The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-03-02
HOUSE.

house passed Hooper's bill. 40. reducing
passenger rates TO cents per mile The
bill was transmitted 10 the senate at once
During the session of the legislature the
citizens and representatives or Spokane
have earned a reputation for industry,
nerve and acute acquisitiveness not
eaualed by those OF any town IN the state
Notwithstanding this fact, the house was
hardly prepared for the introduction ny
Johnston this morning OF memorial ASK
ing the legislature TO investigate and rec
ommeud 10 congress a proposition TO
build by government aid. six-track ele-
waited electric railroad from some point on
Puget sound (any old point viii do) to New
York via Spokane and Chicago. The
scheme is TO have the government issue
low interest-bearing currency bonds The
memorial which IS an evidence OF the
superior rustling qualities OF the Spo-
kaneise. is signed by Mayor Belt, Sheriff
Dempsey. Treasurer Mudgett, County As
SCISSOR Daniel. County Superintendent
Hopson and others. The proposition 10
issue bonds lin time OF peace" will of
course commend itself TO the Popuiists IN
the legislature.
The memorial is a very lengthy docu-
ment. When the clerk had read one-quar-
ter of II Johnston moved that further
reading be dispensed with, but that las 1t
was a very important matter, 1t be
spread in full upon the journal. This was
done and the memorial was referred. with
out more than three or four members
understanding its purport
The signers OF the memorial say that
they can sec no reason why. if the scheme
Is carried cut, II would not be possible 10
make the run from Puget sound to New
York in twenty-four hours"tD
Wilkeson asked that the rules be sus-
pended and that his joint resolution cali
ing for the appointment of a committee,
Mi he al of pV-op n
eral, shall institute an investigation into
the legality of the Northern Pacific rail-
ways claim TO its grant of land in this
state. be taken up and passed. Nilkeson
made a long plea for his resolution, in the
course of which he said;
Under this resolution 1t is expected
10 restore to the public domain $4,000
acres OF land now illegally claimed oy a
Wisconsin corpora ton named the North
ern Pacific Railway Company.
The speaker then read from the charter
OF the Northern Pacific Railroad Com
pany. section OF which grants 10 the
company its land grant along the line.
He laid especial stress on the meaning OF
the section. which provided that the
Northern Pacific Railroad Company and
none other should select these lands.
Proceeding further. the speaker quoted
section OF the charter. providing for the
combination of the right OF the company
pleted; the purpose being 10 show that
the government had decided the land to
the Northern Pacific Railroad Company
under certain conditions, and to no other
corporation.
The state OF Washington is a party TO
this charter" said Wilkeson with great
force This state has an active interest
in the disposition OF public lands wnIca
lie within It's boundaries. and TO protect
our interests We can rightfuliy insist that
Nfay aar "a s. 4
should have lived up 10 the terms Of ts
charter. and one OF the terms OF that
charter is that the patents for the lands
granted to II shall be issued TO IL. not 10
It's successor
The speaker quoted from section 10 of
the charter OF the old company as fol-
lows:
And 10 mortgage or construction
bonds shall ever be issued by said CON-
pany on said road, or mortgage or lien
OF the congress OF the United States
Continuing. Mr. wilkeson said:
The Northern Pacific Railroad Com
pany was authorized 10 make one issue
o. bonds by this act, and did SO. This
mortgage was forecicsed in 1915 Congress-
did NOT again authorize the Nortbern
Pacific Railroad Company TO issue bonds
FROM the date OF the foreclosure OF the
IIa9eir,,gase IN 80 the Northern Paciac
Railroad Company has had no power. that
rs no iawiDi power. "a issue mortgage
bonds. because that power had been ex-
hausted, no legislation having been OBJ
tanned from congress authorizing other
issues Of bonds Therefore the Wisconsin
corporation known as the Northern Pa
csle railway. which In 1855 attempted 20
purchase the property OF the Northern
Pacific Railroad Company on the fore
closure OF Illegal and invalid mortgages.
got no valid tl-ls 20 the franchises or
lands o. the original company. ana cam
pot legally claim title TO the land granted
- the charter TO the Northern Pacific
Railroad Company. Selao0 acres OF which
are in Washington To avoid this dif1-
OF The Wisconsin corporation. are attempt
tnE 20 keep the breath OF corporate life
in the practically defuuet Northern Pa
CHIC Railroad Company. and are trying
10 nave congress approve OF the alleged
reNrCa 1Ization and 20 permit them 20 steal
5000 90 acres Of land OF wAieh s.s70coo
The Nortbern Pacific Railway Com
pany is endowed with perpetual life by
tts Wisconsin charter. bat under The laws
tt he state cf washington Il cannot le-
gailv csrvy on ia business r. Washing
ION, for the reason that - il contrary TO
me Avs and constitution or the state 10
lis business on more favorable terms than
are prescTl bed 10 similar corporations or
g2niZe1 under the laws OF this state
pefations cannot pc Incorporated 70 ex-
ist for more than fifty years.
The predatory scheme Il 10 steal $50
-
state and % 50 arrange matters financial
II as 70 acquire vested rights. and 20 en-
able this Wisconsin company 10 absorb
The Increment o. four generations Of r-so-
pie, every blow struck In Crea tive indus
Try. every tree planted. every irFigafing
diteA Dug. every farrow turned. every
Chfla born. al seed cast on the ground
shall oe 50 struck, planted, dug. turned,
born and cast 20 the enormous pront OF
this corporation They boldly assert that
they and their SUCCESSORS. virtually their
children. have a vested right 70 fully
gather where yoa and your children shah
sou. that they have the right 20 op1ress
and in7p0ve-ish Is for the next 80 years
30 thrust their predatory hands into cur
pockets ard 20 extract from them the
EaeagEr profit az oar agriculture and
manufacturing Industries
Roberts said that as WlIkeson had ex-
bausted TIRE subject and had spoken
wisely and we'll" he moved that the res
olgt3ou pass The rules were suspended
and the clerk ordered 20 enwross the
names OF the members for the resolution
Wits hsIl submitting constitutional
amendment reducing the salaries Of al
state officers ard members OF the iegis-
latuTe was amended and then defeated.
yess -. mars - TIRE bsll not receiving TIE
necessary two-thirdS.
Il z. "a ~ Land. empowering the
beard Of trustees Of the state university
10 receive requests. VAS passed. yeas 6s.
ndys G absent -
Al this poins The noon recess inter-
vensd-
A. the afternoon session the house
passed Z. B. 81. ny woIs. regulating the