The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-01-08

Washington, Jan. IA JOINT reSolu-
ton was introduced in the senate to-
day by Mr.. Mills (Dem. Tex.,), E,clar-
ing that the eXpedience of recognizing
the independence of a foreign govern.
ment belongs to congress, and that the
president shall act in harmony with
congress; also declaring that the in
dependence of Cuba ought to be, and
is hereby, recognized" and appropri-
ating $4,000 for the salary and ex-
penses of a minister to the government
of Cuba. The bill lies on the table for
the present, and Mr.. Mills is to speak
on ii next Monday.
PACIFIC RAILROADS.
Mr.. Morgan Dem. Ala.,) introduced
a Voluminous bill, which, among other
things, directs the secretary of the
treasury to issue bonds in such amount
as may be necessary to take up the
first mortgage bonds of the Union Pa
cific and Central Pacific railroads.
These bonds are TO run 80 years, with
privilege of redemption after 10 years,
or the appointment of period of pay
ment after 80 years, subject to the
payment of interest thereon during the
time of such extension, the rate of in
terest being fixed at per cent. These
IdIlIOdu DOHQS, WHen SACHduSeQ, are
to be kept in the treasury as the prop
erty of the United States and shall
continue to be secured by all liens and
rights of priority that now attach to
them as against the railroad company
or any other person or corporation.
After the appointment of trustees
provided for by the bill, the secretary
of the treasury is directed to take i'm
mediate possession of the whole line
of railroad and telegraph of each COM
pany'S rolling stock, etc, for the use
of the United States until congress
shall otherwise direct, and turn the
same over to the board of trustees
created by the act, to consist of nine
men, to be named by the president,
four of whom shall reside east of the
Mississippi and four west. the presi-
dent of the board to be named regard
less of geographical locations These
trustees are to hold Office four years
and are subject to removal for cause
stated in writing.
The bill provides for the establish
ment of a sinking fund for the final
redemption of the bonded debt, into
which shall be paid annually sum
equal to l per cent of the entire bonded
debt of the United States issued under
the provisions of this act. The re-
mainder of the bill relates to details.
all of which has been heretofore pub
Lshed.
REED WILL BE PAID.
Some half dozen bills were taken
from the calendar and passed includ-
ing one to pay Samuel c. Reed. jr.
son of Captain Reed of the famous
privateer, and General Armstrong,
S6,392, being the unexpended balance
of the appropriation of $40, 739 made in
1881 as indemnity for the destruction
of the privateer by the British in the
neutral harbor of Fayal in 1915.
An effort was made by Sherman,
Qep., o., to have consideration of
the senate bill fixing a uniform clas-
sification and grading of wheat, corn.
oats, barley and rye. Much opposi-
tiOn was developed to it, and the bill
was not taken up.
The house bill for the appointment
of a non-partisan commission to col
lect information and to consider and
recommend legislation to meet the
problems presented by labor, agricul-
ture and capital, was reached on the
calendar and was antagonized by Mr.
Aldrich, (Rep., r. -. as the most
chimerical idea ever presented to the
American congress.
The morning hour expired without
action being taken on it; and the bill
remains on the calendar.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS.
Then the unfinished business-being
the bill to extend the homestead laws
to all lands acquired from Indian
tribes-was taken up and was opposed
in long speech by Mr.. Platt, (Rep.,
Comm.
1t was advocated by Mr.. Stewart,
(Pop., Neb.), who characterized the
opposition to it as "pitiful higgling.'
The bill went over without action.
A resolution was offered by Mr.. Nor
gan, Oem., Ala.), and agreed to- di-
recting the committee on expenditures
in the executive department to inquire
into the circumstances of the abstrac-
ton of certain papers as to Pacific !
railroad matters from the files in the
treasury department. as mentioned in
q communication from that department |
last Tuesday.
A substitute was passed for the |
house bill of last season to amend the !
laws relating to navigation. and a sub |
stitute for another house bill to amend |
the laws relating to American seamen |
was passed up to adjournment.
AT $50 o'clock the senate adjourned |
until Monday next.