The herald., 1897-01-09

state Of California believe that the pow
er of the Southern Pacific railroad COM
pany, whom the gentleman from Cali
fornia presumes to be championing mere
on the floor in the face of the people
has been used to their detriment. Tney
know of the manner in which the cor
poration has for years past treated the
people of that state.
"The people of California have been
treated more shamefully by THIS cor
poration than any commonwealth IN thS
history of the United States has Deeh
treated by any other corporation, ei,1er
railroad or otherwise. They have de-
stroyed or crippled enterprise they nave
DESTROYED the business of individuals
they have dictated to the merchants now
they should conduct their business; M
posed hardships upon farmers puslhess
men, merchants. drygoods men, linipei
men. merchants in every class OF pusl-
ness and made to feel their heavy hand
all those who undertook to snip tnelr
freight In opposition to this company
THE Republican party repudiated the
funding bill Why? Because they dld
not want to aid the tyranny OF tns
Southern Pacific over the taxpayers oi
California
Cooper then Gained down and pro
ceded with his argument. Throughout
his reply to Mr.. Johnson. the latter sat
quietly in his seat at the rear OF the hali.
He made no response.
The sensational incident growing ont
of Mr.. Johusons attack almost drowned
interest in the debate Mr. Arnold of
Pennsylvar.a Republican. followed IN
favor of the bill. and Messrs. Parker of
New jersey. Republican. Bell of Coo
RADIO, Populist. and Shafroth of Colo
rado. Republican. against it. Mr.. Hep
burn of Iowa Republican, supported .h@
measure in an extended argument. as
the only solution of tine problem at this
iuucture With regard TO the California
crposition to the bill. he said the SEMI
ment there was against any settlement
that did not predicate the government
ownership and operation of the roads.
He took up some of the statements made
in the course of debate to show that they
were reckless and utterly without foun-
dation. and said il was those irresponsi-
BILE statemsnts which clouded the issues
and created much of the opposition 10
the measure.
He argued that government ownership
of railroads was bound up in the defeat
of the pending bill. That was why its
opponents were nsistent. This was 10
be made the entering wedge. The men,
bers from California. he said, made
no disguise of their purpose in desiring
to beat the bill. and he predicted if they
were successful the people of California
would suffer the keenest disappoint-
ment If we took the road without ter
minals, said he we would as a condition
precedent have to pay $61 900, ,000 the
amount of the first mortgage. and then
we would have a road which could be
built for less than the discharge of the
first mortgage cost us.
Al the conclusion of Mr. Hepburu's
remarks the house took recess until
S o'clock, the evening session to be de-
voted to private pension bills
The evening session of the house Was
spent in a vain effort to procure a quo
rum, which was undertaken at the iu-
stance Of Mr.. Erdman of Pennsylvania,
Democrat. A call of the house was
made and afterwards the sergeant at
arms was directed to arrest and bring in
absentees Pending this proceeding
there We're repeated motions to adjourn,
TO suspend further proceedings under
the call. etc.
At 10 o'clock the sergeant at arms re-
ported the presence OF three additional
members. who We're brought before the
bar of the house, and after making their
explanations We're in turn excused.
They were Messrs. Stallings of Alabama,
Woodward of North Carolina and Kle-
berg of Texas.
On motion of Mr.. Thomas the war
rants issued for the arrest of absent
members were made returnable Tues
day reXt Mr. Blue of Kansas asked
that Speaker Reed. who was absent, be
excused, which was done without OBJ
lection. The house adjourned at 1890
u. m.