The record-union., 1896-01-30

Pacific Coast would be compelled to pay
this money into the pockets of the rail-
road company. / wish you would en-
tighten us
1T is impossible to raise rates on ac-
count of the competing lines in Califor-
MIA seeking transportation business,
asserted the attorney
johnson inquired if the first mortgage
should be foreclosed it would wipe out
the Government lien, and Tweed an
swered that if anybody else but the
Government had the second mortgage
it would. but that the present Attorney.
General claimed that the Governments
lien could not be cut off.
Several members of the California
delegation requested permission to ask
Mr.. Tweed a few questions, which was
readily granted.
Mr.. Hilborn was the first to take him
in hand. I'm speaking of the land
grant," he said, you seem to consider
it Of small value How much money
has the Central Pacific received from
the sale of lands of this grant up to the
present time?''
Il cannot answer that at present.
said Tweed, but l will find the exact
facts for you
You say that this land is of little
value through the mountains? have
recollection that while I was District
Attorney in California said Mr. Hill
born, suits were pending to set aside
patent which were alleged to be valuable
for minerals. There is a controversy
now going on between the California
Miners Association and the railroads
as to what are and what are not min
eral lands"
II cannot answer these questions,
answered Attorney Tweed. 'They are
merely California matters"
Mr.. Hilborn persisted in his question,
and one of the attorneys asserted that
the railroad had nothing to do with
mineral lands.
Mr.. Johnson remarked that he had
introduced a bill for the classification
of these lands, which he hoped the Cal
ifornia members would support.
Representative Mcguire inquired of
Mr. Tweed If he was aware how much
it cost to build the road leading from
Roseville to the Oregon State line, and
asked him if he had read it's history
in the report of the Railway Commits
sion
NO, SAD IWeed.
Judge Mcguire then explained to him
and the committee the history of that
transaction, but Tweed insisted that it
was a mistake that this road had cost
| s., ,5000 600.
Representative Arnold insisted that
it was a matter of no consequence at the
present time what it cost to build the
line.
'It is important because they are
offered as security to the Government"
said Judge Mcguire.
''Who has offered it?" asked John
son. II don't understand that anything
has yet been offered
Mcguire said that the San Joaquin
Valley road was being built through the
same sort of country at cost of $10,-
coo per mile, but his statement was
doubted by several.
Johnson objected to this sort of dis
cussion as irrelevant, but Chairman
Powers decided that it was a, "free-for-
alP' hearing and he desired to give
everybody chance to be heard.
Mcguire challenged Tweed's state
ment that under a funding bill there
would be be no increase in passenger
and freight rates, and asked if it was
not true that the Southern Paclnc con-
trolled all the competing lines.
Tweed insisted that the Atchison
read had a right to run trains through
to San Francisco, and Mcguire inquired
where he could get a copy of the con-
tract
why do you think that the sale of
the Central Pacific to an Independent
company would not cause any reduc-
tion of fares and freights?" asked Ma
guire.
Because there is too much competi-
tion,'' answered Tweed. RATES have
been forced down since 1872"
Tweed again asserted that the Santa
Fe had right to run trains into San
Francisco, but never thought it neces-
sary to exercise it, Tweed was appar-
emily very frank in answering all ques-
tions.