Omaha daily bee., 1897-01-11
PACIFIC ROAD FUNDING BILL
Measure to Be Voted On in the House
Today,
EACH SIDE CLAIMS IT WILL WIN
both Parties base Their Predictions
on nn Actual POLL of the Mem
bcrs-Scnntc VIII Consider
the Cuban Question.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 10.-The fate OF the
Pacific railroad funding bill, which was de-
bated three days in the house last week,
will be decided tomorrow, when the measure,
with the pending amendments. will come to
a vote under the special order under which
the house is proceeding.
The bill involves the settlement OF the
Sll2 600 of Indebtedness OF the Union
Pacific and Central Pacific on the basis OF
an extension of over eighty years at per
cent, with an annual eXtinguishment pay
ment on the principal at the rate of 1866, 900
for the first ten years; $3.50 900 for the Sec
ond ten years. and $3.50, 900 for the remain
ing years. 1t involves as the alternative OF
its defeat the probable immediate fore
closure OF the governments lien and the
sale of the property.
1t is the elimination of the struggle which
has gone on in congress for dozen years
to secure some sort of an adjustment of tho
Pacific railroad indebtedness on the basis
OF an extension, as 1t has been apparent for
long period that the roads would default
when The bends matured. The interests at
stake are gigantic and the friends of the bill
are straining every nerve. The opponents
of the measure are also active and the re-
salt Is awaited with intense interest. Each
side tonight claims 1t will be victorious to-
morrow. Both sides have made polls of the
members upon which th5y base their claims.
Before the final vote is taken on the bill
the Bell and Harrison substitutes, both OF
which are pending, will be voted upon. The
former provides that IL the Union Pacific
and Central Pacific will discharge the first
mort gage Indebtedness OF S6l,OO0,OO0, so as
to advance the governments lien to a first
mortgage, the government will agree to an
extension of the debt at low rate of in
lerest The Harrison substitute provides
fog The creation OF a commission, consisting
of the secretary of the treasury the secre-
tary of the interior and the attorney general,
for the settlement of the debt on n basis
fair to The roads and just to the govern
ment
After the funding bill is disposed of the
house bill will proceed with the considera-
tion of appropriation bills until Saturday,
which will be given up to eulogies ON the
life and character and public services of
the late eX-Speaker Crisp. The Indian and
military appropriation bills are on the cal
endar, and before they are disposed of the
agricultural bill will be brought on.
SENATE FORECAST.
The course of the senate this week will
depend largely upon whether the Pacific
railroads funding bill passes the house and
whether Senator Cameron will call up his
Cuban resolutions Mr.. Cameron's friends
expect that he will be in his seat Monday,
and that when he returns he will indicate
his desire as to the resolutions on the Gu
ban question, If he decides to press the
resolutions there will be a determined ef-
fort TO aid him in this direction but in any
event there are likely to be few speeches
on Cuba, Senator Mills has announced his
purpose to address the senate on the ques-
tion tomorrow, and it is understood that
Senator Davis is preparing a Cuban speech.
The Pettigrew free homestead bill is eX-
pected to reach vote Monday or Tuesday,
and it Is to be followed by the Pacific rail-
road bill If the latter bill passes the house.
Senator Cullom who will have charge of
the Legislative, executive and judicial ap-
preparation bill. said today he expected to
be able to report that measure by the mid
die of the week. and that he would ask
the senate to consider it as soon as re-
portpd