The record-union., 1897-07-13
Occupy the Attention Of the Senate
at Yesterdays Session.
The Deficiency Appropriation Bill Discussed,
but Not Completed.
On Account of the Death of Sena-
tor Harris of Tennessee, the
House, as Soon as the Journal
Was Read, Adjourned Until To-
day Out of Respect to the Mem
DRY of Deceased.


WASHINGTON, July PA discus
sion of Union Pacific Railroad affairs
occupied the attention of the Senate
to-day The deficiency appropriation
bill was taken up early in the day, and
Morgan proposed an amendment, be-
ing to prevent the consummation of an
agreement made some time since for
the settlement of the Government S
claim against the road. Morgan spoke
throughout the day, severely arraigning
the Pacific railroad mana gers Late
in the day the entire subject was dis
posed of by the withdrawal of the par
agraph to which MOrgans resolution
was an amendment. The deficiency
bill was not completed up to the time
Of an adjournment.
A resolution by Butler of North Car
olina was agreed to, directing the Sec
retary of State to secure from diplo
matte representatives abroad full in
formation as to the operation of postal
telegraphs, telephones and postal saw
ings banks.
Consideration of the deficiency appro-
priation bill was then resumed.
The expediency of attaching private
claims to the bill was discussed at
length. Foraker of Ohio offered an
amendment covering three insurance
claims adjudicated under the Bowman
Act.
Hale of Maine made point of order
against the amendment
The Vice-Presdent, in deciding the
point, held that private" referred to
such measures as We're for the benefit
of individuals without application to
the general public. For this reason the
former amendment was ruled out as
covering private claims. The decision
operated to exclude a large number of
private claims which We're to be Of
fered as amendments to the deficiency
bill.
In view of this exclusion of private
claims, Hale secured the adoption Of
an amendment appropriating 81 900 for
extra labor to enable the Committee
on Claims to examine fully all pending
claims, and to report a comprehensive
bill, covering all meritorious claims, to
the next session of Congress.
Gear of Iowa offered an amendment
for the payment of a Judgment of the
Court of Claims for 1,310,427 in favor
of the Southern Pacific Railroad Com
pany.
Allen of iowa proposed a modification
of the amendment, providing that the
money be retained in the treasury until
the final adjustment of the claims of
the United States against the Southern
Pacific and Central Pacific Railroads.
White CD of California took occa-
sion to say that if this amendment was
pressed in its original form there would
be protracted debate, and no immediate
adjournment.
Hale appealed to his associates not
to press the amendment, saying he
would move to table it if extended
debate resulted.
Chandler (R.) of New Hampshire also
argued that the session might be in
definitely prolonged if the amendment
was pressed.
Thereupon Gear withdrew his amend
ment.
Morgan of Alabama offered a Pacific
railroad amendment providing that no
part of the sinking fund of the Union
Pacific Railroad Company held in the
treasury of the United States shall be
used in pursuance of any agreement
between the President of the United
States or any officer of the United
States and Louis Fitzgerald, Chairman
of the Reorganization Committee of
the Union Pacific Company or any COM
pany or corporation.
Morgan spoke at length in support of
the amendment, saying the pending
agreement between the executive
Of
Union Pacific Reorganization Commit
tee was in fragrant disregard of law
amounting to robbery, which. when
fully understood, would cause amaze
nlent among the American people.
At one stage of his remarks Nor
gan referred to the House not being in
session, and was reminded by Gear that
the House would be in session to-mor-
row.
IT am delighted to hear that Congress
will not be running on one Wheel" pro-
Ceeded Morgan, and 'I invite the atten-
tion of the House to the fact that by
adopting this amendment it can save
$50 900, 900 to the Government, which
otherwise the Government will be
robbed of. These are strong words. but
I use them, knowing what they mean.
Let Congress adjourn without taking
hold of this transaction, and the United
States Government will lose $4,000. 600
and the people will lose God knows how
much in the future"
Morgan severely criticised the agree
ment made with the reorganization com
rnittee.
At another point Thurston of Ne
hraska demured to Morgans reference
to him as counsel for the receivers of the
Pacific railroads, saying while a po-
litical service might not involve any
question of propriety, yet it was desir-
able to have the facts appear correctly
The receivers and their counsel were Of
ficers of the court appointing them,
Thurston said.
Morgan made an extended legal argu-
rnent to show that the Union Pacific
Railroad property could not be sold
without the consent of Congress.
Thurston took exception TO Morgan's s
claim that the Governments lien was
not confined to aided portions of the
road but embraced all it's property.
whether aided or not. Thurston con-
tended that the United States Supreme
Court had held the lien of the Govern
nent to extend only to the mileage aided