The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-03-30
Mr. M0RGAN'S REPORT.
VIGOROUS DOCUMENT DIRECTED
At THE PACIFIC ROADS.
esve~nnens Ought xos 90 surrender
IT'S Interest i'm the Natfoasi his n
way-Adopffen of the Bill for q
Connfsssss wosId Place Asse-
Int Power I'm the Hands of the
MagnAses-

WASHINGTON. March =. - Senator
xorxzn of Alabama today presented a mi
rority Report on the Dill recently reported
f2yorabsy 20 me senate for ere adjustment
I the Pacific road 6eols. through ne
agency OF a commission. TIE report gives
sns circumstances Of ths inception Of tats
nsEoaai highway across the continent sfao
maintains faai IL was essentially govern
merit undertaking entrusted 20 private
sands, Just a. the national banks are tn
ssrumentalsiles OF the government. al
though IN private hancs.
To secure the government agninsf &C.
faalt OF these corporations 10 the pay
vnent Of ronds issued 60 enable them 10
bstId these railroads. there vas provided
IA the charter q scparass hes upon al
their property Of every description n favor
Of the United States. The statute provides
for the forfeiture on default Of payment
and transfers the title and possession by
ar ace Of ias 70 enc United statez- The
government IN thus substituted IN soso-
luse eoatrol and uTscondlt ioral Ownership
Of the corporate property 81 every KIND
in place Of the stockholders. whose owner
ship fheregpon ceases.
The report then points out that this bla
provides an agreement with the owners
81 ne Union Pacific railroad. without de-
caring vino OWLS a. and deals with u as
~ the United States 10 NOT the osaer. The
bin also, Il II insisted, DESTROYS the unity
OF sEss great highway and proposes 10
separate the Central Pacific from the
Union Pacific railroad Morgan states IN
tie report that he vii offer an amend
inert In the senate providing that the pro-
visions OF sfse bin shall apply 70 both the
Pacific railroad companies. The senator
says II this "fata3 ar; OF separation be-
tween these roads RAD not reached con-
elusive stage By reason OF agreements
made by che president for the disposal OF
TIE governments interests in the Union
Pacific railroad. then u should be Inter
eepted and placed In the handle OF this pro-
posed commission. The report adds;
The United States can no more a1ord
20 have the great highway pass beyond is
reach than Great RrStatn could afford 70
have +he Canadian Pacific railroad, which,
IN a military sense, - the spinal column
az the empire pass into the hands % the
American government
The nature Of such transaction con-
dennis u As an usurps tion OF ant1orlsss
by the executive that has no support IN
Law II = too much 70 ask that congress
shall stand by and wltnSsS a otspose q
this vast properly under pflssfe eETse.
rnenf bet ween the executive and a great
railroad combination. without eEen pro-
test The value OF the whole properly Is
not adequate compensation for suen de.
snoraliratson IN the abuse OF Official
p1wer."
Morgan contends that the destruction OF
tlfs unity will enable a great railroad
combination 10 control trans portaaon from
New York 20 the Pacific ocean. making
the people along the routes mere feuda-
tories OF these great railroad kings. The
report asserts that the real occasion for
this btu 10 TO avoid the disclosures and to
provide for the condonatton Of frauds and
breaches Of trust on the part of the own
er~ and directors % the Central Pacific
railroad which. ''if they were dealt with
in che spirit OF Justice. would fasten la
bfiitfes upon these men that would far
exceed the vast sums which the company
owes 60 the government"
Morgan refers TO the enormous frauds
pegprtrated hy both of these railroad COM
panies upon the United States. the remedy
for which 10 easily IN reach through ti-
bsrnals Of justice.
The report then urFes that the president
should nos be Iefs as finsl umpire. az pro-
posed by this bill. Ia contest between
crime and public Justice"
The responsibility rests on congress. he
says. and II should net uneurdsn II on the
rasssecn, Morgan adds hat. aEhough
the result would iisappolnt the powerful
order Of the raiiroad wrecke9s. yet an
easy adjustment 10 open by the passage OF
senafe bin %
The report Goses with statement al
20 ths powerful engine which the eonhina-
ton places under the direction or tho
president and cabinet.