The San Francisco call., 1897-01-29
WOULD DEFEAT
ITS FORECLOSURE
Allen Impedes Proceedings
as to the Union
Pacific.
Energetic O,atorY on the Inter
national Monetary Commis'
sion Bill.
Point Arena Life.Saving Station Bill
Passed-Cana! Bill Laid
Aside A ain.

WASHINGTON, D. c., Jan. 2S.-The
proposed sale OF the property OF the Union
Pacific Railroad under foreclosure pro-
ceedings Instituted by the Attorney-Gen-
eral is sought to be impeded ana prevent
ed bv a resolution offered in the Senate
TO-DAY bv Allen, the Populist Senator
from Nebraska.
Aliens resolution instructs the Com
mittee on Pacific Roads to inquire and
. report whether, under existing laws, the
executive department has authority to
forecIose the Government mortgage on
the Union Pacific Railroad and to sell the
property without additional legislation;
also as to the authority of tho President
or Attorney General to contract in ad-
vance of sale for the amount th lat is to be
bid; also whether it is not the duty of the
President and the Secretary of the Treas
ury to redeem or otherwise clear off all
the paramount liens by paying the same,
and directing the Attorney General IN the
meantime to refrain from entering into
further stipulstions or agreements re-
spectlng the sale of the property.
Allen proceeded to explain and adVo-
cate his resolution. He said that the re-
organization committee would be, by
virtue of the purchase, subrogated to all
the rights and properties of the Union
Pacific Company, including a sinking
fund of $4,000, 000 or $15,00O,0o0 and a
land grant OF about 100000 acres. 1t
was necessary. he said, that Congress
should have full information, so as to be
able to act intelligently on the subject.
He argued that it was the duty of the
President, under the law, not to direct
foreclosure, but to pay off all paramount
liens and take possession of the property.
There was no pretense. he said, that any
effort had been made by the President to
redeem the property. The right to fore
close was a secondary right, dependent
On the failure of the primary right of re-
dem ption.
PIatt (R.) of Connecticut asked Allen
whether under the statute the President
had to use both remedies or whether they
were alternative remedies. Allen replied
that the language of the statute was not
couched so as to make the remedies alter
native.
The President, he added, could not
ignore the provision of the statute. The
price fixed, Allen asserted, was not equal
to so per cent of the value of the property;
in his Judgment it was not equal to 35 per
cent. He complained that the property,
worth $14o, ,OOO, 600, should be taken from
the control of Congress by an executive
order, and said it was bad enough to have
the Cuban affair and other foreign matters
withdrawn from the control of the Senate
without having domestic matters also
Withdrawn.
Thurston (R) of Nebraska said that he
iect and asked that the resolution go over
until tomorrow, and it was so ordered.
The bill for a representation by COM
mission at any international monetary
conference was taken up, and Chandler
addressed the Senate in favor of it. He
appealed to Cannon (R. OF Utah to with
draw his amendment requiring the hold
ing OF the conference in the United States.
He also appealed to Stewart (Pop.) of
Nevada, whom he spoke of as "the friend
of my lifetime" TO withdraw his amend
ment, which provides that. within a
month after the failure and adjournment
of the conference, gold and silver shall be
coined in the United States minis, the
silver into standard silver dollars.
Stewart said that he had no disposition
TO EN- barrass or hinder the passage of the
bill, but be went on to argue that the
United States should alone coin silver
dollars on a fixed ratio of gold.
Alter we fix our own money" he was
asked by Hoar (R.) of Massachusetts,
land after we conclude that it is for our
good to get gold and silver coined at our
mlnts at certain ratio, would it not be
good thing if we could persuade the other
nations of the world 10 adopt the same
ratio?"
II think not" Stewart replied. 81
think it would be very bad thing. In
the first place, it would rob us OF the ad-
vantage of acquiring silver. Let them
stick To COLO, although the bill Is very
huIniIiating to the United States in that
it requires other nations to give their con-
sent 10 our legislation. shall not oppose
its passage"
In the course OF long speech Stuwart
yielded the floor for a moment to ttaole
Bacon (D.) of Georgia TO offer an amend
ment to the bill authorizing the President
of the United States to call, in his dlscre-
ton, such International conference to as
sem bic at such point as may be agreed
upon.
Chandler said that while he did not
think 1t necessary, he saw no objection to
it, and therefore he was willing that it
should be adopted
Stewart then went on with his speech.
While he was descanting upon all the
evils inflicted upon the people and when
he used the phrase, you are responsible
for all this" Hoar asked him, iocuIarly,
who he meant by YOU" did he mean
the Vice-President?" [Laughter].
when / say 'yon, Stewart ex-
claimed. II mean every servant of the
British power; l mean every man who
likes TO see the poor miserable and the
rich happy; l mean those who want to
have a stronger Government here to keep
down the rabble."
Stewart resumed his speech, and said
that he would allow the bill 10 pass in any
form that it's friends desired At the close
of his speech the bill went over till TO-
morrow, and the Senate went into execu-
tive session.
The doors were reopened at 4:30 p NJ
and the Nicaragua canal bill was taken
up. Morgan presented q substitute for
the amendment offered by him yesterday
TO meet the objection made in the COM
munication of Minister Rodriguez. He
also presented resolutions from the Ma
tional Board of Trade, sitting in Wash
ington, declaring that the construction of
the Nicaragua canal is of the highest i'm.
portance to the commercial interests OF
the United States.
The bill was then Lid aside and the
bankruptcy bill taken up. Nelson (R. OF
Minnesota asserted that there was no bill
before Congress of such urgency as
bankruptcy bill.
What bankruptcy bill?" Hale (R.l of
Maine asked. ''1s it the TorEey bilf'