Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1897-11-18
The Union Pacific Sale.

Il
bugaboo. George Livingston has
talked about it for a total period OF
1898 hours. Such patriots as the late
departed Govnor Teats and Robert
Kane have churned the ambient air
Of the country school houses over the
the robbery Of the people" In connec-
ton herewith and the local Populist
organ has groaned in black headlines
in sympathy with 1.-THE masses"
Now the government has sold the
road, which by its grants was enabled
to do SO much for the upbuilding Of
the west, and on terms that challenge
the admiration Of fnanciers every
where. 1t took Republican admin.
istration to do it. too, and the con-
trast between the Democratic and
Republican methods Of management
was never more strongly shown.
The Cleveland plan was for the
government to accept in full settle
ment Of its claim up on both the Union
Pacific and the Kansas Pacific 49,
100000. This is good deal Of
money even for a national govern.
ment, and it was a better settlement
than a good many persons who had
given great deal Of study to the
subject expected was possible. 1t
called out commentator rather than
censure. But President Mckinley
thought the amount too small. He
insisted upon separating the two
roads and dealing with one at time.
The Union Pacific came up first and
he demanded payment in full of the
governments claim Of $5S, 0OO,0
This was $13,O0O,O0O more for the
Union Pacific alone than the Cleveland
proposition for both lines together.
OF course there was a great deal Of
figuring and twisting, but the Presi-
dent, for he personally took the mat
ter in hand, stood like rock for the
$5S, 900, 900, and he got it. But he
did not get it until he had shown the
proposed purchasers, the committee
on reorganization, that the govern
ment would have full payment for its
debt or would itself become bidder
for the road. The committee refused
to believe this until the president or
dered the secretary Of the treasury to
send $4,000, 900 in gold to the master
in Omaha who had the making Of the
sale. 1t was necessary that that
amount should be deposited with the
master to qualify the governments
representative to bid. That act con-
WINGED the members Of the committee
that the president was in earnest, and
they then came down and agreed to
pay the governments claim in full
The government still has lien on
the Kansas Pacific, and in very short
time the sale Of that property will
take place. The government lien
amounts to $12, 9O1, 25O, according to
the last monthly debt statement is
sued by the treasury department. 1t
is getting a little larger all the time,
and may be set down as over $751;
100000. There is hardly any doubt
now that the government will get the
full amount, making in all over ST..
100000 or over 1875, 100000 in excess
of what Grover Cleveland would have
taken. Are we not right in saying
that this is the greatest financial
achievement on recordp
The new tariff was framed and
passed by congress, but this wonder.
full piece of fnanciering was executive
not legislative. Congress has been
trying for about twenty years to solve
the Pacific railroad problem. The
venerable Senator Thurman made it
his especial study and labor for years.
But congress really accomplished
nothing. The executive, acting
through the machinery Of the courts,
has done it all. Mr.. Cleveland's $45,-
100000 was really better than con-
gress seemed likely to do, and now
Mckinley has accomplished what
seemed to be the impossible. The
country seems not to have taken it in
as yet. 1t takes time to comprehend
an achievement SO vast in its proper
lions, SO surprising in execution, and
so altogether in the interest OF the
government.
Topeka Capital; Kansas farms are