The record-union., 1897-01-10
Concluded In Committee Of the Whole in
the Lower House Of Congress.
The Vote on Its Passage to be Taken
at To-MorroW's Session,
Two Amendments Relating to the
Proposed New Mortgage on the
Union Pacific to the United States
and the Disposal of Any of Its As
sets Without Consent of the Sec
retary of the Treasury Agreed To.

sets Without Consent of the Sec.
retary of the Treasury Agreed To.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 9.-The text Of
the bill to refund the Indebtedness of the
Union and Central Pacific Railroads to
the United States was perfected to-day,
SO far as the Committee of the Whole
was concerned, and the measure, with
certain amendments was reported to the
House at O'Clock, after a three days
parliamentary battle, and vote on its
passage will be taken Monday.
In the course of the debate, which to-
day was conducted under the five-min-
ute rule, Bell Cd Of Texas proposed a
substitute for the committee bill fix
ing the rate of interest on the extended
debt at per cent per annum, instead
of per cent, as the committee pro-
posed.
Harrison CD of Alabama also sub
mitted a substitute constituting the Sec
retaries of the Treasury and of the In
terror and the Attorney-Generala COM
mission to settle the debt, with the ap-
proval of the President. To this North
way of Ohio proposed an amendment
making the committee consist of three
persons, one to be appointed by each OF
the officers named.
The Committee of the Whole adopted
the two amendments offered by Parker
CR) of New Jersey to have clearly and
comprehensively specified the property
and assets of the Union Pacific, to be
covered by the proposed new mortgage
to the United States, and the other TO
forbid the company to dispose of any OF
its assets without the consent OF the Sec
retary of the Treasury.
Many members spoke to-day, and the
discussion was quite interesting at
times. The bill was advocated by Dan
iels (R) of New York, Grosvenor (R)
of Ohio. Arnold cR.) of Pennsylvania,
KYLE D) of Mississippi, Henderson (R)
of Ohio. Watson (R.) of Ohio. Cannon
(R.) of Illinois, Knox CR.) OF Massachu-
setts, Mitchell (R) of New YORK aSi
Faris (R.) of Indiana, and was opposed
by Bowers (R.) of California, Johnston
R,) of North Dakota, Dockery tD) OF
Missouri, Boatner CD or LOUISIANA
Hilborn (R) of California, Harrison tD.)
of Alabama Bell Cd of Texas, Ma
suire CD of California, McLachlan ana
Rarham CR) of California, Bartlett tDo
of New York, Grout (R.) of New YORK,
Perkins (R.) Of Iowa, Parker tR) OF Ne"
Jersey. Lawson CD of Virginia, Hub
hard CR) of Missouri and Northway (R)
of Ohio.
The latter created an outburst OF ap-
plause by declaring that rather thah
submit to compulsion by the debtors Oh
the Government in the settlement OF
the debt he would advocate foreclosure
and the purchase of the road by the
Trnitad States. This outburst his col
,eaoue (C;rosvenor) said come from those
who believed in the doctrines OF the
Oceola platform. He protested against
Panublican association with Govern
mont ownership of railroads and also
against referring the questloh iof
Element to the incoming ADMINISTRATOR
Daniels CR.) of New York urgeo the
massage of the bill as reasonable anu
fair measure When the roads were pc
sng constructed the country thought IL
had in them received fair equlV@ehl
for the expenditure and aid given.
Grosvenor CR.) of Ohio. without at
ternpting. he said. 70 add anything 10
the argument on the affirmative slde OIL
the question, briefly gave the reasons
why he should support the bill. Ihe
question should be settled in the inter
as.s of the Government and OF the
roads and the present proposition ne
believed TO be the best that could be op-
.ained. although it might not be all
that equity demanded.
Dockery CD of Missouri said he
should vote against the bill because
ADEQUATE information respecting the
condition of the corporations had not
been furnished. Congress was entitled.
ba said. to a full financial statement.
and that had not been given
Arnold R.) of Pennsylvania, discuss
ing some figures circulated by Hubbard
M of Missouri, relating TO the several
-,rorositions puTporting to nave been
made in the past by the railroad COM
NAMES warned the committee that the
defeat of the bill meant the issue by the
pext administration of S6o0OO.Ooo OF
bonds TO pay first liens upon the prop
-, or the abandonment OF the claim
of the Government.
Hipborn (R.) of California, opposing
tba hin called attention to the fact that
tho southern Pacific would not be re-
o,ured by the bill to give the Govern
ment a mortgage on the present over
land line of the road from Sacramento
70 Oakland. but the Government would
get a mortgage upon the old Western
Pacific line. abandoned long ago. except
for purely local purposes The ferry
privileges and property OF whfeh the
majority report made so much mad since
the railroad officials had appeared be-
fore the committee been transferred to
another corporation and of course the
railroad company could not now mort
rage them. In support of this ne read
a telegram from the City Assessor Oh
San Francisco
Powers. Chairman OF the committee
denied the truthfulness of the state
rnent just made. and said ii was SAM
nile of how the opposition to the bil nad
heen carried on. He undertook TO say
that the railroad company had not Tor
two wears at least disposed of any OF
tts property, but that IT had all been
consolidated into the possession OF the
company and the Government would get
. mortgage on it in its entirety.
Hilborn fiaunted the Assessors teie-
Gram but Powers, waving 1t aside, said !:
81 don't care for your telegram. 1t