Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-03-12
Huntington Says Only a Hundred
Californians Are Against Him.
Why The congressman OPPOSE BIN
Some Interesting Answers Made to
the House Committee.
HIS KENTUCKY CHARTER

The House committee on Pacific railroads
today listened to a statement by c. p.
Huntington, similar to that made before
the Senate committee, in advocacy of plan
of settlement Of the Pacific railroad indebt-
edness. In concluding his address, Mr.
huntington remarked extemporaneously
that no man was SO anxious as he to see
the roads pay 100 cents on the dollar: that
it was the last great work of his life; he
was doing only small things now, and ne
hoped to live to see all his affairs on a
solid basis. If he equaled the record Of his
great grandfather he had yet thirty years
Of life.
rambling discussion, participated in by
MIR. Huntington and members of the COM
mittee, consumed falf an hour. One Of the
questions asked by Chairman Powers was
whether, under the company's plan, the
Southern Pacific would be able to guaran-
tee the payments
THE Southern Pacific is solid old COM
pany," Mr.. Huntington replied, land while
would not like to do anything to make it
pay much money, l would be willing that
it should guarantee these payments, be-
cause l am so sure 1t would not be called OH
to pay. l am only one of several, but
have been running this thing thirty years,
and what l say generally goes. / am will
ing to promise that the Southern Pacific
VIII guarantee these payments"
4 Convenient Kentucky Charter.
When Mr.. Powers inquired if the char
ter OF the Pacific granted by the Kentucky
legislature was broad enough to permit
this, MIR. Huntington answered: "Oh, that
is broad enough to do most anything" and
the committeeman laughed. "Tha. is a
broad charter and clean charter" he
nd l,.,C ,lo,, =,
1t to do"
Then Mr.. Harrison CAla.) inquired wheth-
or the income from the road during the
past ten years would not warrant a higher
rate of interest than two per cent.
NO, there has got to be a little margin. :,
was the reply.
Another question was whether the COM
pahy could have met the requirements of
the Reilly bill of the last Congress, ami
Mr.. Huntington replied: "Oh, no. You
might as well tell a drowning man that
there is rail on shore and he can save
himself If he will go and get that. That
bill was financial impossibility"
HIS Analysis Of California Sentiment.
In discussing the public opinion of Califor.
MIA. Mr.. Huntington said that the great ma.
Jof1ty OF the people favored the funding plan
and added: There are perhaps a hundred
men in California against US; smart fellows
too, because they have always got a liyin.
without working. They have a grievance
because they were dismissed from the nav
rolls at my suggestion, and they want to
get back; but they won't"
But is 1t not significant" Mr.. Boatner
asked, that every member of Congress from,
California but one is irrevocably Opposed to
this plan?"
Ihey have grievance, most of them,
was the reply. lone man who ran against
Mr. English said. when Mr.. English came
here, that II we had given him little help
he might have made it. We told him We
were out of politics.
Mr.. Huntington was sure the committee
was not interested in these personal matters.
and remarked: Il don't want to say what
these men tell me personally" referring to
the Congressman.
Mr. Barham had told him that rates
were too high, but did not even know what
the rates were.
But the press of California seems to be
sol1dly arrayed against you," Mr.: Boatner
suggested.
"seven-eighths of the papers are for u.s.
Mr. Huntington replied. THE California
papers are mixed. l never read them
dne Examlner Is against US strong. The
Chronicle-thats a great paper-that is
fair, am told. The Post is fair"
Mr.. johnson Asked Particulars.
There was rather warm passage-at-
arms between Mr.. Arnold of PENNSYLVANIA
and Mr.. johnson of California when Mr..
Johnson asked Mr.. Huntington to specify
what were the grievances to which he re-
ferred.
johnson wants bill of particulars" :"
Mr.. Arnold observed jocularly. He is
after a campaign fund"
This irritated Mr.. johnson, who de-
clared with some warmth that ne was lot
after any campaign fund; that he was per-
fectly familiar with all the situation. and
did not care to have the dirty linen of Cali
fornia washed in Congress-
Mr.. Arnold said that the local issues Of
California need not prevent a fair adjust
ment of the relations between the gov
ernment and the Pacific roads, and the
hearing ended.