The San Francisco call., 1897-01-04
In the House the Loud
Postal Bill Comes Up
First.
Three Days to Be Devoted to a
Discussion of the Refunding
Scheme.
But There Is a Premise of Stubborn
Opposition to the Report Of
the Committee.

WASHINGTON, D. C., Jan. 3.-Just be-
resen tatives, upon the recommendation of
the Committee on Rules, arranged the
business OF the House for the first week
of the new year. On Tuesday and
Wednesday the Loud bill to amend the
postal laws so as to prohibit the transmits
sion in the mail of serlal-novel publica
tions and sample copies of newspapers
at the second class rate will be the special
order. Discussion under the general rule
will continue from Immediately after the
reading of the journal of Tuesday, the 5th
inst, until 2 P. NJ. on Wednesday. and un-
der the minute rule upon proposed
amendments until O clock, when voting
will begin upon pending amendments and
the final passage of the BILL
When the bill was called up, rather un-
expectedly. several weeks ago, it devel-
oped surprising strength, but since then
opposition has been active and the chances
of its passage are now considered rather
doubtful.
After this bill has been disposed of the
rest of the week-Thursday, Friday and
Saturday-will be devoted to the consid-
L
| reported by Judge Powers, chairman of
the Committee on Pacific Railroads. Two
days will be given to general discussion
and one day to debate and action in COM
mittee of the whole upon proposed amend
ments. The bill will be reported to the
House at o'clock Saturday and the vote
on its passage taken on Monday, the 11th
inst, Immediately after the reading of
the journal.
| The debate on this measure will doubt
| less be interesting, owing to the opposi-
ton which exists among mem bers of the
House to the action of the ma iority of the
committee. The bill proposes to extend
| the Government lien over all the physical
| properties of the companies, which it is
| claimed the present lien does not cover,
| and substituting for all of the standing
| obligations the new per cent mortgage.
| the Government debts to be carried at 2
per cent per annum. In addition TO this
| the Southern Pacific Company is required
| to pay the amount charged against the
| Central Pacific Company SO long as it re-
m aims lessee thereof. The amount of the
Union Pacific mortgage will be S54 731 900,
and of the Central Pacific (net) $50, Sol 600
| Hubbard of Missouri and Bell of Texas
| have made minority reports opposing the
| report Of the committee, the former rec
/ ommending the bill drawn by Attor-
| ney General Harmon and introduced by
| Senators Brice and Morgan to enforce the
Government liens upon the property by
proceedings in the Court of Appeals of the
| District of Columbia, and the latter that
the debts of the companies be extended at
per cent instead OF 2, secured by first
mortgage upon all their properties. They
will probably lead the debate against the
committees bill.
By the terms of the orders making these
measures the special business, considera-
ton of any other matters is shut out, and
it will take unanimous consent 10 act on
anything else until the orders have been
exhausted. The only exception is that on
Friday night private pensions will be dis
cussed for two hours and half, as usual
without quorum.