The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-01-12

WASHINGTON. Jan. 1.-THE Pacific
railroad funding blII went TO is DOOM in
the house today under an adverse major
~ q -. The friends OF the measure, VINO
had predicted is passage up 70 the Lass
moment. were surprised by me decisive
character OF their defeat. They had been
lead 70 hope from me votes on the substi-
tnies taat the hi.l had more than even
chance OF passage. The Bel substitute
provided that II the Union Pacific and
Central Pacific would clear of the nr-t
mortgage and advance the government
len. the government woald extend the In
debtednesS a. 3 per cent. X vas defeated
Ii0 40 I5s. The Harrison substitute. provid-
iHg for committee 20 negotiate settle
ment Of the debt was rejected BY the house
by vote Of s. TO IA, Many Of the mem
bers were as much opposed 20 these sub
stitutes as 10 the Powers biz. The Califor-
MIA ard Middle West members voted al
most solidiy against them When the vote
came on the main pr0p0sliiOh the whole
opposition swung into lire and crushed the
bsll by an adverse vote Of f02 70 los.
The vote was not taken directly on the
passage of the bill. but on the preliminary
motion TO sngroSs and read the bin a third
time. Bills which become the subject OF
hard contests are usually brought 10
final test before the last parliamentary
stage Is reached. The Reilly Pacific fund
same manner on the same motion. This Is
the fourth funding bill killed in the house
In ten years
An analysis OF the vote today showed that
ss Republicans and IS Democrats voted for
the bill and 80 Republicans. IS Democrats
and Populisss and ) Independents against
H.
Powers. chairman OF the Pacific rail-
roads COMMITTEES. presented motion to
recommit the bill today. after he had re-
covered from the shock Of his defeat
saving that the members of the house
were all In favor OF a settlement. but evi-
IDENTIFY opposed 20 the principle OF the
measure his committee had brought In.
lie thought his committe should have an
opportunity 10 formulate another bin, in
the hope that II would prove acceptable.
point OF order was raised against Mr.
Powers. bat AT tho suggestion of the
speaker the point was not ruled upon to-
day. but will be when the house convenes
tomorrow.
Powers said tonight that he did not
know what would be done. but expressed
the opinion that another effort should be
made 10 pass an acceptable bill The op-
ponents of the bill. on tho other hand. are
rejoicing and say the vote of today settles
the fate OF all schemes TO fund the debt
at this session.
The Decisive Vote Taken.
After the Bell substitute had been voted
down the opposition decided 70 test their
strength by securing = roll call on the
usual formal motion 10 engross and read
the bill. Accordingly. Mcguire OF Cali
fornia demanded the yeas and nays. and
half the house seemed to respond to his
demand AS the roll cali began every one
realized that the critical moment had
come. The buzz Of excited conversation
su5sided. and a hush fell Powers and
his clerk kept tallies. Cummings OF New
York. Mcguire OF California and several
other members also checked the vote.
When It was quietly whispered about at
the END OF the first roll call on the motion
10 engross that the vote was s. 10 If7 the
adVeTsaries Of the measure were over
1oyed. Mcguire started A round OF ap-
plagsa aud ahandoned his tally
The completeness OF the defeat OF the
bi.Fs advocates became more apparent as
the second roll call proceeded. When the
clerks had figured up the total the speak
er submitted the result, yeas l02. nays les.
The vote was as follows
AZ