The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-12-23
Grave Charges Made Against
Union Iaaci1lc Management.
CIVIL SERviCEiN THEHOUSE
Settle Sharply Attacks It and
Spirited Exchanges ELECTED
BUTLER OFFERS a RESOLUTION
To Inn,,;re Into Feasibility of Initiative
and Referendum MIR. Morgan
Makes a Laugh by Sting
ing Gibe at President.

ing Gibe at President.
Washington. Dec. 22.-The Senate was
.unexpectedly diverted to-day from Cuba
10 the Pacific railroads. An unusually
largo crowd was in the galleries antici-
mating that Mr.. Vest would continue his
speech. begun yesterday on the attitude
of Secretary 0lney toward the Cameron
resolution. The interest this had awaken
cd was shown by the presence in the
Diplomatic gallery of First Assistant
Secretary of State Rockhill. who is next
in rank to Mr. Olney in State affairs,
and who has had special charge OF the
reports coming from Consuls III Cuba.
The foreign delegation also was Wen
ranresented. Soon after the session open
Cd Mr.. pettigrew, of South Dakota, call
cd up his resolution relative to the trust,
known as the Pacific railroad. The Sena-
tor made savage onslaught on the
Pacific railroad system in general, charg-
ing that combination of private inter
ests was seeking to absorb the roads and
close out the government.
He declared his belief that the Union
Pacific was not and is not insoivent,
and that floating debt was created for the
express purpose of complicating and en-
barrassing the government liens.
Mr.. Gear (Rep., Iowa), chairman OF
the Committee on Pacific Roads, asked
il Mr.. Pettigrew favored the operation
of these roads by the government.
The South Dakota Senator answereu
that certainly the government ceaid iipe
possibly manage the Paci6e roaus NoIss
than they had been Haanage IL Wouiu
do AWAY With the pools, combinations
and dissemination in rates which made
the American railroads target for criti-
cism.
Mr.. Pettigrew urged that the govern
ment should embrace this opportunity
for an experiment in government owner
ship of great continental line he be-
lieycd the government should take pos
session and operate the Union Pacific
road and its branch lines.
Mr.. Platt Rep., Connecticut spoke of
the imperative necessity of considering
the important question of settlement
with the Pacific roads. The indebted
ness, reaching S115, 100000, was in dam
ger of being lost and yet this vast debt
and the peril Of its loss Seemed to disturb
no one. He hoped it would be one of
the first subjects considered after the
holidays.
statements made by Mr.. Pettigrew were
of a most grave character. In effect
they meant that certain individuals hal
made a fraudulent combination to load
down these Pacific roads so as to absorb
them. 1t was difficult for any single mind
to grasp the labyrinth Of fraud aud
rascality." 1t was, Mr.. Morgan declared
twin brother to the credit Mobilier
frauds oarriad an by tho oap,a raa+had.,
of bribery and corruption.
Mr.. Vest, Dem., Mo-, interposed with
question rs to the meaning Of the Presi-
dent in his message, that unless Congress
acted on this Pacific railroad question
the executive branch would act by Janu-
airy 1st
Mr.. Morgan gave aeprecatory 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 to ask
me to interpret the Presidents message.
Ii any man is capable of interpreting that
message it is the Senator from Missouri
l am not stopping to interpret the mes
sage"
Mr.. Vest, with message in hand, de-
sired more exact answer and proceeded
to read the Presidents words, but he was
cut off, amid laughter, by Mr. Morgan's
earnest remark: Il wish the Senator
would not bother me with that message"
Senator Morgan's speech lasted until
shortly before o'clock, when the morn
ing hour expired, the House sending over
the Cuban question until after the hoIi-
days Mr.. Call secured the adoption of
a resolution asking the Secretary of State
for information relative to the killing of
Chas. Gavin, an American citizen, by the
Spanish forces in Cuba.
Senator Butler, of North Carolina in
troduced a resolution providing for
special committee of three Senators to in
quire into the feasibility Of applying the
principle Of direct legislation through the
initiative and referendum to the legisla-
tion of the Federal government.
After the executive session, which last
ed until 3:05 p. m, the Senate adjourned
to January 5, 1897.
THE HOUSE PROCEEDINGS.
Washington, Dec 22.-The House to-
day passed the legislative executive and
judicial appropriation bill and then ad-
journed for the holiday recess. This is
the first time in the history Of Congress
that the legislative bill has been passed
before The holidays. The day was devot-
ed to ne annual debate Of the civil ser
vice law and as usual the attempt so
strike cut the provision for the COM
mission WIS overwhelmingly defeated.
The was Il S8ad doal Of threshing
over 81 straw aAd spafra4: for politi-
cal points. Mr.. HroSit... e,sairman of
the civil service committee, d1 Tended the
law. 0thefs who participated in the de-
bate were Messrs. Baker, 1Rep., n. H.:
Walker, (Rep., Mass.); Williams, Dem,