The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-01-08

Both Houses Of Congress Debating on
Pacific Railroads.
Morgan's Proposed Solution
of Matter.
VEN 10 Be Taken In Lower House Next
Monday

Cullum aRep. Ills) in favor of the recog
milton OF Cuban independence, and one
from the Commercial club OF Chicago en-.
dorsing the policy Of the administration
regarding Cuba.
Some progress was made on the bill for
free homesteads on Indian lands. but
maj vote was not reached. Mr.. Platt
opposed the bill in a lengthy speech,
pointing out that 1t would cost the gov
ernment a loss of many millions. 1t was
disclosed during the day that Represen-
tative-eiect Edward Il. Robins was the
author of the letters from Havana read
IA the senate Wednesday. The other
Cuban development of the day was
joint resolution offered by Mr.. Mills
Dem. Tex.), declaring that the power Of
recognizing a new republic resides in
congress recognizing the independence
Of Cuba, and appropriatin3 $4,000 for
United States minister To the republic
of Cuba. Mr.. Mills will speak on the res
olution next Monday. The senate ad-
journed until Monday.
Senator Morgan OF Alabama intro
duced a new bill providing a method of
settlement of the Pacific railroad debts.
1t directs the appointment of board
of trustees for the Union Pacific and
Central Pacific, and for the funding of
the debts of the roads. 1t authorizes
the secretary of the treasury to issue
bonds of the United States in such
amount as may be necessary for the re-
demption Of the first mortgage bonds Of
the roads and in exchange for them
dollar for dollar, the bonds not to be
otherwise sold. The bonds are to run
for. 80 years, though IL is to be optional
with the government whether they shall
be redeemed at any earlier or later date.
The bonds are not to exceed $1,000 in
denomination, and are to bear 3 per cent
interest. They are to be payable to
bearer. the title to pass by delivery.
The secretary of the treasury is to
take immediate possession of the lines
of the road. together with telegraph
lines, rolling stock and other property,
the roads TO be conducted as the prop
erty of the United States by a board
of trustees composed of nine men, TO be
nominated by the president and con-
hrmed by the senate. The office of
Pacific railroad director is to be abol-
ished. The bond provides for q sinking
fund of 1 per cent per quarter of the
bonds issued account of the roads,
to be invested i'm government securities
the fund to be used at the discretion OF
the secretary of the treasury for the
payment Of the Pacific bonds. 1t is pro-
vided that the Union Pacific and Cen
tral Pacific and their branches shall be
operated jointly as one through line.
The amount of stock is to be reduced
to correspond with the value of the
property. 1t is expressly provided that
the United States shall not be respon-
sible' for other than the bonded debts
of the roads. No stockholder is to re-
ce:ve any dividend until the non bonded
debts are paid, nor until the interest on
the bonds is paid. There is declaration
that the property is to be held in trust
to be administered for the benefit of
creditors, to be restored to the stock
holders when all the debts are paid.
Senator Morgan also reintroduced
with some notifications his bill of last
session, giving the court of appeals of
the District of Columbia Jurisdiction
over suits brought by the United States
to enforce its liens over these roads
On motion Of Mr. Frye (Rep. Me) the
senate took up number Of bills relating
to commerce and navigation. The house
bill to amend the navigation laws was
passed with senate amendments. 1t
deals with the rules which govern vessels
at sea and on the lakes and rivers The
bill as passed is a substitute for the
house bill, but is essentially the same
measure. 1t provides for shipping COM
mission officers, for the shipment and
discharge Of sailors; fixes " cubic feet as
the minimum space to be allowed each
seaman on large vessel. and makes
minor changes Ia the regulation Of lights,
signals, settlement of seamen's estates,
etc. The bill amending the laws relating
IN rsn
and fruitless debate. which led Mr.. Per-
kins to characterize the talk as "tem-
pest in a teapot" whereat Mr.. Hill pro-
tested against calling the senate tea
pot" The bill was finally laid aside. and
at $3.50 p. m. the senate held brief exec
utive session. and soon adjourned until
Monday.
The Pacific railroad funding bill. which
Is considered the most important piece
oflegslation which will come before con-
gress at this session, came w yeOter-
day In the house under q special order
which allows two days for debate under
the five minute rule. with provision for d
hnal vote on Monday next. There was a
great deal Of interest In the measure
and the members gave all the speakers
very close attention. A huge map of the
roads, with their feeders. was hung on a
frame erected In the area In front of the
speakers. rostrum. and served to illus
trate many Of the points made. There
were only four speakers yesterday. Mr..
Power (Rep. VIZ. the chairman of the
Pacific Railroad committee. who opened
with an exhaustive two-hour argument
In support Of the bill; Mr.. Hubbard (Rep.
MOI, the minority member of the com
nittee who has charge Of the opposition,
nA iran Iu \ Del
(Dem. Tex.), who spoke respectively for
and against the measure.
Child Burned To Crisp.
Middletown, N. Y, Jan. S.--Wilhelm
Beerstein, a a4-year-old boy, set fire to his
fathers barn near this city. and was
burned to crisp. His mother heard him
cry and rushed out. She saw the fire
coming through the roof. and heard the
childin box-stall and tried to enter. but
the fire drove her back. Again she made
the attempt but she was severely