The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-02-11
The F|FTY-FOURTH CONGRESS
FRIENDS or THE CANAL BILL
FAILED TO HOLD A QUORUM
IN TIE SENATE.
THE PACIFIC ROADS FORECLOSURE.
Senator Tburston Talks Against His
Colleagues Resolution Questioning
the Governments Right TO Fore
closc--IIousc Proceedings.

Washington, Feb. 3.-Aftcr a bric
parliamentary struggle in the senate late
this afternoon, the friends Of the Mica
raguan canal bill we're unable to hold Il
quorum and sit out the obstruction IL
that measure.
Mr.. Villas (dcm) Of Wisconsin con
tinucd his speech in opposition, this be
ing his third successive day.
At 1870 p. m. crOss-iirc Of motions
10 adjourn and calls of the senate began.
The friends Of the bill resisted adjourn
mcnt, while the opposition sought To close
the session and give Mr. Villas rest
from his prOtractcd effort The pnrlia-
mcntary contest continued al intervals for
half an hour, when all business was sus-
pended by the absence of a quorum and
refusal TO adjourn. The friends of the
bill finally gave ny hope of securing a
quorum and yielded to IN adjournment.
Mr.. Villas continues to hold the floor in
opposition.
His remarks today were TO the effect
that the Clayton-Buwcr treaty was in
full force and the American people would
insist on full and honorable adherence
to its provisions.
The senate agreed TO the motion for
liking the date for tanvassing the vote
Of the electoral college for president and
vice president. February 10 was the date
liked.
Senator Dubois was present today,
having returned from Idaho after his
icfeat for reelection. His desk and chair
were literally overwhelmed with flowers.
A grcnt cluster of yiOlrts was tied with
q ribbon bearing III solid silver 1900"
The main design, rising eight feet from
the hoor was an arch, the pillars being
white roses and the capstOne of immor-
tclles bearing the word Honor"
When the two Allen resolutions, ques-
6cning the powcs of the executive to
fforcclosc the government liens against the
ncific roads, were taken up, Mr.. Thurs
ton (rep) Of Nebraska spoke He argued
tnat uniform opinion of the courts had
tsen that the government lien was lin
tied strictly to the terms on which the
aiding bonds had fecn issued and that
the Thurman act lid not extend this
Len beyond the original lines of the I'm
lcr Pacific and Central Pacific roads.
This. he held, took the Omaha bridge,
approaches, terminal, ETC. outside of the
az to the Union Pacific was that all main
tracks all sidctracKs, etc, were covered
by first mortgage TO which the govern
ment lien was subject. The government
lien was on the main line, beginning at
the Missouri river, about three miles
north of the Omaha bridge, and running
westward TO Ogden. Utah. II, then.
there was acquired the rights of the first
mortgage and was subrogatcd TO those
rights, its lien would be extended to all
terminals. Obligations to the government
reached S53, 100000, and it was proposed
by the present negotiations to pay an
upset price of SO 800, 600 to $4,000. 900.
Mr.. Thurston said there were only two
choices to bc made. One was TO realize a
large per cent Of the governments claim.
the other to invCs, more of the peoples
money in fully acquiring II road pre-
sumably for the pdrposc OF government
ownership and operation.
Mr.. Thurston doubted whether congress
could now create new Union Pacific
railway owing to the laws of several of
the states prohibiting the operation of
roaus by other than domestic corpora
tons.
Answering n question by Mr.. Allen,
Mr.. Thurston declared that the right OF
TIE attorney general 10 atqulcScc in
foreclosure suit was absolute and ire
spcctivc Of any legislation. Inc govern
nent could bc brought into court and
this had been dcnc in this foreclosure
suit. TO bc sure congress could not take
from the United States court the author
ity over the case, but what wanton
abuse of power that would bc.
Mr.. Thurston gave way ut this time
to the Nicaragunn canal bill. This
caused n great furry, showing the anNl-
ETY. to advance various measures. IL was
finally arranged that the Pacific railway
resolutions could he taken NJ tomorrow.
Mr.. Morgan, in charge of the Mica
raguan canal hill, gave notice of his ac-
ccptancc of the amendments offered by
Mr.. Teller (rcpJ uf Colorado yesterday.
Mr.. Villas (dcml of Wisconsin re-
sumed his speech opposing the bill.
At $50 D. III. Mr.. Daniel (dcm) of Nir-
ginia moved an adjournment II to ~.
After delay OF twenty minutes, one
senator, Mr.. LINDSAY, was added tn those
present. II was evident quorum could
not be- secured. and at 90 Mr., Aldrich ,
withdrew further opposition to adjourn /
mcnt which was then taken.