the mess
Mr.. Vest. with message in hand, de-
to read the presidents words but he was
earnest remark: II wish the senator
would not bother me with that mes
Mr.. Morgan proceeded at considerable
length urging that it was Of supreme i'm
portance that these roads should not fan
into private hands particularly the hands
the point that an American stockholder
ia an American road was curiosity who
ought to be put in a side show
Mr.. Gear quickly Interrupted, citing the
instance of an American road. 1000 miles
long. not only owned by Americans but
by American women, who held MAORI
~ of he stock.
And who owns the bonds?" inquired
Mr.. Morgan
..Show me the men who own the bonds
and Will show you those who control the
road"
1t was but few minutes before the ex~
piration of the morning hour when Mr..
Morgan closed
Mr. Gear spoke briefly. urging speedy
action on the Pacific railroad question
and saying he would seek to secure some
Roadway Immediately after the holidays.
He announced that if a quorum of the
senators were here during the meetings
they would be held to inquire into the
questions which had been raised.
Mr. Call secured the adoption of a reso-
luton requesting the secretary of state
Charles Gavin. a United States citizen in
Cuba. He read a letter from Mrs j. NJ.
Gavin. mother of the deceased. appealing
for an inquiry and saying her son had
been hacked to pieces by Spanish sol
diers.
After passing several private pension
bills. the senate at 2.3S p m went into
executive session. which lasted until 3.05.
The senate then adjourned to January
5. 1897.