The times., 1897-07-15
They Wish TO Avoid Action On the
Pacific Railroads Matter.
MORGAN MAKES THE CHARGE
Mr.. Gear. Chairman of the Pacific
Railroads Committee. Indignantly
but Ineffectiveiy Makes Denial.
Harsh Criticism of the Deal
Made by President Cleveland.


init the passage of only such legislation
tbis session as seems convenient for their
party q ample enough TO pay that party
dcbts. There were several important mat
tiers to come before the Senate yesterday,
namely. the Facific Railroad resolution
OF Senator Harris, the Hawaiian treaty
and the Berry resolution that this Govern
nent shall demand the release OF ena
Melton and incidentally other American
prisoners III Cuba.
The Pacific Railroad resolution was
perhaps the least important Of these, but
H. came up first and was blocked from a
little after noon until the ADJOURNMENT
of the Senate at p. m.
Mr Morgan charged Mr.. Gear, thu chair
man Of the Pacific Railroad committee,
with fnibustering, W hich charge Mr.
Gear dramatically, Indignantly but hope
lessly denied. That the whole action OF
the Senate on the Republican side was
nliDuster WAS apparent 1t is said that
the Republicans went too far, and that
before the ession closes they viii be
quite sick of Gilatory tactics.
Although the Pacific Railroad matter
was not finished yesterday, the Democrats
cauldnotobtainfrom Mr.. Gearany assurance
that il will be continued today.
There is also no assurance that the Berry
resolution. which was reported fayorably
yesterday, win be considered today, or to-
morrow, or at any time As TO the
Hawaiian treaty it is fairly wen under
stood that it will not be disposed of at
this session
There was only handful Of Senators
present at noon, the hour of meeting of The
Senate. a quorum was, however, obtained
after long waiting and with the assistance
Of the sergeant alarms, and work was
begun. Mt Harris, OF Kansas. called up
lis resolution on the Pacific Railr Jad
matter, the object OF the resolution being
10 have the President suspend the opera
tion Of the secret contract, stated TO lave
been entered into between President
CT, veiand and the Pacific Railroad re-
Organization committee
A few moments after quorum was OBJ
taihed.
resolution came over from the House,
authorizing the Secretary OF War TO grant
permission for tile erection OF a temporary
studio on a public reservation, in which "a
work Oh the statue OF Gen. Sherman.
Nj. Harris yielded 10 have this resolu
tiGn read.
When il had been read Mr.. Morgan took
the floor to maintain the duty of the Sen
at to consider the Harris resolution, al
though he would not antagonize the reso-
uoI, just read.
He would not filibuster as the Reputli-
cans We're doing Mr Morgan proceeded
to state the duty of the Senate when he
was interrupted by Mr. Hale, who called
attention TO the fact that the matter
before the Senate was the resolution re
lating TO the Sherman statue
Mr Morgan yielded and MT. Thurston
spoke at some length, in which he re-
fcrred with some feeling 10 the circum-
stance that when he was making a speech
on this Pacific Railroad matter he was
cut or by the single objection OF the
Senator from Alabama (NIr MorganJ
He said that he never had objection UC
the matter coming up when there was
chance for fnll discussion.
MT Gear denied that he ohstructed the
progress oe the Harris resolution. The
time, he said, had been spent in calling
the roll. He thought the question w:s
one which should be discussed both by
the Senate and House, but besides that
IL contained Objectionable features, such
as the invest ment by the Government Of
SOS. 9.000,a00 in the road, and operating
Sc on Government account He was op
posed To governmental control of railrads
Mr. Thurston reiterated that the matter
ought TO be discussed before a full Sen
ate.
Mr.. Harris made a short argument, in
which he directed his attention to the
debtor and creditor view of the transac
ton. MI Harris quoted freely from th'
testimony taken in the investigation te
show the great loss TO the Government
and the freezing out OF the minor stock
holders AS TO the sinking fund, he said
IL either belonged 70 the original copt
pany or 10 the Government, and that in
either case it did not belong TO the pros
pecuve purchasers, the new organiza ton
r He thought that the Government taking
any other action than was contemplate,
by the acts Of l $50 and 1854, would bt
10 sacrifice the public welfare To whicl
1t Was pledged. Mr.. Harris reviewed a.
Some length the early history OF the Con
stpction OF one OF the lines-the Kansa
Paoific-and the many ways in which jobs
ana scandals were made possible ant
realized
Mir. Harris attacked the secret con.
Tract between the reorganization com
nGttee and the late executive, the late
lamented executive, rather. It was a
dark lantern conspiracy, twin TO tie band
sales, disgrace and a shame TO the ma
tion.
MI. Morgan charged Mr.. Thnrston with
doing al he could TO prevent Congress
from interfering with the action taken
by President Cleveland with reference TO
the road. Mr.. Thurston was even now
opposing the Harris resolution, as he had
opposed IL consistently ali along; and the
attempt to discuss the matter was met by
filibusterine.
Mr.. Gear protested violently against
the imputation Of filibustering.
Mr Morgan charged that the objection
was interposed on the part OF the Union
Pacific Railroad, aud that it was done tc
secure delay. Some OF the receivers o.
the road, he declared, were members ot
the new organization Mr. Morgan showed
and asked any one TO deny it, that 10y TIA,
arrangements permitted by the late Presi
deEt these new manipulators Were reall,
bidding S2s zoo, 900 instead of SA5,-
100000, and yet they We're valuing th,
property at 5000 900 900. All the con
tnbutioas that were ever made TO the road
Were blythe people, a1dnone by ythemanipu-
latcrs- 1t was the duty of Congress tt
intervene aud protect the public interests
IL was not political question. No on,
knew what had been done between the re-
organization company and President Cleve
land, Therefore, there was either
written contract between them, or, !
there had been one, il is not now on file