Southwest-sentinel. [volume] (Silver City, N.M.) 1883-189?, 1896-04-14

Washington, April 6--The bill
to authorize the issue Of bonds BY
New Mexico to rebuild the burned
capital at Senta Re, to which had
been attached amendments 10 val
idate certain other railroad bonds,
amounting in all TO nearly $780,
600, was brought up for consider
alton in the house today, and leave
asked TO pass IL under a suspen-
sion Of the rules. The propo-
gition was defeated after a debate
in which some insinuations were
made that the matter ought TO be
further investigated, and that I'M
fair advantage was being taken.
Mr.. Owens, Of Kentucky, from
the committee on territories, ar
gued in favor Of the bills passage.
stating that there was no question
that the bonds represented a legal
obligation of the people Of the
territory and innocent holders
who had bought them at par. and
in many instances above par,Ought
not 10 be allowed 10 suffer.
Congressman Cooper, Of Texas,
said that he was very much sur
prised by the attempt TO rush the
bill through. He had, he said,
been making Investigations, and
had given notice that probably a
minority report would be present
cd. Gov. Thornton and other
prominent citizens were aggress-
lively opposed TO the valuation Of
these bonds, which, they alleged,
were fraudulent, and further in
quiry ought to be had before ac-
ton was taken. If there was no
good ground for refusing to vail
date the bonds, it was surprising,
he thought, that Delegate Catron
did not advocate the action.
A number Of inquiries were
made by members Of Mr.. Cooper
and Mr.. Owens, with the result
that sufficient suspicion Of the
righteousness of the committees
recommendation was aroused to
defeat the proposition to pass the
bill under suspension Of the rules
by an almost two to one vote.
CooPER's GOOD FIGHT.
Another press dispatch from
Washington on the 9th inst says:
Representative Cooper, of Tex
as, secured a personal victory to-
day, when as the only member
from the committee on territories,
he succeeded in having the house
refuse to pass the act validating
the New Mexican railroad bonds,
over which there has been 80 much
disturbance. An effort was made
to suspend the rules and pass the
bill in the house this afternoon,
and 1t seemed for a while there
would be no objection. Mr.. Cooper
was the only man on the floor who
raised any objection, and was
finally compelled to make a speech
against the bill. The speech was
SO effectual as to completely
change the minds of the house
and put an end TO the measure"
STATUS OF THE BILL.
The above reported action now
sends the bond approval bill to a
special conference committee COM
posed of three members from each
house. The present status Of the
bill therefore 10 this: The original
bond approval bill has passed the
house and the senate, but in the
latter body the Brice amendment
was added. Then it went TO the
house again and was referred to
the house committee on territories
where Delegate Catron tackled on
the Coler bond amendment Upon
being reported to the house both
of these amendments were reject
ed. Now is the critical time, for
in conference the bond scheners
may get favorable action. Many
property owners who are unwilling
sit idly by and see Santa Fe and
Grant Counties robbed, this morn
ing rent q congratulatory dispatch
TO Congressman Cooper and urged
him to work for the original bill.
but 10 use his best efforts to kill
the Brice-C oler-C atron amend.
ment