The herald., 1897-12-07
MIscELLANEous

MIsCELLANEoUs
National Law and Epidemics-Ths
Railroad Sales
The recent prevalence Of yellow fever
In a number Of cities and towns through
out the South has resulted In much dis
turbance of commerce. and has demon
strated the necessity of such amend
ments to our quarantine laws as will
make the regulations OF the national
quarantine authorities paramount. The
Secretary Of the Treasury, in that por-
tion of his report relating to the opera
tion of the marine hospital service, calls
attention to the defects in the present
quarantine laws and recommends
amendments thereto which will give the
Treasury Department the requisite au-
thority to prevent the invasion of epi-
demic diseases from foreign countries,
and in times of emergency. like that of
the past summer, will add to the eff-
cheney of sanitary measures for the pro-
lection Of the people and at the same
time prevent unnecessary restrictions
mendations.
Al Aui tuSi NiLOAN W ~ ACNClt tHC iiNd
salon of the United States by yellow
fever, the Importance of the discovery of
the exact cause of the disease, which up
to the present time has been undeter-
mined, has been obvious, and to this
end systematic meteorological investi-
CATION should be made. therefore rec
ommend that Congress authorize the ap-
pointment of commission by the Presl-
dent to consist of four expert bacteriolo-
gists, one to be selected from the medical
officers of the Marine Hospital Service,
one to be appointed from civil life, one
to be detailed from the medical officers
Of the army and one from the medical
officers Of the navy.
PACIFIC RAILROAD SALE
The Union Pacific railway main line
was sold under a decree of the United
States Court for the District OF Nebras-
ka on the 1st and I'd of November of this
year. The amount due the government
consisted of the principal Of the subsidy
bonds. s27.236,52, and the accrued inter
est thereon. $31, ,211. .711.75. making the
total Indebtedness $5S, ,44S, ,22375. The bid
at the sale covered the first mortgage
lien and the entire mortgage claim Of
the government, principal and interest.
The sale of the subsidized portion of the
Kansas Pacific line, upon which the
government holds a second mortgage
| lien. has been postponed, at the instance
of the government, to December 18th.
The debt of this division of the Union
Pacific railroad to the government on
November 81, 1897. was the principal of
the subsidy bonds, Sc. 300. 900. and the un-
Int lE 500 6Q0 ~
making total Of $12,929, ,690.3S.
| The sale of this road was originally
advertised for November 4th, but for the
purpose of securing the most public
notice Of the event 1t was postponed
until December 10th, and a second ad-
vertisement of the sale was made. BY
the decree Of the court the upset price
Of the sale of the Kansas Pacific will
yield the government the sum of $2.-
100000 over all prior liens. costs and
charges. II no other or better bid is
made this sum is all that the govern
ment will receive on its claim Of nearly
100000. The government has no in
formation as to whether there will be
other bidders or another bid than the
maximum amount herein stated. The
question presented. therefore,is whether
the government shall, under the author
| ity given it by the act of March 13, 1889,
purchase or redeem the road In the
event that bid Is not made by private
parties covering the entire government
claim. To qualify the government to
| bid, the sales will require deposit of
5000 900 as follows: In the government
clause 100000, and in each of the first
mortgages clauses 100000, and in the
latter the deposit must be in cash. Pay
ments at the sale are as follows: Upon
the acceptance of the bid. sum which,
with the amount already deposited. shall
equal Is per cent of the bid; the balance
in installments Of 25 per cent. 80, 40 and
| so days after the confirmation Of the
sale. The lien on the Kansas Pacific
prior to that of the government on the
3Oth day of July, 1897, principal and in
terest, amounted to $7,281 ,04S.11. The
government, therefore, should 1t become
the highest bidder. will have to pay the
amount Of the first mortgage lien.
THE KANSAS PACIFIC
I believe that under the act Of 1897 1t
has the authority to do this and in the
absence of any action 1 shall direct the
Secretary Of the Treasury to make the
necessary deposit as required by the
courts decree, to qualify as bidder and
| to bid at the sale sum which will at
least equal the principal Of the debt due
the government, but suggest, in order
to remove all controversy, that an
amendment of the law be Immediately
| passed explicitly giving such powers
and appropriating in general terms
whatever sum is sufficient therefor.
/ In so important a matter as the gov
ernment becoming the probable owner
| of railroad property, which 1t perforcc
must conduct and operate, I feel con-
strained to lay before Congress these
facts for it's consideration and action be-
| fore the consummation of the sale. 1t
| is clear in my mind that the govern
ment should not permit the property to
be sold at price which will yield less
than one-half the principal of it's debt
and less than one fifth OF its debt, prln-
cipal and interest. The government
rather than accept less than it's claim,
should become a bidder and thereby the
owner of the property, and submit this
to Congress for action.
THE NATIONAL LIBRARY
The Library building, provided for by
act of Congress approved April II, 1896
has been completed and open to the
public. It should be a matter Of con-
graduation that, through the foresight
and munificence of Congress, the nation
possesses this noble treasure house OF
]Lpou1adpa TT ia earnestly tO he hOped