Evening star., 1897-01-15
AGAINST A COM MISSION
The Opposition to It Appears to Be Strong in
the House.
Many Representatives Believe That
There Should he No Further Pacific
Railroad LeGislati tiOn.


ment Of a number Of members of the House
today on the proposition for a commission
for the settlement of the Pacific railroads
matters finds that the new bill, If 1t Is re-
ported to the House, will meet with prac-
tically the same opposition that the fund
ing bill encountered. 1t might probably
prove little stronger than that bill, but
this is doubted. The assertion is made to-
day by well-posted men that the Pacific
railroads committee of the House is vast
ing time in attempting to agree upon a
new bill Of any kind. Besides opposition
to the bill on general principles, there is a
good deal Of opposition, as intimated in
The Star, on details. A heavier proper
tion of the opposition also comes from men
who do not want to bother with the ques-
tion again. and who assert that there is
sufficient law on the statute books now to
protect the interests of the government
and the roads.
In some quarters the new bill is charac-
terized the last effort of the railroads to
delay a settlement with the government.
The charge is made that commission
would take some years in reaching a settle
ment. If it could reach it then. The roads,
1t is said, are as able to settle now as they
will be at any future period
If 1t is &scertained that the opposition to
the new bill is about as great to the
former one it Is doubtful if the committee
on rules will agree to a day or two for
consideration Of the measure. They will
take it as a useless waste of time.
Representative Meikeljohn of Nebraska,
who opposed the funding bill. states that
he will also oppose the new measure, be-
cause he is satisfied that the government
can foreclose its mortgages and get all, or
most, of what is due. He believes that
there would be bidders for the property.
These bidders, he thinks, would represent
eastern roads which want a through line
to the Pacific coast.
Representatives Pendeton and Cockrell
of Texas both expressed opposition to the
new bill. stating that it is unnecessary.
Judge Cockrell says that commissions for
such purposes are worthless affairs. Judge
Pendleton thinks that the government can
get at least two-thirds of the amount due
1t under foreclosure proceedings.
Representative De Witt of Ohio is op-
posed to the Harrison bill. and Representa-
is against commission which is composed
of cabinet officials. He does not believe in
having the cabinet officials of President
mixed with this question. which he regards
as a political one in many ways.
Representative Bell of Colorado said ::
THE new bill is infinitely worse than the
enc that was defeated. 1t takes the mat
ter out of the hands of Congress and puts
it in the hands Of few. Let the govern
ment fOreclose it's mortgages.
Representative Strait of South Carolina
referred to commissions as useless and un-
successful bodies and was in favor of the
government doing its duty.
The California members, as stated in The
Star yesterday. are violently opposed to the
new BILL which they regard as a delay.
Representative Cox of Tennessee who
voted for the Harrison substitute. says he
would vote for the new bill. He thinks The
cabinet officers mentioned in the bill to-
gether with the President would be able
to settle the questions in dispute
Representative Harrison, author Of the
bill before the committee. said today that
he is getting the measure in shape for con-
sideration by the committee next Wednes-
day. He thinks the bill is stronger IN the
House than the Powers bill. He looks for
some developments in the same direction in
the Senate committee on Pacific railroads
The Gear Bill.
The Senate committee on Pacific railroads
today by unanimous vote authorized
favorable report on Senator Gears bill pro-
viding for a commission of cabinet officials
to settle the Indebtedness of the Pacific
railroads to the government. An amend
ment suggested by Senator Morgan was
adopted. 1t Is as follows
Inat said commissioners in making any
settlement under this act shall reserve 10
Congress the right to regulate or prescribe
the rates OF tolls Or charges for the trans
portation Of freights or passengers to he
charged on any or all Of said railroads and
ali other rights and powers in respect of
SAID railroads and railroad companies as
they now exist"
Senator Morgan gave his full assent to
the bill as amended by him. He said that
ne considered his own bill providing a
means OF settlement preferable, but that
ne mad no objections to a commission. Sem
ator Gear will report the bill to the Senate
Monday, but will make no effort to secure
consideration until the House acts on the
similar bill which 1t has under considera-
ton. The senator Is, however very hope
full that the present bill will receive the an
proval CT both houses.