The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-01-12

Final Result Comes, While Its Enemies
: Give Themselves up to Rsjoicinss-Pow
t ers Moves to Rs-Commit and Speaker
Reed Takes the Matter Under Advise
ment-Army Bill Passed.
Washington, Jan. 1.-THE Pacific rail-
way funding bill went to its doom in the
house today under an adverse majority
of 66. The friends of the measure, who
had predicted its passage up to the last
moment, were surprised by the decisive
character of their defeat They had
been led to hope from the votes on the
substitutes that the bill had more than
ar even chance of passage The Bell
substitute provided that if the Union Pa
cific and Central Pacific would clear on
the first mortgage and advance the gov
errment lien, the government would ex'
tend the Indebtedness at per cent. II
| was defeated, no to 15S.
The Harrison substitute provided for
a commission 10 negotiate settlement
of the debt. 1t was rejected by the house
nv a vote of 80 to PA. Many OF the
members were as much opposed to these
substitutes as TO the Powers bill. Iae
! California and middle west members
| voted almost soidly against them. When
| the vote came on the main proposition.
| the whole opposition swung into line and
crushed il by an adverse vote OF H. TO
| 1853.
The vote was not taken directly on the
| passage of the bill, but on the prelimi-
nary motion to engross and read the bill
a third time Bills which become sub
| ject of hard contests are usually brought
| to final test before the last parliament
| tary stage is reached.
| The Reilly Pacific funding bill, two
years ago, was defeated in the same
manner on the same motion. This was
the fourth funding bill killed in the
house in ten years.
An analysis of the vote today shows
that eighty-six Republicans and sixteen
Democrats voted for the bill and ninety
nine Republicans, fifty-eight Democrats,
six Populists and five Independents
against it.
Mr.. Powers, the chairman of the Pa
cific railroad committee, presented a mo-
ton to recommit the bill today after he
had recovered from the shock of his de-
feat, saying that the members of the
house were all in favor of a settlement.
but evidently opposed TO the principle Of
the measure his committee had brought
in. He. thought his committee should
have an opportunity to formulate an
other bill in the hope that it would prove
acceptable. The point of order was made
against Mr.. Powers, motion, but at the
suggestion of the speaker the point was
ruled upon today, but will be when the
house convenes tomorrow.
Mr.. Powers said tonight that he did
not know what would be done, but ex-
pressed the opinion that another effort
should be made to pass an acceptable
bill The opponents of the bill, on the
other hand, are rejoicing and say the
vote today settled the fate of all schemes
to fund the debt at this session.
After the bill was disposed Of the
army appropriation bill and several 9TH
er bills were passed.
Washington, Jan. 11.-Interest was
manifested in the outcome of the battle
royal over the Pacific railway funding
bill, which came to a vote in the house
today. Before the house convened the
floor w2s crowded with friends and Cd
ponents and members were standing
about arguing the merits of the bill.
Such scene of activity has not been
seen On the floor this session. The gal
lerieS we're also well filled.
1t required scme time to straighten
out the parliamentary situation. Speaker
status. There were, he said no pending
amendments TO the bill. There We're,
however. two substitutes that of Mr..
Harrison or Alabama, to provide for a
commission of three cabinet officers to
negotiate for a settlement of the debts
with the two roads. and the Bell substi-
tute, proyiding That If the roads would
clear the HrsI mortgage so as to ad-
vance the governments lien TO the posi-
a lf.c.+-
would agree to the extension of the per-
iod for the payment of the debt at 3
per cent interest. To the former substi-
TUE there was pending an amendment
proposed by Mr.. Northway of Ohio, pro-
vlding that the commission created
should be appointed by the secretary of |
the treasury, secretary of the interior
and attorney general, instead of con-
sisting of those three cabinet officers |
The Northway amendment was TO be |
voted on first, he said. then the substi- |
tutes in their order. If either of the SUBJ !
stitutes was adopted it would take the |
place of the original bill.
After some wrangling the speakers |
statement of the situation was accepted |
by the house.
AMENDMENT AND SUBSTITUTE. |
The Northway amendment to the Har-
risen substitute was defeated on a viva |
voce vote after which the Bell substitute |
was submitted. Without dividing, Mr.. |
Bell, the author OF the substitute. de- |
manded a record-making vote His de- |
mand was sustained by seventy odd |
members. mostly on the Democratic side |
and the roll was called
As the voting proceeded 1t was evil |
dent that the substitute would fail and |
the friends OF the bill were correspond
inSiv jubiiant
Senator White OF California. Senator
Daniel and other senators from the 9TH
er end OF the capitol. were present, at
various stages of the proceedings. and
watched The progress Of the struggle
with keen interest.
There was a furry when the speaker
announced the defeat Of the Bel sub
stitute-100-156. The opposition appear
ed somewhat staggered but it was point
ed out that the California members and
o;ner members known 10 be against the
measure voted against the substitute.
The Harrison substitute was then sub
United. On a viva voce vote the volume
OF sound was against the substitute, and
the speaker was about 10 declare ii de-
feated when Mr. Harrison Dem, Ala)
demanded the ayes and noes.
There were cries Of no. no." but he
succeeded IN securing forty-seven MEM
hSrs 10 back his demand This was no,
o1e-iifih OF the preceding vote but the
other side was unable 10 muster more
than l29. 50 the speaker ordered the roll
called This substitute was overwhelm-
ingiy 6efeated-55-2i4
ON THE MAIN MEASURE.
The opposition then decided TO test
their strength oy securing a roll cali on
the usual formal motion 10 engross and
read the bill Accordingly. Mr. Mcguire
CDem.. Cali demanded the ayes and