The Wichita daily eagle., 1897-02-09
HOUSE COMMITTEES AGREES
To Report Favorabiy Harrison's Com
mission Plan.


Washington, Feb. S.-T;le house COM
| mittee OF. Pacific railroads. after an acri-
| .:loniOus session in which Mr.. Hubbard
Of Missouri was criticized severely to-
day, decided to report favorably 10 the
| house the bill introduced by Representa-
tive Harrison of Alabama for commits
sion TO settle the indebtedness OF the Pa
cific roads to the government. The CON-
mission is to consist of the secretaries OF
the treasury and interior and the at
torney general. The amendment, sug-
gestej by Attorney General Harmon
that ths commission should not interfere
with pending negotiations was adopted.
There was no opposition TO the plan. The
criticism OF Mr.. Hubbard grew out of
the fact that no railway men appeared
10 offer better terms than the Union Pa
ctf;c reorganization committee.
Tie bill contains another amendment
suggested by Attorney General Harmon.
authorizing the commission 10 sell the
governments interest in the properties
in rase l. is not able TO make settlement.
There was rather a stormy session of
the committee. caused by the failure OF
the heads of western roads Who appear
ed, 10 make any offer for the govern
nient's interest in the Union Pacific. The
committee was ready 10 report the Har-
Tlso1 bill a. its meeting las, week, but
postponed action at the request of Rep
resentative Hubbard OF Missouri, VINO
desired the representatives of roads con-
nccting with the eastern terminus OF the
Union Pacific to appear. The members
understood Mr.. Hubaord 10 say that
these roads werep repaired TO make an Of
fer TO the government for the Union Pa
citic OF 100000 900 more than the offer
OF 100000 by the New York syndicate.
The Dlen who appeared today said that
they had not held any offer under discus
sion. Members of the committee accus-
ed Mr. Hubbard of having purposely
STAYED off action on the bill and said
that they did not consider his course
straightforward
Air. Hubbard said that he had not in
tended to convey the impression which
was received. that a definite offer would
be made. His action was the subject Of
a rather acrimonius hours session and
VIII De further considered at another
meeting.
washington, Feb. S.-Stuveysaat Fish.
the president OF the Illinois Central rail
way, today gave his views to the house
committee on Pacific railways on the
problem of reorganization of the Pacific
railroads. Representing one OF the roads
which, he said, should have part of the
business with the Union Pacific at Sioux
CITY ths Sioux City and Pacific. he
suggested that the government should
manage to foreclosure on the Union Pa
ciHc and Central Pacific at the same
time and make them public highways
over all which all connecting lines should
have equal rights. The Sioux CITY
and Pacific, a branch of the Illinois
Central, had been built on the faith Of
the Pacific railroad act that il would
be branch of the Union Pacific, but
was cut off from business with that
road. He opposed government owner
snip of the roads on the ground that all
government interests were conducted eX-
travagantly. but said the government
should take some steps to give the roads
connecting with the Union Pacific the
rights under The original act authoriz-
ing the building of the road. Mr. Fish
said that il the government looked only
to making the most money out of its
Pacific railroad interests, it should ac-
cept the first good offer for them. He
had no offer to make, he said. Mr.. F.
s. Bond. vice president of the Chicago,
Milwaukee and st. Paul, also spoke. but
like Mr.. Fish, said that the western
companies had no offer to make the gov
ernment for its interests ard had had
no consultation on the matter.