The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-01-09

When Johnson concluded his speech
there was an ominous silence on the floor
Mr.. Arnold of Pennsylvania made
brief speech for the measure, but the
house was still buzZing with the sensa-
tion created by the California member.
When Mr.. Arnold finished, Mr.. Cooper
(Rep. Wis.,, one Of the strongest foes OF
the Pacific Railroad bill, now as in the
past, took the floor. About the first
words that fell from his lips intensified
the situation.
I'm view of what has been said by the
gentleman from California" he said,
about the editor from California-in
view of the exhibition which we saw here
lis, think, one of the most disgraceful
known in the annals Of the legislative
history of the United States. the attack
ing Of a man absent from this place, in
a manner only known to towards, black
ening his name, running 1t Qf ii were in
the power of the gentlemen from Cali
fornia to ruin anybody who has ever had
sny reputation at alD to the best of his
ability, I feel ii proper for me to say
at least a few words"
Mr.. Cooper then paid high tribute to
Mr.. Hearst and the hard work he had
done to build up his papers. and declared
had done entitled a member to attack
him as the gentleman from California
had done. Mr.. Cooper turned to Mr..
Johnson and continued: Let the CALLED
jade vince. The gentleman was in n
Republican district. He boldly cham
pioned the funding bill, and he is buried
under a majority of 5000
"The gentleman from New York whom
ne so infamously and wilfully maligned
is not responsible for his defeat. 1t is the
knowledge that the people Of the state Of
California have that the power OF the
Southern Pacific Railroad company.
whom the gentleman from California
presumes to be championing here on the
floor in the face Of the people, has been
used to their detriment. They know Of
the manner in which that corporation
has for years past treated the people Of
that state.
The people of California have been
treated more shamefully by this corpora
tion than any commonwealth in the his
tory of the United States has been
treated by any other corporation, rail-
road or otherwise. They have destroyed
or crippled enterprises, they have de-
stroyed the business of individuals, they
have dictated to the merchants how they
should conduct their business, imposed
hardships upon farmers, business men,
merchants, dry goods men, lumbermen.
merchants in every class of business, and
made to feel their heavy hand all those
who undertook to ship their freight in
opposition to this company.
"The Republican party repudiated the
funding bill. Why? Because they did
not want to aid the tyranny of the South
ern Pacific over the taxpayers of Cali
fornia."
Mr. Cooper then calmed down and con-
tinued his arguments. Throughout his re-
ply to Mr.. Johnson the latter sat quietly
I'm his seat at the rear OF the hall. He
made no response.
General debate closed yesterday. To-
day the bill Will be taken up for amend
ment under the flve-minute rule. Those
who spoke yesterday were Messrs. Pat
terson (Dem., Tenn.), Johnson (Rep..
CALI, Arnold (Rep., Pa.), and Hepburn
(Rep., Ia.) In favor of the measure, and
1essrs. Harrison Dem., Ala.), Boatner
ADem., La.), Swanson (Dem., va.), Nc
Call (Rep.. Mass.). Wheeler (Dem., Ala.):
Cooper (Rep., Wis.,, Shafroth (Rep.,
Ia.), Bell (Pop., Colo.), Parker (Rep.,
Ida.), against IL. Mr.. Harrison gave
notice OF substitute he should offer to
provide for a commission to consist OF
the secretary Of the treasury, secretary
Of the inter or, and attorney general to
negotiate the settlement OF the debt.