The herald., 1898-02-05


once.
Mr.. Powers (Rep.) of Vermont. chair
man of the Pacific Railroads Committee
said that the consideration of the bill
would be a waste of time as 1t had beer
already demonstrated that the Senate
would not pass similar measure.
You are chairman OF the committee
that reported the BILL" said Mr.. Flem-
ing. is 1t not meritorious enough tc
receive considerations"
THE bill is harmless" replied Mr.
Powers. "The President already has
sufficient power"
But he distinctly asked for additional
powers in his message" retorted MIR
| Fleming.
Mr.. Shattuck (Rep.) of Ohio then OBJ
jected to Mr. Fleming's request.
A conflict then occurred between the
Appropriations Committee and the Com
mitteee on Claims. This was private
bin day under the rules, but the Appro-
| priations Committee desired to proceed
with the fortifications appropriations
bill and asked for the right of way, which
was opposed by the Claims Committee
The Appropriations Committee was de-
feated on n roll call--114 to 163--and the
House proceeded TO the consideration OF
private bills.
The Democrats. led by Mr.. Richardson
(Dem) OF Tennessee, who were anxious
to reach the private calendar, charged
that II was the purpose of the majority
70 filibuster away the entire day in pass
ing pension bills which Richardson saio
could he passed in five minutes II the
opposition was withdrawn.
| Mr.. Ray (Rep.) OF New Hampshire
and other Republicans denied any dis
position to filibuster. but they continued
TO prolong the debate.
Fleming Of Florida. Democrat, dur
ing the consideration OF one of the pen
sion bills, took advantage Of the latitude
allowed for debate TO discuss the ques-
[ ton 81 protecting the governments in
terest at the approaching sale of the
! Kansas Pacific railroad. The claim OF
/ the government, he said. was over slS,-
| 600 eea. and, while it was claimed that
F the road could be paralleled for $1,000
4 eNe ne said that the engineer who built
the road. Senator Harris of Kansas, es-
timated its value at from s25. .000, 900 to
/ $50 0e0. .0oo.
The average earnings of the road for
the past ten years, Sl.255.615, We're
per cent interest on $50. 200. 900.
Shattuck Of Ohio, Republican, said
that, while Senator Harris might be a
very competent civil engineer. he knew
no more about computing the earnings
or value of a RAILROAD than did the por-
trait hanging alongside the speaker S
chair.
H. 1t, rDa
cific railroads." asked Shafroth of Col
orado, Silver Republican.
Il read it," replied Shattuck. land
there is nothing in it. 1t was wind,
nothing more"
Fleming said Senator Harris, by the
facts he had furnished the government,
had saved the treasury s27 900 900 on the
sale of the Union Pacific.
The press of the country built a fire
under the administration" said he,
| "and forced It to act.''
Fleming said he had appealed to the
speaker and to Mr.. Powers. the chair
man of the Pacific railroad committee, to
aid the consideration Of the measure re-
ported by the committee.
They were both courteous" said
Fleming, but 1 failed to get the speak
er to use his influence with Mr.. Pow
ers, or Mr.. Powers to use his influence
with the speaker. On yesterday tried
to get recognition from the speaker. To-
day, when I did get recognition, it
availed nothing. but the chairman of the
committee, Mr.. Powers, said he would
object"
Continuing Fleming said he did not
consider 1t commensurate with the dig
nifty of the house to wave aside the mil
lions involved. If the sale took place
and the government bid only the prin-
cipal of the debt the responsibility
would be on the majority
The only hope that remained. he said,
lay in the press. 1t could force the ad-
ministration, as it did in the case Of the
Union Pacific.
Mcguire of California; Democrat, said
the law required that the government
should collect the full amount of the
debt or take the road, and he believed
the law should be obeyed
I'm other words, you want govern
ment ownership Of railroads" inter-
posed Dalzell of Pennsylvania, Repub-
lican
II want to collect the government
debt" replied Mcguire.
I'VE had better have government
ownership of railroads than railroad
| ownership of government" cried Terry
of Arkansas, Democrat.
Powers of Vermont, Republican, the
| chairman of the Pacific railroad COM
mittee denied he had stated earlier in
| the day that the administration desired
no further legislation. He alleged that
| the whole purpose of those who were
opposing the sale was the government
| ownership and operation Of railroads.
1.-THE gentleman has heard me to little
purpose for the past five years" inter
rupted Mcguire, "if he imagines | de-
sire government operation of railroads
l am in favor of the governments own
ing the highways, but not of operating
trains any more than wagons"
Il am glad the gentleman has made his
proposition more ridiculous than
could" observed Powers.
Bailey Of Texas, Democrat, objected
to Powers statement of the position of
the Democrats. He said it was not a
question of sacrificing the government
debt or government ownership and op-
GRAFTON of railroads.
"On this side" said he, 1--WE believe the
government can collect the debt, and. as
a prudent creditor, that it should col
| lect every dollar of it."
Continuing, Powers said he did not be