The herald., 1897-07-13
OCEANSOF
ORATORY
On Southern Pacific Rail-
road Claims
THE SENATE WAS SWAMPED
AND ALL BUSINESS CAME TO A
STANDSTILL
THE SENATE WAS SWAMPED
The Tariff Steamboat Runs Into the
Snags and Promises to Stick
for Awhile
Associated Press Special Wire.


WASHINGTON, July ia discus
sion of Union Pacific railroad affairs oc
cupied the attention of the senate today
The deficiency appropriation bill was
taken up early in the day. and Morgan
proposed an amendment designed to
prevent the consummation of an agree
ment made some time since for the set
tlement of the governments claim
against the road. Morgan spoke through
out the day, severely arraigning the
Pacific railroad managers. Late in the
day the entire subject was disposed of
by the withdrawal Of the paragraph to
which Morgan had offered his amend
ment. The deficiency appropriation bill
was not completed up to the time Of
adjournment.
"A resolution introduced by Senator
Butler of North Carolina was agreed to,
directing the secretary Of state to Sc
cure from our diplomatic representa-
tives abroad full information as to the
operation of postal telegraphs, tele-
phones and savings banks. Considera-
tion of the deficiency appropriation bill
was then resumed.
The expediency of attaching private
claims to the bill was discussed at some
lengt. Foraker of Ohio had offered an
amendment covering three insurance
claims adjudicated under the Bowman
act
Hale of Maine made point of order
against the amendment. The vice pres
dent in deciding the point held that
private" referred to such measures a.
were for the benefit of individuals with
out 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
were to be offered as amendments to
the deficiency bill.
In view of this exclusion of private
claims, Hale secured the adoption of an
amendment appropriating $1,000 for ex-
ira labor to enable the committee on
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 judgment of the
court of claims for $1,310,427 in favor of
the Southern Pacific Railroad company.
Allen of Nebraska proposed a modifi-
cation 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 Union
Pacific and Central Pacific railroads.
White of California took occasion to
say that If this amendment was pressed
IN its original form there would be pro-
tracted debate and no immediate ad-
journment
Hale appealed to his associates not to
press the amendment, saying he would
move to table it if extended debate re-
suited
Chandler of New Hampshire also ar
gued that the session might be indefin-
itely prolonged if the amendment was
pressed. Thereupon Gear withdrew his
amendment.
Morgan of Alabama offered another
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 company or cor
poration.
Morgan spoke at length in support of
the amendment, saying the pending
agreement between the executive
branch of the government and the Union
Pacific reorganization committee was in
flagrant violation of law, amounting to
robbery which, when fully understood,
would cause amazement among the
American people. At one stage of his
remarks Morgan referred to the house
not being in session tomorrow and was
reminded by Gear that the house would
be in session tomorrow.
II am delighted to hear that congress
will not be running on one wheel" pro-
ceeded Morgan, "and invite the atten-
ton of the house to the fact that by
adopting this amendment it can save
$50, 100000 to the government which
otherwise the government would 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, 900
and the people will lose God knows how
much in the future"
San SSNtiSly ClltiClSeQ ln6 agree
ment made with the reorganization
committee.
At another point Thurston of Nebras-
ka referred to Morgan's reference to him
as counsel for the receivers of the Union
Pacific road, saying he had not acted in
that capacity since December, 1885, and
while political service might not involve
any question of propriety, yet il was de-
sirable to have the facts appear cor
rectly. The receivers and their counsel
were officers of the court which ap-
PORTED them, Thurston said.
Morgan made an extended legal argu-
ment to show that the Union Pacific
railroad property could not be sold with
out the consent of congress. Thurston
took exception to Morgan's claim that
the governments lien was not confined
to aided portions of the road, but en-
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