Evening star., 1896-12-07
RAILROAD FUNDING BILL
Representative Powers Thinks His Measure
Will Be Passed the Coming Session.
How II May he Amended to Meet the
Views Of the Oppo-
sition.

The friends of the Powers bill providing
scheme for the funding of the Pacific
railroad debt expect TO have that measure
up for consideration in the next session
Of Congress.
Representative Powers of. Vermont was
asked by Star reporter today what he
thought would be the attitude OF Congress
! toward his bill at this session.
Il think TX will be passed." replied Mr..
fcwers Il expect IL to be passed because
can see no other solution OF the CUES
tion.
The opposition to the funding bill is op-
position to certain railroad men, which, it
does not seem to me, has anything 10 do
with this matter. The only duty of Con-
gress. and the desire OF the American pco-
pie, Is 10 get as much out CT a bad debt
as possible, and i think that will be &C.
complished by the passage of the funding
Dill reported in the last session. / believe
that the bill would have passed then had
II been called up, and i believe that il will
be passed this winter Ny belief is simply
baseu on the fact that / can see real
opposition 10 the measure reported"
What concessions would the committee
De inclined to make to those who oppose
the funding bill in order TO secure addi-
tional votes for it?" Mr. Powers was asked.
uont know as 10 that" he replied.
Anything of that sort would naturally
come through amendments"
Representative wrIshrs Views.
Representative Wright of Massachusetts
| is also a member of the committee on Pa
cific railroads. In speaking to a Star re-
porter today on this subject Mr.. Wright
| saic: Il hope we will be able to pass the
Pacific funding bill. / think there will be
no difficulty in getting IL through the
House, but 1 am somewhat doubtful about
the Senate. j think il is quite possible TO
pass II through the Senate. even If there
should be some changes. that need not be
material"
What changes could be made to
strengthen the vote among members and
Senators who have opposed the bill?" the
reporter asked
II suppose the same objections will be
made this winter that were offered I'm the
| last session of Congress. Some members
think payments should be made larger, the
| interest higher and payments not to extend
over so long time as the present bin pro-
yides for. 1 think such changes would re-
move the objections 10 the bill Of a num-
Ter OF Representatives and Sena :ors. The re
| is feeling in the Senate in opposition
/ 10 any such measure as the funding bill
| on general PRINCIPLES. and / do not know
what would satisfy that class of the op-
posing element there.
II think the friends of the bill will do
everything In their power TO bring il up
during the coming session. If some funding
| bill is not passed i nothing for the
| government to do except to take and run
| the railroads, and | am opposed TO govern
! ment ownership of railroads. Arguments
are made that some OF the men connected
! with this railroad have made great deal
| of money out of the government, bat / can
not see how that has any weight in a
| ccEs.dcration of the present conditions. We
! are simply dealing with bankrupt con-
| cern. The only question We have 10 ask
| is how We can get the most money out OF
| il in satisfaction of the debt il owes the
government. Ii is not question of how
many dollars certain men have made cut Of
/ Ii i'm the past. If man has poor debt
| his only concern is to make good a bar
| gain as possible. and i believe the gov
| ernment will realize mere by passing the
| FUNDING bin .han it would if ii undertake
TO manage the road.