The Portland daily press., 1897-01-11

Delegation Are Maine Men.
ESPECIAL TO THE PREss.J
Washington, January 9.-The debate
on the Pacific Railroad funding bill has
brought onto the floors of the House of
REPRESENTATIVES the exceedingly bitter
fight which exists in California between
the Huntington and the anti Huntington
forces. Huntington controls the great
railway lines between that State and the
East, and has for years held great power
in the financial and political affairs of
California There has of late. however,
been q great agitation against him and
Of the California delegation in the House
there is but one friend of Huntington.
This is Representative Grove L.Johnson,
who is welI-known in the house for his
sharp tongue and funny speeches.
On Friday Mr.. johnson began his
speech with the following story: Once
there lived in the uttermost wilds Uf
North Carolina two men, Jim and John.
who had never seen civilization or heard
OF any of its wonders. No one had ever
told them of the steam engine, of the
railroad or the telegraph. They deter
mined one day to see the world, and
Singing their blankets over their
shoulders, started out. At the end OF
two days travel thoy came to two streaks
of iron nailed onto the logs OF wood.
They had never seen the like before, and
wondered greatly what it might be; but
night coming on they unrolled their
blankets and lay down TO sleep a few
Yards from the streaks Of iron. Sometime
in the night an express train came along
behind time. It was putting and blowing
and roaring. The headlight shone like
a full moon on wheels; and tbs open door
Of the firebox threw fierce and glaring
iaht upon the clouds as the busy fireman
nlied the shovel. The commotion awoke
John, and after rubbing his eyes ana
staring, he frantioally shook Jim. wake
mn. Jiml Wake up, Jimr' he shouted.
"The devil is moving his outfit and mere
ia the first load.'' And SO it was, he said,
whenever some people of California saw
Huntington do anything. They said that
Huntington was moving hades.
A portion of NJ. Johnson's speech has
decidedly Wild West favor. Editor
Hurst of the San francisco Examiner
and New York Journal, has criticized
the Congressman very severely, and mas
followed him with repeated carioatures.
On Friday Mr.. johnson returned with
intersst in the shape Of one OF the most
bitter and bold excavations ever heard on
the floor of the HOUSE. 1t is funda-
mental principle that Congressman
may not be called in question outside
for any remarks made in the House. This
ia part Of his privilege. But private
citizen who should say in public speech
such things of another, would run the
risk of legal proceedings OF serious na-
ture.
Mr.. johnson is a native of New York
state. Like every other of the California
delegation, except alone Senator White.
he went to California to seek his fortune.
He arrived in California in 1868, and
has been lawyer and politician there
ever SINCE One other California mem
ber is a native of New York state, W. W.
Bowers, now Of San Diego James Nc
sacbIan, Of the Pasadena district is
native of Scotland. e. +. Loud, author
of the Loud pill. and James 6. Mcguire
are natives of Massachusetts; j. A. bar
ham is from Missouri; and Samuel u.
Hilborn, of the Oakland district, and
Senator George C. Perkins are from
Maine. Mr.. Hilborn is from Minot and
Mr.. Perkins from Kennsbunkport.
The real object of the California people
in wishing the defeat of the funding bill
is to cause the government to take pos
session of the road and run 1t. In this
way they think they can get more salts
factory rates and service than they can
under the Huntington management.
This opened up in the debate the ques-
tion of state ownership of railroads.
Yesterday in Congress.