The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-01-11
SHALL THE PACIFIC RAILWAYS
DEBT BE FUNDED OR
NOTS
DECISIVE VOTE IN THE HOUSE
FRIENDS AND OPPONENTS BOTH
CONFIDENT OF WINNING IN
THE SHOWDOWN.
PETTIGREw's HOMESTEAD BILL
VIII Reach Vote in the Senate
Weeks Forecast for Con-
Rress.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 10-The fate Of
the Pacific railroad funding bill, which
was debated three days in the house
last week, will be decided tomorrow,
when the measure with the pending
amendments will come to a vote under
the special order under which the house
is proceeding. The bill involves the set
Element of the $112, 900, 900 of indebted
ness of the Union Pacific and Central
Pacific on the basis of an extension of
over eighty years at 2 per cent, with an
annual extinguishment payment on the
principal at the rate of 1855, 900 for the
first ten years, $5S0,000 for the second
ten years and $75O,00O for the remain
ing years. 1t involves as the aIterna-
tive OF its defeat the probable immedi-
ATE foreclosure of the governments lien
and the sale of the property. 1t is the
elimination Of the struggle which has
gone on in congress for a dozen wears
to secure some sort Of an adjustment of
the Pacific railroad Indebtedness on the
oasis or an extension as it has been
apparent for a long period that the
roads would default when the bonds
matured. The interests at stake are
gigantic, and the friends Of the bill arc.
stra1ning every nerve. The opnonents
OF the measure are also active and the
result is awaited with intense inter-
est. Both sides have made polls of the
members upon which they predicate
their claims. Before the final vote ic
taken on the bill the Bell and Harri
son substitutes, both Of which are mend
lng' Will be voted upon. The former
PROVIDES that if the Union Pacific and
central Pacific will DISCHARGE the first
mortgage Indebtedness, Of S61 600 O0O so
as TO advance the governments lien to
Hrst mortgage, the government will
agree 10 an extension of the debt AT q
low rate OF interest. The Harrison
SUBSTITUTE provides for the creation of
d commission consisting Of the secre
l@ry OF the treasury, the secretary Of
che interior and the attorney general
LOT the settlement of the debt on
pdSlS falr to the roads and lust tn the
government.
49,. AIIer the funding bill is disposed Of
lHe mouse will proceed with the con-
SiuSratlon OF appropriation bills until
saturday, which will be given IN to
euiog1es on the life and character and
PunLc services Of the late ex-Spea ker
Crisp. Aer
The Indian and military appropria-
tloh Oils are on the calendar and he
lore they are disposed Of the acricn1-
turaI bill will be brought up.
THE SENATE.
The course of the senate this week
VIII depend largely upon whether Tho
racine railroad funding bill passes the
mouse and whether Senator Cameron
VIII call up his Cuban resolutions. Mr.
Ca1neron's friends expect that he will
De IN his seat next Monday, and that
When he returns he will indicate his
Qeslre as to the resolutions on the Gu
pan question. If he decides to press
the resolutions there will be a deter
mined effort to aid him in this direc
tlon, but in any event there are HkeIv
10 be a few speeches on Cuba
Senator Mills has announced his mr.
pose to address the senate on the ones
ton tomorrow and it is understood that
senator Davis is preparing a Cuban
speech.
The Pettigrew free homestead bill is
expected to reach a vote Monday or
tuesday, and 1t is to be followed bv
the Pacific railroad bill, If the latter
bill passes the house.
senator CullOm, who will have charge
OF the legislative, executive and Judi
cial appropriation bill, said today that
he expected to be able to report that
measure by the middle of the week
and that he would ask the senate to
consider 1t as soon as reported