The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-01-30
ONLY FOUR AGAINST IT.
Senate Passes Bimetallie Conference
Bill.
MIR. HOAR URGES THE PRACTI-
BILITY OF THE SCHEME.

Pacific Railroad Bill Leads to an Amusing
Colloquoy in the House-Powers of
Vermont Makes Sport of Barrett of
Massachusetts.
Washington, January 29.-In the House
today, Mr.. Powers, Republican of Yer
mont, called up the report Of the conferees
On the bill constituting a new corpora
tion of the purchase Of the Atlantic &
Pacific railroad and explained the pro-
visions of the greements
Mr. Lacey, Republican Of Iowa, con-
demned the report, saying 1t yielded
every point made by the House amend
ments. Tho adoption of the report was
advocated by Mr.. Harrison, Democrat OF
Alabama, one of the conferees
MIR. Powers asked the previous ques-
ton on the adoption of the report which
was antagonized by Mr.. Barrett Repub-
lican of Massachusetts,, and the motion
failed.
Mr.. Barrett then got the floor. He said
that no railroad had ever been huilt
whose history was SO black with fraud
and dishonor az the Atlantic & Pacific
railroad.
The discussion was closed by Mr..
Powers, who, in the course of his remarks
said: "There is no African in the wood
pile''as far as this committee is aware. II
anybody has come here representing any
secret interest. if any Masssa chusetts in
terests are involved in this matter, they
are not involved in the direction of pub
lie good. AS suggested by the gentleman
from Oklahoma. all the iniquity that haG
ever been practiced on the line Of the At
lantio and Pacific railroad dates from the
city Of Boston and it's Immediate environ
ments. That is whero men live who
wreck railroads. That is where the
money comes from that creates all the
rasca1ity that the gentleman is scolding
about.
'sI do not stand here to criticize the
action of Massach usetts. Massachusetts,
has furnished too much talent, too much
respeotability, too much honor to tbe
great republic under which we live, for
me to undertake anything of that kind.
She furnished two Presidents, the older
and the younger Adams. But Mr..
| Speaker, we are forced to admit that
they are both dead. She furnished to MS
| the greatest lawyer, the greatest states
man, the most magnificent expouhder OF
our organic law that ever lived, Daniel
Webster, but sad rs 1t may seem, Daniel
| Webster is dead. She furnished us the
most classic, the most learned, and
srudise statesman that ever sat in the
halls of Congress, Charles Sumner, But,
alas, Charles Sumner is dead.
1--WE are today left only to bask In the
sunshine of the gentleman from Massa-
| ohusetts, who has come here to Congress
recently by q strong vote of his con-
stituents. to learn how to do right and
practice righteousness in the ways OF
| legislation. He is Eot content to 20 to
work and Try to accomplish something
| for the public good, but he stands here as
censor upon the doings of this body.
"Why, Mr.. Speaker, have the greatest
respect for him and his abilities. have
known him many years. He might be
| but the trouble with him is that he as
sumes there Is nothing on this floor
worth respecting. He comes here to shed
| light. He knew this was chaos of
darkness when he came. He was born,
| Mr.. Speaker. to be a rose, With the
destiny of blooming and blushing upon
this floor. His fact has been to wither
and waste his beauty on desert air. "
daughter and aTplause.)
| MIR. Barrett responded to the raillery of
Judge Powers, not in the same spirit,
| hut much more seriously.
| He asked where anything in the line of
railroad wrecking could he found equal
| TO the history of the Central Vermont
under a series of receiverships conducted
| BY the Supreme court.
| "Ask any honest man of that state who
invested his money in the securities Of
that corporation and WAS robbed of it by
decisions of that tri buna1 which have not
met approval of any respectable court in
any other jurisdiction.
Mr.. Grout of Vermont defended the
Supreme court of that state.
| The report of the committee was re-
| 1ected II to 148 The House voted to in
sist upon Its amendments to the bill and
insist upon the insertion of provision
giving further protection to the creditors
Of the old corporation, especially those
holding claims for labor and materials.
The bill making appropriations for West
Point academy was called up. Upon
motion a conference on the Senate
amendments thersto was ordered The
agricultural appropriation bill was taken
IN ip committee of the whole. Without
completing consideration of the bill the
committee rose and the House took q
recess.
| AZ the night session nineteen pension
bills were passed. The House then ad'
| journed.