The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-01-15

WASHINGTON. Jan. 1.-THE course
taken by the house committee on Pacific
roads today makes {; probable thar the
railroad question viii be brought before
congress again this session in the form OF
proposition 10 adopt the plan OF Repre-
sentative Harrison, OF Alabama, FOR gov
eminent commission 20 make setts sernent
with the roads. With but one dissenting
voice the committee decided TO empower
a subcommittee 70 consider Mr. Harrtson's
pan. waica is embodied IN a bill. and II is
predicted by most OF the committeeman
that the bill viii be reported 10 tue house
IL was decided 10 give a hearing on the
question next Wednesday. The members
OF the subcommittee are: Powers OF YER
mont, Hepburn CT IoEa. Patterson OF
Tennessee, Harrison OF Alabama and
Hubbard Of Missouri. Every shade OF op-
position on the railroad question Is repre-
scented.
The Harrison bill, which em5odies the
suggestions made 10 congress by President
Harrison. names the secretaries OF the
treasury and the interior and the attorney
general 20 c0nstitU.a the commission. A
suggestion was made that there should be
a commission OF men not government Of
dcials appointed BY the president. X being
argued that the cabinet offfcers would not
have time 10 engage in the negotiations.
The railroad question was opened before
rsseniatives OF the Sioux City & Pacifc
company 20 secure an independent settle
ment with the government Attorneys for
the Chicago & Northwestern appeared by
their representative. Mr.. Brown. 10 urge
the adoption of a bi,l introduced by Mr..
Hepburn, authorizing the secretary of the
treasury 10 make a settlement Of the roads
Indebtedness to the government. There
are 81 GOO 600 OF subsidy bonds maturing on
January l. lS9S. and the government has
paid interest on these, which brings the
reads Indebtedness up 10 about $4,000. 600.
\ majority OF the Sioux City Paeific
stock is held by the Chicago * Northwest
ern. which holds a lease OF the road, so
that a settlement practically would 10
made with the latter corporation. Counsel
for the Curtis Communication Company, Of
Sioux City, which Includes $40 banks IN
ugen-y-awo states, and holds securities.
spoke against the bill The Sioux City IN
terests have opposed the funding bill. and
are antasonistie To any separate settle
ment with any of the Paciiic railroad COM
panies. They desire an arrangement by
which the Union Pacific VIII be prevented
from discrimination against taem IN their
trafflc arrangements.
The Sioux City question was virtually
the Harrison plan inrrusted 20 the sab
committee. air. Harrison said today that
his bill probably would be amended 10 give
foreclose upon the roads in case il fails 70
make a set taiement with them. This change
was suggested recently by ex-Secretary
Hoke Smith. who took an active part In
the Pacific railroad question when in Of
fee one point provided for by Mr.. Har-
risons bin. on which he is ins4sient, IS that
all the testimony taken by the commission
shah be given under oath.
The witnesses before the committee
when the funding bill was prepared were
not sworn, and Mr.. Harrison says no
weight should be given to unsworn ex
parte testimony in dealing with question
involving so much money
Senator Gear. chairman Of the commit
tee on Pacific railroads, wiA call meet
ing OF the committee tomorrow 10 con-
slider the bill introduced By him yesterday
for the appointment OF a commission 10
conduct the settlement % the indebted
ness OF the bond-aided roads. When ask
ed today what action he thought the sem
ate would take IN the new proposition.
Senator Gear said he thought u likely II
would he disposed TO delay any action un-
sU II should be known what the house
would do. but that he should no. say un-
I'll the committee should meet what course
would be advised.