Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1897-02-20
HARRISON BILL REPORTED
Report Argues That a Delay Is Most
important.
IL Holds That the Matter Should Be
Placed in the Hands Of Those
Officials Best Equipped to
Protect Our Interests.

Washington, Feb. 12.-At the meeting
of the house committee on Pacific rail-
roads yesterday IL developed that ex-
pected support for the propositions re-
ported to have been made by MIR. Hub
bard of Missouri, relating to the settle
ment of the government debt had not
been secured and they could not, there
fore, be longer considered within the
category OF possibilities.
Mr.. Harrison Of Alabama submitted
to the house the committees favorable
report on the bill popularity known as
the commission" bill for the settlement
Of the indebtedness of the bond-aided
Pacific railroads to the government.
The report outlines the several sections
of the bill and explains that the COM
mittee's approval of the commission
plan is due to the fact that the legisla-
ton for the foreclosure of the railroad
mortgage is of such importance and in
wolves so many interests n techni-
calities that it is impossible to place 1t
before ongres in such a that
intelligent action can be taken. 1t re-
fers 90 the foreclosure proceedings in
stituted by the government against the
Pacific railroads and shows that in the
ordinary course of events the road Is
likely to be sold and the government
claim against it disposed of before the
next regular session Of congress-.
IF this should occur the report con-
tinues, the most valuable and imports
III part of this great line of railway
will have passed into other hands with
out the preservation To the government
of many valuable rights and privileges
1t now has and which Will be ~retaoined
by 1t by the passage Of this bill. 1t is
thought hat a better price can be OBJ
tanned for the Central and Union Pa
cifc roads If sold Jointly than II they
be sold separately. 1t would be prudent
at least TO make a test of this, which
can only be Ion by having some proper
tribunal to represent the government. y
The report maintains that congress
cannot do this and hat the situation re-
quires the settlement or sale Of the
government interests. 1t aserts that II
cannot be done by legislative enactment
as the duty Is executive rather than leg
~islative.
"To effect either a settlement or a
sale" the report proceeds, requires
time, information and negotiation. Con-
gress has not the time nor the informa-
ton and cannot conduct the necessary
negotiations"
The report in this connection explains
the special illness of a cabinet commits
sion TO settle this important question.
1t shows that in the three departments
of the treasury, interior and justice, is
contained all the information hereto
fore obtained by the government rela-
tive to the roads. and that the heads OF
these departments are already charged
by law with certain duties pertaining
to them. In case no further legislation
is enacted and foreclosure proceedings
follow, the president and attorney gen
eral must represent the government.
The report declares in conclusion that
While in legislative matters large bod
les are preferable, in matters executive
In character, experience has demon
strated hat small bodies are more eff
cient. The high character and official
position of the proposed commission will
facilitate the negotiations, inspire O n
hdence and be more likely than any
other commission to elicit the approval
of the public when their labors shall
have been completed"