The Portland daily press., 1897-01-09

duty of law officers Of the government 70
proceed against these officials ano
directors. Any mem ber who voted iot
this or any other funding bill. simply
voted to quit-claim the govel nment 8
right to proceed against the men VINO
nai violated the laws of Congress ana
confirm them in holding their lilegai-
ly gotten wealth.
MIR. Swanson. Democrat OF virginia,
asserted that the bill was not half SO
good an offer for the government as sen
ator Brice reported that Alexander II.
Orr chairman of the Union Pacific reor-
ganization company had made to Con
gress two years ago.
Mr.. Mccall, Republican Of Massachu-
sets, said the reports of tie commlusee
on this bill and of previous committees
in Congress, were based upon the as
sumption that the Supreme court had de-
cided the government had no lien upon
tae terminals Of road, especially upon the
Omaha bridge. This was in his opinion
al error. MIR. Mccall said he was IN
sympathy with the proposition that tne
but he believed the proposition in the
bill WAS not as favorable to the govern
ment as it should be.
MIR. johnson, Republican of California,
said the practical question before the
House today was how could the govern
ment get its money. If the roads were
forced to sale it was demonstratapie 9
fact that the proceeds of the sale would
not pay, the first mortgage, let sion
satisfy ring the governments indebted
ness. The only feast BILE and practlca pie
thing to do as to give the companies
time in which to pay the debts: Mr.
johnson denied that the State OF Cali
fornia was opposed to the bill, pub sald
the representatives were terrorlzed py
two men, Mayor Sutro and W. II. Hearst.
He made an especially yituperatiye at
tack on Hearst.
MIR. Cooper, Republican of Wisoonsln,
replied to the attack upon MIR. Hearst by
Mr., johnson, repellina the asparslons
cast upon him. He SAID Mr. Johnson
alone of all the California delegation had
championed the funding bill and had
been defeated for reelection 10y more
than 5000 votes. Mr.. Cooper referred to
the vast profits made by the constructors
of the roads. Nearly 500, ,000, 600 ana con-
temptuously dismissed the argument on
| their behalf based upon the 'rlsk, they
| took, by the statement they CID not IN
vest a cent of their own.
| MIR. Shafroth, Popullst OF Coiorauo,
said the companies could not claim to
have fairly and honestly carried out the
reonirements of the law under which
| they have bean operating. 1t would be
cheaper for the government to cancel 16s
| Indebtedness outright. than enact into
the law the proposition involved IN the
bill.
Mr.. Hepburn, Republican of Iowa, 6
member of the Pacific railroad commit
tes made the closing argument in favor
of the bill, Referring to the complain,
Of the opponents of the bill that th'
people of California were writhing under
the burden imposed by Mr. Huntington
and his associates in the management O.
the Central Pacific railroad Mr.. Hepburn
asked if it were probable, Ur even poss1 bl'
that the residents Of the great city O
San Francisco, the charges being true
would sit supinely down and do nothing
further than complain to Congress.
Mr.. Powers, Republican of Vermont
asked If it we're not true the charges fo
freight In California were less than II
New England. Mr.. Morse, Republican
of 'Massach usetts, replied: They are
as I know from personal experience II
shipping freights."
The COMMITTEES rose and several cam
munications were laid before the Senate
| The House took recess.
This evenings session of the House,
devoted under the rules to the consldera-
tion of a private pension bill, was rem
dered of no avail tonight by absentelsm
| The point of no quorum was made earl.
| in the session, and the rest OF the eve
ming was occupied in proceeding under
the call of the House. At 1890 the ses
sion expired by limitation.