Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1896-03-10

amendment. l could scarcely catch it al
it was read. 1t proposes to validate the
issue of $172,500 of bonds.
Mr.. Brice-The committee on terri
tories had full hearing and made q
unanimous report in favor of the amend.
ment, and were rather more in favor oil
the amendment, l think, so far as the
equities were concerned, than of the
original bill. The valuation is of certain
refunding bonds that were issued by the
county of Santa Fe in lieu of certain
other bonds that had been before that
time issued in aid of a railroad, and about
which there was some controversy aris-
ing out of decision of the supreme
court of the United States since rendered.
! The valuation in the amendment is pre-
cisely a similar one to that which was
made by an act of congress in the South
Dakota case, which was passed by con.
gress and sustained by the supreme
court. 1t is merely valuation of GER
tain other bonds IN addition to the bonds
that were provided for in the bill as
passed by the house.
Mr.. Platt--Where were those bonds is
suedp
Mr.. Brice--The first bonds?
Mr.. Platt--The first ones.
Mr.. Brice--There is full report ac-
companying the bill. If the senator de-
sires to look into the matter
Mr.. Platt--Oh, no.
Mr.. Brice-I will let it be passed over
for the present, so that the senator can
examine the report.
Mr.. Platt-That ia all right.
~ Al
senator from Ohio if | understood him
correctly to say that this is unanimous
report by the committee?
Mr. Brice-I do.
Mr.. Berry There is no question about
the justice or equity of the bondsp
Mr.. Brice-Absolutely none.
Mr.. Berry-None whatever by the citi-
zens!
Mr.. Brice-I am not prepared to say
as to the citizens of the territory.
Mr.. Berry-Or the county authorities?
Mr.. Brice-I mean to say that the orig
inal bonds were issued in pursuance of
six consecutive votes, in the years 1881,
1882, 1883, 1884, 1858, and 1885, of the
county of Santa Fe. Some years after
wards, without objection from any citi.
l.
bonds were taken up and refunded at a
lower rate of interest under a general re-
funding act of the legislative assembly of
that territory, also without objection.
decision of the supreme court rendered
some years ago held that the original act
was void because it had not been passed
by authority of congress. This proposed
act seeks to validate the original act
authorizing those county votes.
Mr.. Berry--Were the bonds issued in
aid of railroad?
Mr.. Brice-They we're issued to build a
railroad, which was built.
Mr.. Berry-And the railroad was built?
Mr.. Brice-The railroad was built and
it is in operation.
Mr.. Call-There does not seem to be
any ether member of the committee
present. l am member of the commit
tee, and will state that was present at
one of the hearings. do not remember
that there was any one there represent
ing the territory, although l believe the
delegate was present; but there was moth
ing said on the part of any one author
ized to represent the territory in opposi-
tion to the bill which is now before the
senate. did not understand, however,
that there Was an absence of all opposi-
tion to it, 1t seems to me-, if my memory
is right, that there was some action on
the part of the legislative assembly.
will ask the senator from Ohio if that is
not the case? I see the senator from New
York Mr.. Hill is now here, who was also
present at the hearing.
Mr.. Brice-Does the senator ask if
there was some action by the legislative
assembly?
Mr.. Call--Was there not?
Mr.. Brice-None except to validate the
bonds to the extent of the power of the
legislative assembly.
Mr.. Call--There has never been any
thing else?
Mr.. Brice-There never has been any.
thing else.
Mr.. Call--No opposition to the pay
ment on the part Of the territory?
Mr.. Brice opposition by the peo-
pie of the territory or by the commits
sioners of the county or by the legislative
assembly Of the territory.
Mr.. Platt-The money has been OBJ
tanned on these bonds?
Mr.. Brice-The money was obtained
from these bonds, and they are now held
by various institutions which paid for
them, and the money obtained has been
expended. Several times the amount was
expended, and the road is in operation.
Mr.. Hill--Mr. Catron, the delegate from
the territory, was before the committee,
and said it was very proper and just
measure and that it ought to be passed.
Mr.. Bate am member of the COM
mittee on territories. I did not hear
what transp,red in regard to this bill
when it sprung up in the committee and
the arguments were being made. was
called away to the committee on military
affairs, my presence there being neces-
sary to make quorum. As said, am
a member of the committee on territories,
but did not have chance to examine
the bill and hear the argument, and was
not present when the committee took ac-
tion on it. was not, therefore, one of
tho Com mitkee tn give a ma nimons yote |