The evening times., 1897-11-19
KANSAS PACIFIC's PRICE
Indications That the Road Will
Not Be Sacrificed.
FIGURES LIKELY TO BE FORCED
Reorganization Committee's Bluff
That 1t Does Not Care for the
Property Exposed by Senator Har-
ris--PrObab.lity That Bids Will
Go Above Nineteen Million Dollars.

There now seems to be good roorn to be
lievc that success viii follow the Protests
made by the press of the country against
the sale of the Kansas Pacific Railroad
without n protecting bid By the Govern
nant. Attorney General McKeBna had de-
citied to let the hale of the Kansas Pacific
proceed Oh December 15, satisfied With the
belief that .'the Government win not lose
over $5 100000 or 81, 900 ,000."
Senator Harris of KANSAS came to Wash
ington several days ago for the purpose Of
using every possible argument to prevent
Tie Administration holding a!oof and al
lowing the Kansas Pacific to go to the
Reorganization committee at such il figure
az would enable the syndicate to recOup
itself fer the increased bid OF $S,00O,0C0
which the Democratic press coerced it 10
make for the Union Pacific. No Ean In
puGiiC life is more familiar than Senator
Harris with the ins and outs of the Union
Pacific and the Kansas Pacific, or has
more accurate knowledge OF the market
value If these properties. During his
service in the Senate Mr.. Harris has
=
Reorganization committee, as well as pro
posed schemes fer refunding; and especially
he has oil served the laxity of the Mckinley
Administration. and its disposition to let
the intercs; sof the people 90 without proper
protection. The Senator has believed fro,n
the first that the reorganization committee
would bid for the Kansas Pacific, If com
PEELED to do so by competition, more than
would secure to the Government every cent
Of its claim upon the road.
The Reorganization Committee since its
purchase o. the Union Pacific has been cir
culating with great diligence reports that
i, d III not care especially for tie Kansas Pa
cific: that 1t could parallel the road at
prIce much below the sum that would cover
tho cIailc of the Government, in addition to
the eamountofthe first mortgage. These fic-
tiuns have had great effect at the Depart
ment of Justice. and Mr.. Mckenna, who's.
incOmpetency to handle such question has
bee, appa rent fiom the first, has been mucn
iIlpressed with the bluff OF the reorganiza-
ton Committee. 1t is probable that he has
been honest in tie belief which he has eX-
pressed more taan once, ttat the Kansas
Pacific begins nowhere and ends with.
out an important terminal, and Is not a de-
sirable property.
Senutor Harris has explained ia detail
tie value of the Kansas Pacific. and has
asru; ed the Attorney Gene raj and tie Presi
dent that the r1ad is wanted by the Morgan
syndicate. The Senator also has tried 10
cOIvince the Administration that the peo-
pie Of the West would not acquiesce in the
disposal of the Kansas Pacific at figure
wE,ch would net return to the Government
| all - has advanced to the road. and that {
should Bring readily. at forced sale, mere
than the S19.O00,O00 necessary to Ieln,-
t,Irse the renp.e. The Senator eff r. iiss VI
| not been wit thout effect. There l. little rea
sol. t. doubt that befure December Is the
| Attorney General Will take the steps nee
es:a, to qualify a bidder at the sale If
| the Kansas Pacific, and Will force the p-ic.
up above S19,OO0.Oo0.
There have been strong Influences al
! work In Washington To prevent the Ad
mir istratiun from taking this stand, but the
publicity which the matter has had in the
| DeIancratic papers, together with the cleaI
| AMI explicit statement OF the value Of the
roa,! made by Senator Harris since his
| arrival in Washington, have convinced the
| President and Attorney General McKenna
| that the reorganization committee needs
| the Kansas Pacific and will be compelled
| to take il. If not at its full value, then at
| least at price which will protect the in
| terests OF the Government. 1t now said to
| be a safe prediction that the price will he
forced up above 81 1000 600. and that the
Reorganization committees expectation of
| recoupiDg itself la the separate sale of this
road viii be sadly disappointed. This set
| tlement of the matter will be another
notable victory for the Democratic papers,
| arc it will he, also, another conspicuous ex-
araple of the shifting and uncertain IoIicy
| OF the present Administration.