The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-07-13
That Railroad Occupies the
Attention of the Senate.
RESOLUTION BY BUTLER
THE DEFICIENCY BILL UNDER
DISCUSSION.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ADJOURNS

Denies that He is the Attorney of the
Union Pacific Since He Has
Been in the Senate.
Washington, July PA discussion
of Union Pacific Railroad affairs occu-
pied the attention of the Senate to-day.
The deficiency appropriation bill was
taken up early in the day and Mr.. Nor
gan proposed an amendment designed
to prevent the consummation Of an a.
greement made some time since for the
settlement of the governments claims
against the road. Mr.. Morgan spoke
throughout the day, severely arraigning
the Pacific Railway managers. Late in
the day the entire subject was disposed of
by the withdrawal of the paragraph to
which Mr.. Morgan had offered his a
mendment. The deficiency appropria-
ton bill was not completed up to the
time of adjournment.
Before the deficiency bill was taken
up a resolution by Mr.. Butler, On. c.,
was agreed to directing the Secretary of
State to secure from diplomatic repre-
sentatives abroad full information as to
the operation of postal telegraphs, tele-
phones and postal savings banks.
The expediency of attaching private
claims to the deficiency bill was discuss
ed at length. Mr.. Foraker, Ohio, had
offered an amendment covering three
insurance claims adjudicated under the
Bowman act.
Mr.. Hale, (Maine), made point of or
der against the amendment.
The Vice-President, in deciding the
point, held that ''private" referred to
such measures as was for the benefit
of individuals without application to the
general public. For this reason the
Foraker amendment was ruled out as
covering private claims, not to be at
tached to general appropriation bills un-
der the rules of the Senate. The deci-
sion operated to exclude large num-
Der of private claims which We're to be
offered as amendments to the deficiency
bill.
In view of this exclusion of private
claims Mr.. Hale secured the adoption of
an amendment appropriating $1,000 for
extra labor to enable the call ON claims
to examine fully all pending claims and
to report comprehensive bill, covering
all meritorious claims, to the next ses-
sion of Congress.
Mr.. Gear, 1owa). offered an amend
ment for the payment of Judgment of
the court of claims for S1,31O,427 in
favor of the Southern Pacific Railroad
Company, but withdrew it when he
saw that the amendment would lead to
protracted debate.
Mr. Morgan, (Ala.), offered another
Pacific Railroad amendment, providing
that no part Of the sinking fund of the
Union Pacific Railroad Company, held
in the Treasury of the United States,
shall be used in persuance of any agree
ment between the President of the Unit
ed States or any officer of the United
States and Louis Fitzgerald, chairman
Of the reorganization committee of the
Union Pacific Railroad Company, Or
any other company or corporation.
Mr.. Morgan spoke at length in sup
port of the amendment, saying the pend
ing agreement between the executive
branch of the government and the Union
Pacific reorganization committee was in
fragrant disregard of law, amounting to
robbery which, when fully understood,
would cause amazement among the AM
erican people.
At one stage of his remarks Mr.. Nor
gan referred to the House not being in
session tomorrow and was reminded by
Mr.. Gear that the House would be in
session.
.I am delighted to hear that Con-
gress will not be running on one Wheel"
proceeded Mr.. Morgan, "and l invite the
attention of the House to the fact that
by adopting this amendment it can save
$3O,000,000 to the government which
otherwise the government will be rob-
bed Of. These are strong words, but
use them knowing what they mean. Let
Congress adjourn without taking hold
of this transaction and the United States
government will lose $30,O00,OO and the
people will lose God knows how much
in the future" Mr.. Morgan severely cri-
ticised the agreement made with the re-
organization committee.
At another point Mr.. Thurston,
CNeb.), demurred to Mr.. Morgan's refer
ence to him as counsel for the receivers
Of the Pacific Railroad, saying he had
not acted in that capacity since Decem-
Der. 1895, and while political service
might not involve any question Of pro-
miety; yet it was desirable to have the
facts appear correctly. The receivers
and their counsel were officers of the
court appointing them, Mr.. Thurston
said.
Mr.. Morgan made an extended legal
argument to show that the Union Paci-
ic Railroad property could not be sold
without the consent Of Congress.
Mr.. Thurstou took exception to Mr..