The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-12-23

WASHINGTON. Dec. The senate
was unexpectedly diverted today from
cuba % the Pacific railroads. An IN
usually large crowd was sn the galleries.
anticipating that Vest would continue his
speech begun yesterday on the attitude
ot Ar- Oinsy toward the Cameron resolu-
ton. The interest this had awakened was
shown by the presence In the diplomatic
gallery OF First Assistant Secretary Of
State kockhllL who is next IN rank 90
M Oinsy in state affairs. and who has
nad special charge Of the reports coming
from cOnsnis In Cuba. The foreign dele
Es<lons also were vel represented soon
ytter the session opened Pettig-ew OF
South Dakota. called up his resolution
relative 10 the trust notes OF the Pacific
railroads. The senator made savage on
sisught on the Pacific railroad system In
general charging that combination OF
private interests was seeking 20 absorb
the roads and close out the government.
This opened the entire question. and Nor
san q Alabama followed with a bitter ar
Falxnment OF the Pacific roads. charging
them with fraud and crime or a gigantic
scale The speech lasted until shortly be-
FORE o'clock. when the morning hour ex-
pired. thus sending over the Cuban ques-
tlou until after the holidays.
The urgent deficiency bill was reported
and passed with minor amendments. II
carries sSsi.ss6 the larger part OF which Is
for continuation of the work Of the navy
department.
Pettigrew OF South Dakota called up his
resolution appropriatiug so. 900 % take
up the fast notes of the United Pacific
railroad He said thts step was imperative
20 protect the interests OF the government
against the scheme Of those who held
the notes whose purpose was 10 absorb
the branch lines Of the Union Pacific. He
believed the Union Pacific was not insolv-
ent. and that the floating debt was Great
cd for the express purpose OF c0mplicatng
and embarrassing the government lien. He
pointed out that In 1881 while the Union
Pacific road had t2s COZ eco OF the stock of
the branch roads in It's possession. with
earnings sufficient 10 pay expenses. pay
interest on the first mortgage bonds and
furnish a surplus. this noating debt OF
gseeee Coz was created.
1T turns up In the hands OF the officers
ard directors and reprsseufa t5ves o. the
road said he "snd The bonds and stocks
of The branch lines are taken bv these Of
firegs and placed win Drexel. Morgan &
N3w n i weii for me con,rqlttee 10 as
certain how this floating debt came into
egtatenEe the c0rsias sraftNT received FOR
Il, and everything connected wita y. In
vlew 81 the fact that The road vas carr
ing ITS operating exren2ee. Interest on its
bonds and a surplus besides
The senator declared that these peo-
PIE proposed TO get control OF $50. coo COO
Of stock and bonds which control the
branch lines OF the Union Pacific indie
pendent absolutely Of the rights and inter-
ests OF the United States government. He
said that the stocks and bonds are worth
- ealso today upon the market Their
apparent purpose. he said WAS TO divert
the business Of the branch lines 20 other
roads. and thereby make the property up
on which the government holds this Sc
curlty. almost worthless. Al this June
tGre prompt action was required. in order
20 prevent the accomplishment OF this
purpose. which was In line. Pettigrew
said. with the dishonest and corrupt acts
OF these men through a lifetime.
The senator said an advertisement had
been placed in the Wall Street Daily
News. signed by ]. G. Moore. James w
Alexander and John r. Adams. a commit
tee. Tor the purpose 81 carrying out this
scheme. He understood this committee
represents the great estates which control
the Union Pacific railroad which have
made great fortunes 0uf OF the road and
have 70 managed Il as 10 "swlndle the
sinking fund and cause great scandals
IN relation 10 the roads. A part % the
plan was 20 have receivers appointed in
the interest OF the men who were con-
defeat OF the governments claims
Gear Of Iowa chairman Of the commit
Tee on Pacific roads. asked II PettIgrew
favored the operation of the roads BY the
government Pctusrcw answered: Ger
talnly. The government could not possi-
bly, manage the Pacific roads worse than
they have been managed. II would 90
away with poois combines and the dis
elimination Of rates which has made the
American RAILWAYS IaFs~efV nAf..s
criticism
Platt OF Connecticut spoke OF the inner
ative necessity OF considering the impor-
tant question Of settlement with the Pa
Cinc roads An Indebtedness reaching
siiS 900 was IN danger % being lost.
and yet this vast debt and the prospect
Of It's loss seemed 20 disturb no one.
As 10 the pending funding bill. Morgan
said he oppressed !t. and when T. came Up
he would insist on The fullest latitude OF
debate lie particularly desired 10 see
the interests % the peoplc ef the Pacific.
slope protected against a combination OF
those two vast influences. the Union Pa
cine and the Central PRcfdc under private
contToi Ne section OF the country had
been 50 bound and made sunservient as
that os ghe Pscinc coast BY thts Gorgon
0f monopoly. lie believed the pending
funding bill should be recomnitted Ia the
committee and a more adequate remedy
presented. The tBion Psclfc had enough
"a tts treasury 20 pay the interest on the
nrst mortgage bonds. md Yet it came 20
congress as bankrupt and mendicant.
asking Tor pity. IL was not only paving
Interest on its own bonds. but So was nav
ing dividends 20 British boudhaldars.
These roads Were pursuing wnat had BE-
come A fxed policy of railway manage
meut Tn the Un4trd States. thc running
down ard wrecking % railroads IN order
90 manipulate them
Vest in3erposed az ch3s po'et with a
question as to the meaning OF the pre<!-
daat. 81 his recent message. that uulaxs
congress acted on thts Paelnc railway
question the executive hranch V8uld act
nv January l.
Morgan gave teprscatory gesture and
said,
''Now. {u AZ Egyr; there vas hut oze
man. aUd Ee Mas d.Firely tnsplred who
eanla interpret The dreams ~ Pharaoh
TIE senator ought uot Io asA uae 20 IN
man Is capabfe of interpreting tAat mes
sage tr g. the S<Uator <rom Missouri I
arr net s-cpping SO interpret tae mes
sage
Vest. wIth tae message ln han3 desired
A more exact answer. and proceeded %
rad the presidents words. hut re vas
cut -. asata lauxAteE. hy Mo-gAa's earn
es; rrmArs
i wssn ne senator would not notAsr
ne With taAt sasssass-
Morgan proceeded a. eonS4 4seran5e
srnsth. ure.ae shAf 5t was g sgpreTas Erya-
r.ertance that these rssas saouJ1 ncg faN
fnto prlvate nartis. particularly tEe hazds
q foreign ban1holasTs. i vas coming 50