The herald., 1897-02-04
Villas HOLDS THE FLOOR
Evidsatly Intending to Talk on asd on
Forever
Pacific Railroad Resolutions % Over Till
Today
The House Takes Whole Day TO Seat
q Democrat From Virginia.
Work Done IN Com
mittee-
Associated Press Special Wire


parliamentary struggle in the Senate
late this afternoon the friends Of the
Nicaragua canal bill were unable to
hold quorum and sit out the obstruc-
ton to that measure. Mr.. Villas had
continued his speech in opposition. this
being his third day. At 4:30 p. m. a
cross-fire Of motions to adjourn and
calls Of the senate began. The friends
OF the bill resisted adjournment while
the opposition sought to close the ses-
sion and give Mr.. Villas a rest from his
protracted efforts.
The parliamentary contest continued
1t intervals for half an hour. when all
business was suspended by the absence
OF a quorum and refusal to adjourn.
The friends Of the bill finally gave up
hope of securing a quorum and yielded
to an adjournment Mr.. Villas continues
to hold the floor. In his remarks today
he aSserted that the Clayton BuDwer
Treaty was in full force, and that the
American people would insist upon the
1ull and honorable adherence to it's
terms. The senate agreed to the house
resolution fixing February 10th for the
ceremony Of ting the vote for presi-
dent and vice president before the two
houses of congress.
Althourh defeated for re-elect tion
Senator Dubois of Idaho was welcomed
back to the senate today with marked
oordiality and with an abundance Of
floral tributes. His desk was literally
overwhelmed with flowers, while tables
chairs and adjoining desks We're brought
Into use to support the many unique
devices into which the roses and vio-
lets had been wrought. A great cluster
OF violets was tied with ribbon bear
ing in silver 1900" The main design,
rising eight feet from the floor was an
arch, the pillars being white roses and
the capstone of immortelles bearing the
word Honor"
When the two Allen resolutions ques-
tioning the power of the executive 20
foreclose the government liens against
the Pacific roads were taken up Mr..
ThurSton Of Nebraska, Republican,
spoke. He argued that the uniform
opinion Of the courts had been that the
government lien was limited strictly to
the precise lines on which the guarantee
bonds had been issued, and that the
Thurman act did not extend this hen
beyond the original lines of the Union
Pacific and the Central Pacific roads.
This, he held, took the Omaha bridge
approaches, terminals etc. outside of
the original government lien. The sit
uation as to the Union Pacific was that
all terminals, all side tracks, ETC., were
covered by a first mortga ge, to which the
government lien is subject. The hen
of the government was on that main line
beginning at the Missouri river, about
three or four miles north Of the present
Omaha bridge, and running westward
to Ogden, Utah. If, then, the United
states acquired the rights Of the fir:t
mortgage and was subrogated to those
rights. ho ovtn r1aI t<>o
terminals. etc. The obligation to the
government reached $53 0OO, 900, and it
was proposed by the present negotiations
to pay an upset price Of between $45, ,0OO,- |
600 and $46,00O000
Mr.. Thurston said there was only two
propositions from which to make a
choice. One was to realize a large per
cent OF the government claim, the other
to invest more Of the peoples money in
rully acquiring a road, presumably for
the purpose. OF government ownership
and operation.
Mr.. Thurston doubted whether con-
gress could now create a new federal
Union Pacific railroad, owing to the laws
Of several Of the states prohibiting the
operation Of railways by other than do |
mestic corporations
Answering a question by Mr.. Allen.
Mr.. Thurston declared that the right
OF the attorney-general to appear in any |
oACNAoSNAO OuAS W az dOSOluLelY unQuoS-
tionable. irrespective OF any legislation |
on the subject. The government could |
be brought into court and that had been |
done in this foreclosure suit. To be |
sure, congress could take from the INIT |
ed States circuit court AUTHORITY over |
the subject, but what q wanton. unau-
thorized, despotic use Of power that |
would be-
Mr.. Thurston gave way at o'clock to |
the Nicaragua canal bill. This occa-
stoned brief furry, showing the any |
iety to advance various measures.
1t was finally arranged that the Pacific I
railroad resolutions could be taken IN
tomorrow.
Senator Morgan, in charge of the Nic-
aragua canal BILL accepted two amend
ments proposed by Teller providing for
a complete survey of the route to he
submitted to the president ano approved
before any bonds are guaranteed or
work done; also that II the survey shows
the cost will exceed $150, 900, 900 nothing
shall be done without authority of con-
gress.
Mr.. Villas, Democrat, of Wisconsir
resumed his speech opposing the bill.
At 5 o'clock Mr. Mitchell Of Wisconsin
suggested the absence OF quorum and
Mr.. Daniel. Democrat, Of Virginia
moved an adjournment. Defeated
~ to a.
After waiting twenty minutes only one