The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-01-10

Washington, Jan. 9.-The text of the
bill to refund the Indebtedness of the
Union and Central Pacific railroads to
the United States was perfected today.
so far as the committee of the whole
was concerned, and the measure, with
certain pending amendments, went TO
the house at o'clock. after three
days parliamentary battle, and vote
on it's passage will be taken on Mon
| day In the course of the debate,
which today was conducted under the
| five-minute rule, Mr.. Bell (Dem. Tex-)
/ proposed a substitute for the commit
tees bill, fixing the rate of interest on
the extended debt at 3 per cent per
annum, instead of ? per cent, as the
committee proposed.
Mr.. Harrison (Dem. Ala.,) also sub
mitted a substitute constituting the
secretaries of the treasury and of the
interior and the attorney general a
committee to settle the debt with the
approval of the president To this Mr..
Northway of Ohio proposed an amend
ment. making the committee consist of
three persons, one to be appointed by
each of the officials named.
The committee of the whole adopted
two amendments offered by Mr.. Parker
| (Rep. n. J.) to have clearly and COM
prehensively specified the property and
assets of the Union Pacific TO be COW
cred by the proposed new mortgage to
the United States and the other to
forbid the company 10 dispose of any
of its assets without the consent of
the secretary of the treasury.
,'I,e,,.c. -cI-e tod h
discussion was quite interesting at
times. The bill was advocated by
Messrs. Daniels (ReD. n. Y.,), Gros-
venor (ReD. o.. Arnold (Rep. Pa,
Kyle (Dem. Miss..), Henderson (Rep-
I O.), Watson (Rep. o., Cannon (Rep-
(Rep. n. " ana Faris (Rep. Ind..).
and was opposed by Messrs. Bowers
(Rep. CALI, Johnston (Rep. n. d.,
DOckery (Dem. MO.,), BOatner (Dem.
La..), HilbOrn (Rep. CaL,). Harrison
(Dem. AIa..), Bell (Dem. TeX.). Ma
Barham (Reps. CALI, Bartlett (Dem.
n. Y..). Grout (Rep. Vt.,), Perkins
(Rep. Ia-.), Parker (Rep- n. j., Law
son (Dem. Va.,). Hubbard (Rep. MO.,)
and Northway (Rep. o..
The latter created an Outburst of
applause by declaring that rather than
submit to cOmpulsiOn by the debtors
of the government in the settlement
of the debt, he would advocate fore
closure and the purchase of the road
by the United States. This outburst,
his colleague (GrOsvenOr) said, came
from those who believed in the doe
trineS of the Ocala platform. He pro-
tested against Republican association
with government ownership of rail-
roads, and also against referring the
question for settlement to the incom-
ing administration.
Early in the days session, the action
of the house last night in pOstponing
until Tuesday next the return of the
sergeant-at-armS upon the execution
of the warrants for the arrest of mem
bers absent from that session, was re-
considered, on motion of General Hen
dersOn (Rep. Ia-,), after a vigorous
effort 10 prevent il by Mr.. Thomas
Rep. Mich.,), who had declared his
intention to protest against any men,
ber named in the warrant from voting
on any matter until excused by the
house.
The proceedings under the call were
formally dispensed with and thus the
danger to many members that they
would not be permitted to vote on the
Pacific railroad bill was averted.
THE PROCEEDINGS.
A bill was passed confirming the
erection of a bridge over the Red river
at Fulton Ark, by the Texarkana &
Northern Railroad company, and now
operated by the Texarkana & Fort
Smith company.
Mr. Henderson (Rep. Ia moved to
reconsider the vote of last night by
which the return of the sergeant-at-
arms upon the execution of the war
rants issued for the arrest of absent
members was postponed until Tuesday
next.
After some debate, it was agreed to
$50 to 19-and only is members sec
onded Mr. Thomas (ReD. Mich.,) de-
mand for a yea and nay vote
The resolution carrying over the or
der of arrest until Tuesday was then
disa greed tO-16 to 165.
Further proceedings under the call
of the house last night were then for
mally dispensed with in order that
there might be no doubt of the status
of any of the members.
The house then-in committee of the
whole, Mr.. Payne (ReD. N. Y-,) in the
chair-resumed consideration of the
Pacific railroad funding bill, the day
to be spent under the five-minute rule.
Mr.. Johnson (Rep. n. d. said: Let
no man deceive himself with the de-
lusion that these roads were built by
the private fortunes of any persons
The roads had been built out of the
proceeds of subsidy and mortgage
bonds and sales of the land grant, net
ting DrOHJ OF over SlOU,uOOUVV, u
say nothing of what had been done
for these corporations. Mr.. Johnson
asked what excuse members could
make to their constituents by now
adding to that magnificent gift the
sum of S12S, 900 more, which was
what the bill practically proposed to
do.
A FAIR MEASURE
Mr.. Daniels (Rep. N. Y-.) urged the
passage of the bill as a fair measure.
When the roads were being con-
structed the country thought it had in
them received a fair equivalent for the
expenditure and aid given Mr. Daniels
did not conclude within five minutes
and unanimous consent was asked
that he might extend his remarks
three minutes
Mr.. Mcguire Dem. Cal.)--I have no